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Photo Courtesy of Eszter
Dobay, Hungary |
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Photo Courtesy of Eszter
Dobay, Hungary |
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Day 1 - Sperm joins with ovum (egg)
to form one cell-smaller than a grain of salt. The new life has inherited 23 chromosomes
from each parent, 46 in all. This one
cell contains the complex genetic blueprint for every detail of human
development-the child's sex, hair and eye color, height, skin tone. |
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Day 21 - The heart begins to beat and
by Day 40, brain waves can be detected and recorded. |
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Week 7 – The embryo begins to move
spontaneously. The jaw forms,
including teeth buds in the gums.
Soon the eyelids will seal to protect the baby’s developing
light-sensitive eyes, and will reopen at about the seventh month |
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Week 8 – At a little more than an
inch long, the developing life is now called a fetus-Latin for “young one” or
“offspring.” Everything is now present that will be found in a fully
developed adult. The heart has been beating for more than a month, the
stomach produces digestive juices and the kidneys have begun to
function. Forty muscle sets begin to
operate in conjunction with the nervous system. The fetus’ body responds to
touch, although the mother will not be able to feel movement until the fourth
or fifth month. |
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Month 4 – By the end of this month,
the fetus is eight to ten inches in length and weighs a half-pound or more.
The mother will probably start to “show” now. The ears are functioning, and
there is evidence that the fetus hears quite a bit: The mother’s voice and
heartbeat as well as external noises.
The umbilical cord has become an engineering marvel, transporting 300
quarts of fluids per day and completing a round-trip of fluids every 30
seconds. |
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Month 6 – Oil and sweat glands are
functioning. The delicate skin of the growing baby is protected from the
fetal waters by a special ointment called “vernix.” If the baby were born in this month and
given the proper care, he would survive. |
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Week 12 – The fetus now sleeps,
awakens and exercises its muscles energetically turning its head…curling its
toes, and opening and closing its mouth.
The palm, when stroked, will make a tight fist. The fetus breathes amniotic fluid to help
develop its respiratory system. |
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Month 3 ½ - The fetus is five and a
half inches tall and only six ounces in weight...genital organs and ears are
clearly differentiated…eyebrows, eyelashes and fine hair appear. The child
makes sucking motions with the mouth and can grasp with his hands, kick, or
even somersault (still not felt by the mother). Continued top right |
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Month 5 – Half the pregnancy has now
passed, and the fetus is about 12 inches long. The mother has definitely begun to feel
movement by now. If a sound is especially loud or startling, the fetus may
jump in reaction to it. |
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Month 7 - Rapid brain development
occurs during this period and the nervous system is able to control some
bodily functions. The fetus’ eyelids now open and close. At 25 weeks there is
a 60% chance of survival if born. The fetus is considered legally viable at
28 weeks and there is a 90% chance of survival if born at this point. |
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Month 8 - There is a rapid increase in
the amount of body fat the fetus has. Rhythmic breathing occurs, but the
lungs are not yet mature. The fetus sleeps 90-95% of the day. At this point
the survival rate is above 95% if the baby is born. |
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Month 9 - The fetus is considered
full-term. Lanugo is gone except on upper arms and shoulders. Hair on the
baby’s head is now coarser and thicker. The lungs are mature. The average
weight of the baby at this point is seven and a half pounds. At birth the
placenta detaches from the uterus and the umbilical cord will be cut as the
baby takes his first breaths of air. Breathing will trigger changes in the
heart and bypass arteries forcing all blood to now travel through the lungs. |
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Also visit: The First
Nine Months of Life, (brochure)
Focus on the Family, Colorado Springs, CO, 1995. For more information, visit Westside Pregnancy Resource Center at:
www.wprc.org. Many photos compliments of
Priests For Life. |
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Arms of Love
Pregnancy Resource Center, 4854 N. Alby, Godfrey, Illinois, 62035 (618) 466-1690
armsoflove1@gmail.com |
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Free Services Medical Center Pregnancy Info Abortion
Adoption P.E.A.C.E.
Ministry Counseling Staff
Board of Directors Directions Contact Us |
|
Free Services Medical Center Pregnancy Info Abortion
Adoption P.E.A.C.E.
Ministry Counseling Staff
Board of Directors Directions Contact Us |
