Day by Day Development in Human Reproduction
Day 1: Fertilization begins. Human fertilization is a complicated process that results in a fertilized egg. The fertilized egg will mature in the womb of its mother until birth The all 46 human chromosomes are present; a unique human life begins.
Day 6: The embryo starts to implant itself in the wall of the uterus.
Day 22: The heart begins to beat with the child's own blood, often a different type than the mothers'. The organism is now officially alive.
Week 3: By the end of third week the child's backbone spinal column and nervous system are starting to form. The liver, kidneys and intestines also begin to form, but have no function.
Week 4: By the end of week four the child is ten thousand times larger than the fertilized egg.
Week 5: The eyes, legs, and hands of the organism begin to develop.
Week 6: Brain waves are now detectable; mouth and lips are present; fingernails are forming.
Week 7: Eyelids, and toes form, and the nose is now detectable. The baby is now kicking and swimming in the women’s uterus.
Week 8: Every organ is now in place, bones begin to replace cartilage, and fingerprints begin to form. By the 8th week the baby can begin to hear, and usually starts to kick the women’s uterus more often.
Weeks 9 and 10: The organism’s teeth begin to form, while the fingernails continue to develop. The baby can turn his head, frown, and smile. The baby can also hiccup.
Weeks 10 and 11: The baby can now urinate, and "breathe" amniotic fluid. (Amniotic fluid or liquor amnii is the protective liquid contained by the amniotic sac of a pregnant female. It helps keep the baby warm, and because his body parts are growing so fast, the fluid provides lubrication that keeps them from growing together.)
Week 11: The baby can grasp objects placed in its hand; all organ systems are fully functional. The baby has a complete skeletal structure, nerves, and circulatory system.
Week 12: The baby has all of the parts necessary to experience pain, including nerves, spinal cord, and a thalamus. Vocal cords are complete. The baby can suck its thumb.
Week 14: At this age, the heart pumps several quarts of blood through the body daily.
Week 15: The baby has taste buds that are as developed as an adult’s taste buds.
Month 4: The bone Marrow is now beginning to form. The heart is pumping 25 quarts of blood a day. By the end of month 4 the baby will be 8-10 inches in length and will weigh up to half a pound.
Week 17: The baby can have dream (REM), and can sleep.
Week 20: The earliest stage at which Partial birth abortions can be performed. At this stage the baby recognizes its' mothers voice and a bond between the two organisms begins to form.
Months 5 and 6: The baby practices breathing by inhaling amniotic fluid into its developing lungs. The baby will grasp at the umbilical cord when it first feels it. Most mothers feel an increase in movement, kicking, and hiccups from the baby at this stage. Oil and sweat glands are now functioning. The baby is now twelve inches long or in some cases more, and can weigh up to one and a half pounds.
Months 7 through 9: Eyeteeth are present. The baby now opens and closes his eyes daily. The baby is using four of the five senses (vision, hearing, taste, and touch.) He knows the difference between being awake and being asleep, and can relate to the moods of the mother. The baby's skin begins to thicken, and a layer of fat is produced and stored beneath the skin.(Provides as a layer of protection in the future.) Antibodies are built up and can successfully fight diseases, and the baby's heart begins to pump 300 gallons of blood per day. Approximately one week before the birth the baby stops growing, and rotates or "drops" head down into the pelvic cavity.
