PREGNANCY STEP BY STEP

During my “presentation week” I would like to submit some unusual topics about pregnancy, prenatal life, delivery and so on. These topics were all previously alien to me, I thought that they just didn’t concern me! However, about a year ago this all changed, my life took on a new meaning, I have become a very happy father:). I would now like to take this opportunity to introduce you to this subject, but only if you’re ready!

Pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks, counting from the first day of a woman last normal period. The weeks are grouped into three trimesters . Find out what's happening with the baby in these long 40 weeks:

WEEK 2

At the beginning of week two (often around day 14 of a 28-day cycle) the average woman ovulates: One of eggs erupts from its follicle and is swept away from the ovary and into the Fallopian tube. During the next 12 to 24 hours that egg will be fertilized if one of the 250 million sperm manages to swim all the way from the vagina to the Fallopian tube and penetrates the egg. Only about 400 sperm will survive the ten-hour journey to the egg, and only one will succeed.
If the sperm carries a Y chromosome, the new baby will be a boy; if it's an X chromosome, it will be a girl. The developing baby is, at this moment, just a little ball of cells…

WEEK 4

This week marks the beginning of the embryonic period. From now until 10 weeks, all of your baby's organs will begin to develop and some will even begin to function. Right now your baby is an embryo the size of a poppy seed!

WEEK 5

In this week, the tiny heart begins to divide into chambers and beat for the first time and start pumping blood.

WEEK 6

This week's major developments are: The nose, mouth, and ears. His heart is beating about 100 to 160 times a minute — almost twice as fast as ours. Right now, the baby is about the size of a lentil bean.

WEEK 8

New this week: webbed fingers and toes are poking out from the baby's hands and feet, his "tail" is just about gone. In his brain, nerve cells are branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways. The baby is about the size of a kidney bean.

WEEK 10

Though The baby’s barely the size over an inch and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, he has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.

WEEK 12

This week baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close and his mouth will make sucking movements. His face looks unquestionably human - eyes have moved from the sides to the front of his head, and his ears are right where they should be. The baby is the size of a lime.

WEEK 14

The baby can now pee!!! And possibly suck his thumb! From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon.

WEEK 16

This week the baby is about the size of an avocado. his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day.

WEEK 18

If this is a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed. If this is a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them during an ultrasound.

WEEK 20

In his week baby’s brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. He's also around 10 inches long — the length of a banana.

WEEK 22

At almost 1 pound, the baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn.

WEEK 26

The network of nerves in the baby's ears is now developed and very sensitive. He or she may now be able to hear his mum and even his dad voices.

WEEK 28

This week, the baby weighs over 2 pounds. He or she is sleeping and waking up at regular time, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

WEEK 30

Now the baby's about 15.7 inches long, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage).

WEEK 33

This week the baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (like a pineapple) She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair.

WEEK 35

The baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

WEEK 37

This week the baby is considered "full term," even though his or her due date is still three weeks away!!!

WEEK 38-40

The baby's waiting to greet the world! He or she continues to build a layer of fat to help control his or her body temperature after birth, he or she already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7-8 pounds, a mini watermelon.

Even due to the fact that World Health Organization defines normal term for delivery as between 37 weeks and 42 weeks, most practitioners won't let it wait more than two weeks past the due date to give birth because it puts the baby at increased risk of complications. About 5 to 6 percent of women have prolonged pregnancies that extend three or more weeks beyond their estimated due dates. Babies born at 41-42 weeks and beyond can have dry skin and are often overweight - an increased risk of injury during a vaginal delivery, and double chances of needing a c-section…

www.babycenter.com

www.pregnancy.org

www.parentsconnect.com

Wikipedia

Questions:

1. Have you ever think about having baby?

2. What do you think about protecting prenatal life and abortion?