About Pregnancy: Pregnancy by Weeks – Part 2

Foetal period

11^th to 14^th weeks of pregnancy (ninth to 12^th week of gestation)

• The liver produces red blood cells.
• Facial features are well-developed.
• The baby can clench the fists.
• Tooth buds start their development.
• The baby will close the eyes and will not reopen until 28 weeks.
• The genitals can be differentiated.
• The baby has long and thin limbs.
• The size of the head is about half of the baby.

15^th to 18^th weeks of pregnancy (13^th to 16^th week of gestation)

• The baby moves actively.
• Fine ‘lanugo hair’ appears on the scalp.
• The gastrointestinal tract forms the earliest stools (meconium.)
• The bones and muscles develop gradually.
• The pancreas and the liver make secretions.
• The skin is transparent at this stage.
• The baby can make sucking movements.

19^th to 21^st weeks of pregnancy (17^th to 19^th week of gestation)

• The baby moves more actively and can hear sounds.
• The mother can feel wavelike motion in the lower abdomen.

22^nd week of pregnancy (20^th week of gestation)

• Eyebrows, eyelashes, Finger nails and toe nails appear.
• Gradual muscle development helps the baby move more actively.
• The mother can feel the movements of the baby.
• Fine ‘lanugo hair’ appears over the entire body.
• The baby’s heartbeat can be detected by auscultation.

Related Links:

About Pregnancy: Symptoms and Diagnosis of Pregnancy
About Pregnancy: How a Baby Is Conceived?
About Pregnancy: How to Manage Your Weight?
About Pregnancy: Benefits of Exercise During Pregnancy and Cautions
About Pregnancy: Pregnancy by Weeks - Part 1
About Pregnancy: Pregnancy by Weeks – Part 2
About Pregnancy: Pregnancy by Weeks – Part 3
About Pregnancy: Pregnancy by Weeks – Part 4