Pregnancy Calendar: development & growth of baby in the womb

In the Bible, there is a verse saying that "no one can explain how a baby breathes in the mother's womb".......No one can explain how a baby breathes before it is born. So how can anyone explain what God does? After all, he created everything. (Ecc 11:5 ). That was 3,000 years ago. Today, with the help of modern technology, doctors can determine the gender of the baby using Ultrasound, they can monitor the development of  organs, limbs, and body systems of the growing embryo to fetus to baby. With all this technology, the more we discover how wonderful are the works of God, the more that we are ought to grow in our faith in God, the Creator and Giver of Life.

In this article, you can see the month to month stages of your baby's development, size, length, and weight of the embryo from the first month to the ninth month baby ready for birth and delivery. This guide is helpful as a monitor for pregnant and expecting women.

FIRST TRIMESTER:
First Month:
- heartbeat begins
- arm buds appear
- leg buds appear
- digestive system develops
- central nervous system starts developing
- embryo length is 5 mm (1/5 inch) long
- embryo is smaller than a grain of rice
- weighs about 1/5 gram

After Two Months:
- brain, liver, kidneys are developing
- heart, neural tube, and major organs begin to form
- bloodstream and digestive system are developing
- limbs developed
- fingers and toes start showing
- embryo has become a fetus
- length is about 2.7 centimeters (just over 1 inch long)
- weighs slightly below 1 gram

Month 3:
- facial features are visible
- nose formed
- outer ears formed
- head is developing
- head begins to turn
- sucking fingers begins
- heartbeat can be detected
- sexual organs developing
- muscles develop
- all internal organs are developing
- fetus length is about 7.5 cm (3 inches) long in size
- weight is about 1 ounce (30 grams)

SECOND TRIMESTER:
Fourth Month:
- strong heart beat begins
- fine body hair develops
- teeth and skin begin to form
- baby starts kicking!
- fetus length is about 15 cm (6 inches) long
- fetus weight is about 110 grams (4 ounces)

After Five Months:
- finger and toe nails already formed
- ears are developed
- responds to noise
- hair is growing
- growth of eyebrows
- growth of eyelashes
- baby can swallow thumb
- baby can suck his/her thumb
- frequent and stronger movements
- fetus length about 25 cm (10 inches) long in size
- weighs more of less than 350 grams (12 ounces)

Month 6:
- eyes are open
- immune system developing
- baby's lungs develop
- more vigorous and increased movements
- fetus length is about 32 cm (over 1 foot) long
- weighs approximately 0.7 kilogram (1.5 pounds)

THIRD TRIMESTER:
Seventh Month:
- baby's eyes open and close
- body fat is increasing
- bones are fully developed at this stage
- baby may experience hiccups
- fetus weight is about 1.1 kilograms (2.5 pounds)
- size is approximately 37 cm (15 inches) in length

After Eight Months:
- baby is very active at this point!
- baby is maturing
- baby prepares for life outside the mother's womb
- baby weight is around 2.2 kg (5 lbs)
- size is around 42 cm (17 in.) long

Month 9:
- baby prepares for birth
- baby positions head first or sometimes feet first
- baby responds to light
- baby weighs around 3.2 to 3.6 kg (7 to 8 lbs)
- length more or less than 50 cm (20 in.) long