Stages of Development

Stages of Development Loading image. Please wait...

1st Trimester
By the end of this trimester, your baby is about three inches long and weighs about half an ounce. The eyes move closer together into their positions, and the ears also are in position. The liver is making bile, and the kidneys are secreting urine into the bladder. Even though you can't feel your baby move yet, your baby will move inside you in response to pushing on your abdomen. Loading image. Please wait...

2nd Trimester
By the 26th week, your baby will weigh about 1.75 pounds and be about 13 inches long. With this growth comes the development of your baby's features, including fingers, toes, eyelashes, and eyebrows. Around the fifth month, you might feel your baby move! By the end of this trimester, all of your baby's essential organs like the heart, lungs, and kidneys are formed. Loading image. Please wait...

3rd Trimester
Your baby is still growing and moving, but now has less room in your uterus. Because of this, you might not feel the kicks and movements as much as you did in the second trimester. Even before your baby is born he or she will be able to open and close his or her eyes and might even suck a thumb.

As your body starts to prepare for the birth, your baby will start to move into birth position. You might notice the baby "dropping," or moving down lower in your abdomen.

Source: The National Women's Health Information Center
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Office on Women's Health



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