First Month of the Baby in the Womb

Being aware of fetal development is a good idea for expectant parents

Expectant parents should be aware of the fetal development throughout pregnancy. Not only is it a good idea, but expectant mothers and fathers will probably want to know what the mother and baby are going through during the pregnancy.

First Week in the Womb

According to the Mayo Clinic, the first two weeks of your pregnancy, you are not actually pregnant. This means the baby's first week in the womb is actually the third week of your pregnancy. During this time you would not have a positive pregnancy test. This week is when the sperm and egg actually unite and form a zygote. According to the Mayo Clinic, a zygote is a one-celled entity. The zygote has 46 chromosomes; half of the chromosomes are from the mother, and half are from the father. These chromosomes determine the sex, eye color, hair color, and other traits of the baby. This week is when the zygote embeds into the womb.

Second Week in the Womb

At the end of this week, you will test positive on a pregnancy test. The zygote is now referred to as a blastocyst. During this week the placenta starts to form. According to Gerber, the placenta is formed from half of the egg that attaches itself to the uterine wall. The placenta transports oxygen to the baby, transfers nutrients from the mother to the baby, and transfers waste away from the baby.

Third Week in the Womb

The blastocyst is now an embryo. This is when the baby's brain, spinal cord, heart and organs begin to form. According to Mayo Clinic, the embryo is made of three layers; first the ectoderm, which is the outermost layer of skin, the eyes, inner ear, connective tissues and the central and peripheral nervous systems. The baby's heart, bones, muscles, kidneys, and most of the reproductive system are formed in the middle layer of cells that is called the mesoderm. The baby's lungs, intestines and bladder are formed in the inner layer of cells, which is called the endoderm. According to Gerber, "A sheet of cells on the back of the embryo folds in the middle to form a tube, which will become the baby's spinal cord." At one end of this tube the brain and its major sections are formed. At the end of this week the baby is about the size of the tip of a pen.

Fourth Week in the Womb

Facial features, such as large dark circles for eyes, ears, mouth and throat are forming during this week. Arms and legs also begin to develop. Circulation is starting and blood is beginning to pump. According to Amazing Pregnancy, the baby is now the size of an apple seed.

Conclusions

Though it may not feel as if there is much going on in the first month from the outside, there are a lot of changes happening in the womb during this time. Mothers should start preparing during this time to make sure they are eating properly, taking a prenatal vitamin and not doing anything that could potentially harm the baby. Mothers should schedule prenatal care appointments during this time.

References

• Gerber: Fetal Development: Your Baby's Growth in the Womb
• Mayo Clinic: Fetal Development, the First Trimester
• Amazing Pregnancy: Fetal Development Week by Week