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.
At "Love Life Library" we have other items showing the development
of life in various media for your viewing..... Visit
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