How Does a Baby Develop?
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A baby develops over the period of 40 weeks in three stages. These stages are conception, embryonic development and fetal development. While each step is unique, each is necessary in the development of the baby.
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During conception, a single sperm combines with an egg cell to create a zygote. Once this combination happens, all of the genetic information that a baby will ever have exists, half coming from the father in his sperm and half coming from the mother through her egg. This meeting occurs in a woman's Fallopian tubes and as the zygote moves down the Fallopian tubes toward the uterus for implantation, it continually divides, resulting in a blastocyst. A blastocyst consists of an ever increasing group of cells protected by an outer casing of cells. The cells inside the casing eventually become an embryo while the cells making up the casing nourish and protect the inner cells.
Once the blastocyst is in the uterus, it implants into the uterine lining. It usually takes six days from zygote formation to implantation. The uterus gives nourishment to the developing baby by transporting sustenance from the mother's blood to the baby.
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At this point in the development, the forming baby is called an embryo. As with the blastocyst, the embryonic cells continue to divide and multiply in a process called differentiation. Eventually, these cells will become different body parts, such as organs, tissues and blood. Embryonic development takes place very quickly and is a crucial period in the development of a baby taking place in weeks four through 13 of pregnancy, also known as the first trimester. At the end of embryonic development, a baby has developed all of its vital organs and tissues and resembles a baby, with fingers, toes and other external features being apparent.
The fetal development stage begins in week 14 of the pregnancy, also known as the beginning of the second trimester, and continues until the baby is born at the end of the third trimester, which normally takes place at 40 weeks. During fetal development, a baby's organs and tissues continue to develop and grow. The baby also grows in size and weight as it reaches maturation. At this point, the baby's weight and length grow considerably as does its chance for survival outside of the womb as each week passes.
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