The First Trimester of Pregnancy

Fetal Development: First Trimester

 
Week 1 & 2 - Gestational Age:
The menstrual period has just ended and your body is getting ready for ovulation. For most women, ovulation takes place about 11 - 19 days from the first day of the last period. During intercourse, several hundred million sperm are released in the vagina. Sperm will travel through the cervix and into the fallopian tube. If conception takes place, the sperm will penetrate an egg and create a single set of 46 chromosomes called a zygote - the basis for a new human being. The fertilized egg spends a couple of days traveling through the fallopian tube toward the uterus, dividing into cells and is called a morula. The morula becomes a blastocyst and will eventually end up in the uterus. Anywhere from day 6-10 since conception, the blastocyst will imbed into the uterine lining and begin the embryonic stage.

Week 3 - Gestational Age (Fetal Age - Week 1):
The embryo is going through lots of basic growth at this time, with the beginning development of the brain, spinal cord, heart and gastrointestinal tract.

Week 4 & 5 - Gestational Age (Fetal Age - Weeks 2 & 3):
Arm and leg buds are visible, but not clearly distinguishable. The heart is now beating at a steady rhythm. The placenta has begun to form and is producing some important hormones including hCG. There is movement of rudimentary blood through the main vessels. The early structures that will become the eyes and ears are forming. The embryo is ! inch long by the end of these weeks.

Week 6 - Gestational Age (Fetal Age - Week 4): 
 The formation of the lungs, jaw, nose and palate begin now. The hand and feet buds have webbed-like structures that will become the fingers and toes. The brain is continuing to form into its complex parts. A vaginal ultrasound could detect an audible heartbeat at this time. The embryo is about a " inch in length.

Week 7 - Gestational Age (Fetal Age - Week 5):
 At 7 weeks gestation, every essential organ has begun to form in the embryo’s tiny body even though it still weighs less than an aspirin. The hair and nipple follicles are forming, and the eyelids and tongue have begun formation. The elbows and toes are more visible as the trunk begins to straighten out.

Week 8 - Gestational Age (Fetal Age - Week 6):
The ears are continuing to form externally and internally. Everything that is present in an adult human is now present in the small embryo. The bones are beginning to form, and the muscles can contract. The facial features continue to mature, and the eyelids are now more developed. The embryo is at the end of the embryonic period and begins the fetal period. The embryo is about 1 inch long and is the size of a bean.

Weeks 9 thru 13 - Gestational Age (Fetal Age - Weeks 7 thru 11):
  The fetus has grown to about 3 inches in length and weighs
about an ounce. The genitalia have clearly formed into male or female, but still could not be seen clearly on an ultrasound. The
eyelids close and will not reopen until the 28th week of pregnancy. The fetus can make a fist, and the buds for baby teeth appear.
The head is nearly half the size of the entire fetus.