Pregnancy Medical Center

PARENTING: MILESTONES of Early Life

Our first nine months of life must have been the most eventful we have ever experienced. Here are the major milestones of that life before birth — the chapter in your own biography:

Conception: The father’s sperm penetrates mother’s egg cell. Genetic instructions from both parents interact to begin a new and unique individual — no bigger than a grain of sugar.

1st day: The first cell divides into two, the two into four, and so on. 5-9 days: The new individual burrows into the wall of the womb.

14 days: Mother’s menstrual period is suppressed by a hormone produced by her child.

18 days: Heart is forming. Soon eyes start to develop.

20 days: Foundations of brain, spinal cord and nervous system are laid.

24 days: Heart begins to beat.

28 days: Muscles are developing along the future spine. Arms and legs are budding.

30 days: Child has grown 10,000 times to 6-7 mm (1/4") long. Brain has human proportions. Blood flows in veins (but stays separate from mother’s blood).

35 days: Pituitary gland in brain is forming. Mouth, ears and nose are taking shape.

40 days: Heart’s energy output is 20 percent of adult’s.

42 days: Skeleton is formed. Brain coordinates movement of muscles and organs. Reflex responses have begun. Penis is forming in boys. (Mother misses second period.)

43 days: Brain waves can be recorded.

45 days: Spontaneous movements have begun. Buds of milk teeth have appeared.

7 weeks: Lips are sensitive to touch. Ears may resemble family pattern.

8 weeks: Child is well proportioned. Now a small scale baby, 3cm (1 1/8") and weighing a gram (1/30th oz.) Every organ is present. Heart beats sturdily. Stomach produces digestive juices. Liver makes blood cells. Kidneys begin to function. Taste buds are forming.

8 1/2 weeks: Fingerprints are being engraved. Eyelids and palms of hands are sensitive to touch.

9 weeks: Child will bend fingers around an object placed in the palm. Thumb sucking occurs. Fingernails are now forming.

10 weeks: Body is sensitive to touch. Child squints, swallows, puckers up brow and frowns.

11 weeks: Baby urinates, makes complex facial expressions — even smiles.

12 weeks: Vigorous activity shows distinct individuality. Child can kick, turn feet, curl and fan toes, make a fist, move thumbs, bend wrists, turn head, open mouth and press lips tightly together. Breathing is practiced.

13 weeks: Face is prettier, facial expressions resembling parents’. Movements are graceful, reflexes vigorous. Vocal chords are formed (but without air baby cannot cry). Sex organs are apparent.

4 months: Child can grasp with hands, swim and turn somersaults.

4-5 months: Mother first feels baby’s movements.

5 months: Sleeping habits appear, but a slammed door will provoke activity. Child responds to sounds in frequencies too high or low for adults to hear.

6 months: Fine hair grows on eye brows & head. Eye-lash fringe appears. Weight is about 640g (22 oz.), height 23 cm (9"). Babies born at this age have survived.

7 months: Eye teeth are present. Eyelids open and close, eyes look around. Hands grip strongly. Mother’s voice is heard and recognized.

8 months: Weight increases by 1 kg. (over 2 lbs.) and baby’s quarters get cramped.

9 months: Child triggers labor and birth occurs, usually 255-275 days after conception. Of 45 generations of cell divisions before adulthood, 41 have taken place. Four more will come during the rest of childhood and adolescence.