Alive and Kicking: Your baby before 12 weeks
Alive and Kicking: Your Baby before 12 weeks
Perhaps you're pregnant - or you've heard that before 12 weeks an unborn baby isn't alive and kicking.
But science has given us an incredible window to the womb, so that we know our hearts began to beat at just three weeks - and that 10 weeks after conception, your fingerprints were developing.
(Note: pregnancy is measured from the first day of your last period - so is typically shown two weeks ahead of the baby's gestation: If you are 12 weeks pregnant, your baby is typically 10 weeks gestation).
Check out these amazing videos and photos
At 3 weeks
At just 3 weeks, the heart begins beating, the first signal of life
An embryo from an ectopic pregnancy which is approximately 3 to 4 weeks estimated gestational age from conception. It was 0.5 cm long. Photo Credit -Steven O Connor, MD. Taken on October 21, 2010. https://www.flickr.com/photos/lunarcaustic/5102540534/in/album-72157617368698808/
Reference: https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/fetal-development/fetal-heart-heartbeat-circulatory-system/
At 4 weeks
The baby's brain and spinal cords are developing - and the face is taking shape , with cheeks, chin and jaws beginning to form
View the heartbeat of a tiny 4.5 week old embryo
Credit: EHD video - https://www.ehd.org/get-free-videos.php - 4.5 weeks
Reference: https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/week-by-week/week-6.aspx#section-baby
At 5 weeks
Baby is generating new brain cells at the rate of 100 per minute. The kidneys are in place and will soon begin secreting urine.
Reference: https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/week-by-week/week-7.aspx
Credit: Animation by Reelhouse / Shutterstock
At 6 weeks
Amazingly, baby has developed touch receptors - mostly on the lips and nose.
Listen to the Baby Eoin's heartbeat at 6 weeks
Human Embryo at 6 weeks. Photo Credit: Dr. Joseph R. Stanton, MD
An embryo approximately 6-7 weeks estimated gestational age from conception. It was 0.5 cm long. Photo Credit -Steven O Connor, MD. Taken on October 21, 2010. https://www.flickr.com/photos/lunarcaustic/5736740711/
Reference: https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/fetal-development/fetal-touch/#first
At 7 weeks
At just 7-8 weeks all major organs are developing - lungs, liver, kidneys, stomach, and pancreas.
An embryo approximately 7-8 weeks estimated gestational age from conception. It was 0.5 cm long. Photo Credit -Steven O Connor, MD. Taken on October 21, 2010. https://www.flickr.com/photos/lunarcaustic/9458244793/
At 8 weeks
At 8 weeks, fingers and toes have developed and separated
Credit: www.justthefacts.org
At 9 weeks
At 9 weeks, the baby spontaneously moves their arms, hands, and legs. Brain waves have been recorded at between 6.5 and 8.5 weeks gestation. The baby's heart now has all four chambers.
Reference: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9886482/#B5
Foetus at 9 - 10 weeks.Photo Credit -Steven O Connor, MD. Taken on 20 December 2007. http://www.flickr.com/photos/l...
Brain waves have been recorded at between 6.5 and 8.5 weeks gestation. The baby's heart now has all four chambers.
Reference: https://lozierinstitute.org/voyage/
Reference: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7387919/
Reference: https://www.ehd.org/dev_articl...
View the foetus at 9 weeks
At 9 weeks; Credit: https://www.ehd.org/
At 10 weeks
At 10 weeks, baby's fingerprints start to form - and will never change, being unique to them. Babies suck their thumb at this point; eyelids are formed. Baby can curl toes, make a fist, and their kidneys are secreting urine. Almost all organs are completely formed by about 10 weeks.
Reference: https://umbc.edu/stories/how-did-i-get-my-own-unique-set-of-fingerprints/
Human embryo 10 weeks from conception. Photo credit - Dr Suparna. Date taken - 27 November 2008
Reference: https://www2.hse.ie/pregnancy-birth/baby-development-pregnancy-stages/stages/9-12-weeks/
At 11 weeks
The full story: Life in womb after 12 weeks
Life Before Birth; Credit: https://www.ehd.org/
Timpelapse of Life in the womb: Credit: https://www.liveaction.org/
What the mother's heart sounds like to the foetus inside the womb
JusttheFacts · What the mother's heart sounds like to to the foetus from inside the womb
What the mother's heart sounds like to to the foetus from inside the womb
Footage by iFind Project / Kings College
Incredible MRI Footage of a Baby in the Womb taken by iFIND Project: Baby turning it’s head, swallowing and stretching it’s legs The iFIND project aims to improve the accuracy of routine 18-20 week screening in pregnancy, by bringing together advanced ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques, robotics and computer aided diagnostics. Credits: iFIND Project / King's College London
Published by SurgMedia on Facebook
Medical Visualization by Alexander Tsiaras
Image-maker Alexander Tsiaras shares a powerful medical visualization, showing human development from conception to birth and beyond.
Reference: https://www.ted.com/talks/alex...