Development of Life in Uterus
(Taken from “Milestones of Life” Heritage House: 76 .com)


Our first nine months of life must have been the most eventful we have ever experienced. Here are the major milestones of the life before birth-the first chapter in your own biography.

Conception: The father’s sperm penetrates the mother’s egg cell. Genetic instruction from both parents interact to begin a new life and unique individual no bigger than a grain of sugar.

1st day: The first cell divides into two, the two into four, and so on.

5-9 days: The new individual burrows into the wall of the womb.
* (note-the first homeless may be those whose mother has taken hormones of some birth control pills which may have made this wall unaccepting to the newly formed individual searching for nutrition and protection.)

14 days: The mother’s menstrual period is suppressed by a hormone produced by her child.

18 days: The heart is forming. Soon, eyes start to develop.

20 days: The foundation of brain, spinal cord and nervous system are laid.

24 days: The heart begins to beat.

28 days: Muscles are developing along the future spine. Arms and legs are budding.

30 days: The child has grown 10,000 times its original size to 6-7 mm (1/4 inches) long.
The brain has human proportions. Blood flows in the baby’s veins but stays separate from the mother’s blood.

35 days: The pituitary gland in the brain is forming. The mouth, ears and nose are taking shape.

42 days: The skeleton is formed. The brain coordinates the movement of muscles and organs. Reflex responses have begun. The penis is forming in boys. Their mother now misses her second period.

43 days: Brain waves can now be recorded.

45 days: Spontaneous movements have begun. Buds of mild teeth have appeared.

7 weeks: Lips are sensitive to touch. Ears may resemble family patterns.

8 weeks: The child is well proportioned. Now a small scale baby, 3 cm (l 1/8 inch) and weighing a gram (1/30th oz.) Every organ is present. The heart beats sturdily. The stomach produces digestive juices. The liver makes blood cells. The kidneys begin to function. Taste buds are forming.

8 1/2 weeks: Fingerprints are being engraved. Eyelids and palms of hands are sensitive to touch.

9 weeks: The child will bend fingers around an object placed in the palm. Thumb sucking occurs. Fingernails are now forming.

10 weeks: The body is sensitive to touch. The child squints, swallows, puckers up brow and frowns.

11weeks: The baby urinates, makes complex facial expressions, even smiles.

12 weeks: The baby’s vigorous activity shows distinct individuality. The child can kick, turn feet, curl and fan toes, makes a fist, move thumbs, bend wrists, turn the head, open the mouth, and press lips tightly together. Breathing is practiced.

13 weeks: The face is prettier, facial expressions resemble the parent’s. Movements are graceful, reflexes vigorous. Vocal cords are formed, but without air the baby can not cry. Sex organs are apparent.

4 months: The child can grasp with hands, swim and turn somersaults.

4-5 months: The mother first feels the baby’s movements.

5 months: Sleeping habits appear, but a slammed door will provoke activity. The child responds to sounds in frequencies too high or low for adults to hear.

6 months: Fine hair grows on eyebrows and head. Eyelashes fringe appears. Weight is about 640 grams (22 oz), height 23 cm (9 inches). Babies born at this are have survived.

7 months: Eye teeth are present. Eyelids open and close, eyes look around. Hands grip strongly. Mother’s voice is heard and recognized.

8 months: Weight increases by 1 kg. (Over 2 lb.) And baby’s quarters get cramped.

9 months: The child triggers labor and birth occurs, usually 255-275 days after conception. Of 45 generations of cell divisions before adulthood, 41 have taken place. Four more will come during the rest of childhood and adolescence.
And not until the baby has gone through all these events on the inside do we see the new child on the outside.
* This note is not in the Heritage House publication, but submitted by "Love Life Library" staff.
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