Growth of the foetus
A pregnancyPregnancyThe time when a woman is expecting a baby. The pregnancy begins when…Read more lasts about 9 months (40 weeks/ 280 days).
1 to 3 months
The fertilised egg cellEgg cellFemale sex cell. A woman is born with many egg cells in her…Read more develops quickly. After 3 to 6 weeks, all basic body parts start to grow.
After 6 weeks, the heart starts beating.
The organs (such as the brain, spinal bone marrow, etc.) develop.
The umbilical cordUmbilical cordA sort of tube connecting the foetus to the placenta. The umbilical cord…Read more and placentaPlacentaOrgan which grows alongside the foetus in the uterus when a woman is…Read more are in place.
4 to 6 months
The foetusFoetusFertilized egg when showing the main features of a baby (after the 3rd month…Read more grows quickly and the brain develops a lot. The foetus starts to move, for example: bending, kicking, grasping. The foetus can swallow, suck and yawn.
After 4 months, the midwifeMidwifeA trained person who helps a pregnant woman before, during and after delivery.…Read more or gynaecologistGynaecologistDoctor specializing in health care during pregnancy, contraception and women's diseases. A gynaecologist…Read more can tell you the sexSexAll acts that can sexually arouse you. Sex is more than sexual intercourse.…Read more of the baby on the ultrasound. You can choose if you want to know the sexSexAll acts that can sexually arouse you. Sex is more than sexual intercourse.…Read more of your foetus or not.
After about 5 months, you can feel the foetus move.
Nails, skin and body hair appear.
The foetus starts to hear.
7 to 9 months
The foetus becomes 3 times as heavy and twice as big.
The foetus stores fat to stay warm, proteins for muscle growth, calcium for bone growth and other essential nutrients such as iron.
The brain develops rapidly.
The lungs are ready for independent breathing by the end of the pregnancy.
The foetus turns around and usually lies with its head down shortly before delivery.