You may have been told that when you first find out that you’re pregnant, the baby in your uterus is just an “unrecognizable clump of cells” or “fetal mater with no identifiable parts.” However, the truth is that by the time most women discover that they are pregnant (around 4-5 weeks gestational age), significant growth has already occurred in the womb. Even as early as your first positive pregnancy test, you would be able to recognize many parts of your baby as fully functional, smaller versions of your own body parts.
Continuing reading for a quick look into development during each week of your first trimester. If you are unsure what gestational age means, or how far along you are in your pregnancy, Click Here to learn more.
4 – 5 weeks gestational age – at this stage, a two-chambered heart has already formed and has started beating. The spinal cord has begun to form, and your baby is shaped like a tadpole – a bump at one end will develop into the head, and the tail will form the trunk. The earliest signs of arms and legs can be seen, and a thin layer of skin has grown to cover everything up. Your baby is between the size of a poppy seed and an apple seed.
6-8 weeks gestational age – during this stage, your baby’s brain, eyes and ears have developed and the color of their eyes has already been determined. Arms and legs are continuing to develop as well as facial features, teeth, and gums. The heart has fully developed into a miniature sized version of a fully functional adult heart, and your baby is beginning to move around – although you can’t yet feel it. You can receive a blood test to learn the gender of your baby, that is between the size of a watermelon seed and a raspberry.
9-10 weeks gestational age – your baby’s head is about the same size as their body, and their tadpole-like tail is starting to disappear. Their fingers and toes are formed, and bones and joints are forming, allowing your baby to be very busy moving around. Vital organs are fully formed, and your baby’s heart is beating at about 180 beats per minute. Even this early on, your baby looks the same as a newborn infant on the outside – just a smaller version – about the size of a grape or strawberry.
11-13 weeks – during the last few weeks of your first trimester, your baby is able to bend, stretch, kick and make facial expressions, as well as open and close their fists, and make sucking movements with the muscles in their mouth. Your baby’s kidneys are producing urine, and their lungs are continuing to develop and are starting to practice breathing. At this point, your baby is between the size of a fig and a kiwi.
Why is it important to know about my baby’s development?
Pregnancy can often feel like a lot of unknowns, which is why It is important to understand what is happening during each stage of your pregnancy. Being fully educated on the growth and development that is happening in your body empowers you to make the best decisions that you can for your health, and the health of your baby. If you don’t have all of the information, it can be hard to make decisions that leave you feeling confident and comfortable. Understanding the changes that you and your baby are experiencing can also allow you to prepare for and explain the symptoms that you may have throughout your pregnancy journey. For example: Why are you so exhausted at 5 weeks pregnant? Because this week, you grew a heart! The Chequamegon Pregnancy Center is here to answer all of your pregnancy related questions, and connect you with reliable information.
Click here to schedule a free appointment with one of our knowledgeable pregnancy coaches.