The Stages of Fetal Development
·Week 5
-The brain, spinal cord, gastrointestinal tract, and heart begin to develop.
·Weeks 6 - 7
-Arm and leg buds become visible.
-The brain develops into five areas
-The eyes and ear structures begin to form.
-Tissue forms that develops into the vertebra and some other bones.
-The heart continues to develop and now beats at a regular rhythm.
·Week 8
-The arms and legs have grown longer, and foot and hand areas can be distinguished.
-The hands and feet have fingers and toes but may still be webbed.
-The brain continues to form.
-The lungs begin to form.
·Week 9
-Nipples and hair follicles form.
-Elbows and toes are visible.
-All essential organs have begun to form.
·Week 10
-The eyelids are more developed.
-External features of the ear begin to take their final shape.
-Facial features continue to develop.
-The intestines rotate.
·Weeks 11 - 14
-Eyelids close and will not reopen until about the 28th week.
-The face is well formed, and limbs are long and thin.
-Genitals appear well differentiated.
-The baby can make a fist with its fingers.
-Tooth buds appear for the baby teeth.
·Weeks 15 - 18
-Fine hair called lanugo develops on the head.
-More muscle tissue and bones have developed, and the bones become harder.
-The baby begins to make active movements.
-Sucking motions are made with the mouth.
·Weeks 19 - 21
-The baby can hear.
-The baby makes more movements.
-The mother may feel a fluttering in the lower abdomen.
·Week 22
-Lanugo hair covers entire body.
-The baby is more active with increased muscle development.
-The mother can feel the baby moving.
-The fetal heartbeat can be heard with a stethoscope.
·Weeks 23 - 25
-The lower airways of the baby's lungs develop but still do not produce surfactant
-The baby begins to store fat.
·Week 26
-Eyebrows and eyelashes are formed.
-All eye parts are developed.
-Footprints and fingerprints are forming.
·Weeks 27 - 30
-Rapid brain development occurs.
-The nervous system is developed enough to control some body functions.
-The eyelids open and close.
-The respiratory system has developed to the point where gas exchange is possible.
·Weeks 31 - 34
-Rhythmic breathing movements occur, but the lungs are not fully mature.
-The bones are fully developed, but still soft and pliable.
-The baby's body begins storing iron, calcium, and phosphorus.
·Week 38
-Lanugo begins to disappear.
-Body fat increases.
-Fingernails reach the end of the fingertips.
·Weeks 39 - 42
-Lanugo is gone except for on the upper arms and shoulders.
-Fingernails extend beyond fingertips.
-Head hair is now coarse and thicker.
-The brain, spinal cord, gastrointestinal tract, and heart begin to develop.
·Weeks 6 - 7
-Arm and leg buds become visible.
-The brain develops into five areas
-The eyes and ear structures begin to form.
-Tissue forms that develops into the vertebra and some other bones.
-The heart continues to develop and now beats at a regular rhythm.
·Week 8
-The arms and legs have grown longer, and foot and hand areas can be distinguished.
-The hands and feet have fingers and toes but may still be webbed.
-The brain continues to form.
-The lungs begin to form.
·Week 9
-Nipples and hair follicles form.
-Elbows and toes are visible.
-All essential organs have begun to form.
·Week 10
-The eyelids are more developed.
-External features of the ear begin to take their final shape.
-Facial features continue to develop.
-The intestines rotate.
·Weeks 11 - 14
-Eyelids close and will not reopen until about the 28th week.
-The face is well formed, and limbs are long and thin.
-Genitals appear well differentiated.
-The baby can make a fist with its fingers.
-Tooth buds appear for the baby teeth.
·Weeks 15 - 18
-Fine hair called lanugo develops on the head.
-More muscle tissue and bones have developed, and the bones become harder.
-The baby begins to make active movements.
-Sucking motions are made with the mouth.
·Weeks 19 - 21
-The baby can hear.
-The baby makes more movements.
-The mother may feel a fluttering in the lower abdomen.
·Week 22
-Lanugo hair covers entire body.
-The baby is more active with increased muscle development.
-The mother can feel the baby moving.
-The fetal heartbeat can be heard with a stethoscope.
·Weeks 23 - 25
-The lower airways of the baby's lungs develop but still do not produce surfactant
-The baby begins to store fat.
·Week 26
-Eyebrows and eyelashes are formed.
-All eye parts are developed.
-Footprints and fingerprints are forming.
·Weeks 27 - 30
-Rapid brain development occurs.
-The nervous system is developed enough to control some body functions.
-The eyelids open and close.
-The respiratory system has developed to the point where gas exchange is possible.
·Weeks 31 - 34
-Rhythmic breathing movements occur, but the lungs are not fully mature.
-The bones are fully developed, but still soft and pliable.
-The baby's body begins storing iron, calcium, and phosphorus.
·Week 38
-Lanugo begins to disappear.
-Body fat increases.
-Fingernails reach the end of the fingertips.
·Weeks 39 - 42
-Lanugo is gone except for on the upper arms and shoulders.
-Fingernails extend beyond fingertips.
-Head hair is now coarse and thicker.