Month
2: Your baby is now considered a fetus. Her heart, neural
tube, arms and legs, liver and other major organs begin to
form. By your 6th week, her heart will be beating and visible
via ultrasound. The placenta also begins to form as well as
the eyes, ears, mouth, and bones. In this month, your baby's
fingers and toes will become present, however, they may still
be webbed. Her brain and cranial nerves will also begin to
form this month. Baby's sex organs begin to become visible.
Your baby is approximately 1/2 inch - 3/4 inch long and weighs
about 1-2 grams by the end of this month.
Month
3: If given an ultrasound now, you would be able to see your
baby's arms and legs moving. Baby's heartbeat can be detected
by doppler beginning in your third month. Development of the
heart and all major organs is complete by the end of the third
month. Baby's sex organs continue to develop, but it is still
too difficult to differentiate gender. Baby's muscles in trunk,
limbs, and head are developing. Baby's face is well formed
and your baby looks like a baby. By the end of your third
month, your baby is 3-4 inches long and weighs about 1 ounce.
Month
4: During your fourth month your baby's hair and teeth begin
to form. Your baby will be moving and active now and you may
begin to feel
baby's movement this month, however, not feeling movements
till next month is perfectly normal as well. Your baby's digestive
system is forming and the intestines are present. Meconium,
your baby's first stool, is present in the intestines as well.
By the end of this month it may be possible to determine baby's
gender. Your baby is approximately 5-6 inches long and weigh
5-8 ounces by the end of the month.
Month
5: Your baby is developing a fine hair, called lanugo, which
covers the body. Likewise, her eyelashes and eyebrows are
developing. Her fingerprints and footprints are now developed.
She begins to suck and swallow and may even be found sucking
her thumb. Vernix, a white lanolin-like covering, appears
on baby to protect her skin. Her ears are developed as well
and she may be able to hear you now. Your baby is approximately
7-8 inches long and weighs 3/4-1 pound by the end of this
month.
Month
6: Your baby's immune system is developing and she is beginning
to create her own antibodies. She has developed a hand grip
reflex and startle reflex. Her lungs are beginning to develop
and alveoli are forming. She is growing and filling out. She
looks more and more like the person she will be when she is
born. By the end of this month, she is approximately 9-10
inches long and weigh in at about 1 1/2-2 1/4 pounds.
Month
7: Your baby's eyes are open and she is able to cry. She may
be very active now and others may be able to see her movements.
She may have hiccups which will feel like a jumpy movement.
She is increasing in body fat and her bones are fully developed
now. By the end of this month, she is approximately 11 inches
long and weighs around 3-3 1/2 pounds.
Month
8: At this point of your pregnancy, there is not a whole lot
of new development. However, your baby is growing and maturing
and preparing for life outside the womb. Your baby sleeps
most of the time now and has periods of REM sleep. Baby is
becoming increasingly cramped for space, but she is still
very active. Your baby is approximately 13 inches long and
weighs around 5-6 pounds at the end of this month.
Month
9: In your 9th month, which actually extends a little further
than 9 calendar months, your baby is preparing for birth.
She will spend a lot of time resting, but she should still
have plenty of active periods. She should be facing head down
in preparation for birth. Babies weight and length vary considerably
at birth, but a typical range would be between 7-8 pounds
and 19-21 inches in length.
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