What are the stages of fetal development?
The process of prenatal development occurs in three main stages. The first two weeks after conception are known as the germinal stage, the third through the eighth week is known as the embryonic period, and the time from the ninth week until birth is known as the fetal period.
What are the 3 stages of fetal development called?
There are three stages of prenatal development—germinal, embryonic, and fetal. Prenatal development is also organized into trimesters: the first trimester ends with the end of the embryonic stage, the second trimester ends at week 20, and the third trimester ends at birth.
What are 3 facts about the fetal stage?
The embryo grows rapidly, and the baby’s external features begin to form. Your baby’s brain, spinal cord, and heart begin to develop….
- Nipples and hair follicles form.
- Arms grow and elbows develop.
- Baby’s toes can be seen.
- All baby’s essential organs have begun to grow.
What stage of development is a fetus at 8 weeks?
Development at 8 Weeks Eyelids and ears are forming, and you can see the tip of the nose. The arms and legs are well formed. The fingers and toes grow longer and more distinct.
What is the fetal stage?
A fetus is a prenatal human being between the embryonic stage and birth. The fetal stage extends from the beginning of the ninth week after fertilization to about 38 weeks after fertilization, which is the average time of birth. The fetal stage lasts a total of approximately 30 weeks.
What is the first thing developed in a fetus?
Just four weeks after conception, the neural tube along your baby’s back is closing. The baby’s brain and spinal cord will develop from the neural tube. The heart and other organs also are starting to form. Structures necessary to the formation of the eyes and ears develop.
When does the fetal stage begin?
After the embryonic stage, the fetal stage begins and your baby is called a fetus. This stage runs from the 11th week until birth. Your baby will grow longer and gain weight quicker.
What is blastocyst development?
Three days after fertilization, a normally developing embryo will contain about six to 10 cells. By the fifth or sixth day, the fertilized egg is known as a blastocyst — a rapidly dividing ball of cells. The inner group of cells will become the embryo. The outer group will become the cells that nourish and protect it.
What are the first stages of fetal development?
Your baby’s brain and spinal cord have begun to form. The heart begins to form. Arm and leg buds appear. Your baby is now an embryo and one-twenty-fifth of an inch long. All major organs and external body structures have begun to form.
When does a fetus move for the first time?
The baby may begin to make movements that the mother can feel at about 19 to 21 weeks; this baby movement is termed “quickening”. The baby at this stage of development can move its facial muscles, yawn, and suck its thumb.
Is the prenatal period part of the development process?
Fetal Stage. While you might think of child development as something that begins during infancy, the prenatal period is also considered an important part of the developmental process. Prenatal development is a time of remarkable change that helps set the stage for future psychological development.
When does the fetus start to grow during pregnancy?
Fetal Development: Stages of Growth. Pregnancy begins with the first day of your last menstrual period. Find out what happens to your fetus month by month. The start of pregnancy is actually the first day of your last menstrual period. This is called the ‘menstrual age’ and is about two weeks ahead of when conception actually occurs.