questions about
Medical Services

How soon will a pregnancy test tell me if I am pregnant?

It's possible the test will show positive 2-3 days before the first missed period. Read more...

If I'm pregnant and have an STD, can it affect my baby?

It depends on which STD you have. Some can cause serious problems such as blindness in the newborn while others... Read more...

I am having morning sickness big time. Is there anything I can do?

Try eating a high protein snack before bed (cheese, milk, yogurt, or peanut butter) Read more...

How does ultrasound work? Could it hurt my baby if I have one?

Ultrasounds are performed by trained medical professionals under the direction of a physician. An ultrasound is accomplished using sound waves and doesn't harm you or the baby. Read more...

Is it a good idea for me to breast feed my baby?

There are many benefits for you and the baby. For you, it decreases postpartum bleeding, there is an earlier return to your pre-pregnancy weight. Read more...

Fetal Development

How your baby grows

Fetal Development
 
Conception
At the time of conception, which generally occurs in the fallopian tube, every part of the baby's make up is determined: his or her hair color, sex, facial features, and eye color.  The zygote, as the baby is called, spends the next few days traveling down the fallopian tube to the uterus where, on day 6 or so, (s)he implants in the uterus.  As the blastocyst takes up residence in her mother's uterus, (s)he gathers nourishment from the mother's bloodstream.
 
Growth
The embryo quickly begins to develop a nutritional system and to differentiate  body parts and organs.  Within her/his first four weeks the embryo's heart begins to beat, the brain and nervous system are established, and arms, legs, mouth, eyes, and ears begin to appear.
 
Week 6
By the sixth week brain waves are noticeable and the brain is beginning to control the baby's movements.  The little embryo's liver is now producing her blood cells and five fingers can be seen on each hand.
 
Week 8
In another two weeks the embryo is now called a fetus (Latin for young one or offspring).  The Fetus now has everything found in a healthy adult and (s)he responds to touch.  By the end of the 12th week the fetus is breathing*, sleeping, and exercising.
 
Weeks 12-24 (2nd trimester)
During the second trimester of pregnancy the fetus begins to develop hair.  By the end of the fourth month the sex of the baby can be determined through ultrasound.  All of the baby's muscles and bones are being strengthened and (s)he is able to feel pain.  The fetus is 8-10 inches long and weighs about a half a pound.  Movement is able to be felt by the mother.
 
Month 7
By the baby's 7th month (s)he is using four senses: vision, hearing, taste, and touch.  (S)he is also able to recognize his mother's voice.
 
Delivery time
The average pregnancy lasts about 9 months from the time of conception, or approximately 40 weeks from the fist day of the mother's last period.  By this time the baby usually weighs between 6 to 9 pounds and his heart is pumping 250 gallons of blood per day.
 
*At this stage of development, the fetus "breathes" the amniotic fluid which exercises and lubricates the baby's lungs