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Our first nine months of life must have been
the most eventful we have ever experienced. Here are the major
milestones of that life before birth — the chapter in
your own biography:
Note: Significant milestones marked in
red.
Conception: The father’s sperm penetrates
mother’s egg cell. Genetic instructions from both parents
interact to begin a new 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.
14 days: Mother’s menstrual period
is suppressed by a hormone produced by her child.
18 days: Heart is forming. Soon eyes
start to develop.
20 days: Foundations of brain, spinal
cord and nervous system are laid.
24 days: Heart
begins to beat.
28 days: Muscles are developing along
the future spine. Arms and legs are budding.
30 days: Child has grown 10,000 times
to 6-7 mm (1/4") long. Brain has human proportions. Blood
flows in veins (but stays separate from mother’s blood).
35 days: Pituitary gland in brain is
forming. Mouth, ears and nose are taking shape.
40 days: Heart’s energy output is
20 percent of adult’s.
42 days: Skeleton is formed. Brain coordinates
movement of muscles and organs. Reflex responses have begun.
Penis is forming in boys. (Mother misses second period.)
43 days: Brain waves can be recorded.
45 days: Spontaneous movements have begun.
Buds of milk teeth have appeared.
7 weeks: Lips are sensitive to touch.
Ears may resemble family pattern.
8 weeks: Child is well proportioned.
Now a small scale baby, 3cm (1 1/8") and weighing a gram (1/30th
oz.) Every organ is present. Heart beats sturdily. Stomach
produces digestive juices. Liver makes blood cells. 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: Child will bend fingers around
an object placed in the palm. Thumb sucking occurs. Fingernails
are now forming.
10 weeks: Body is sensitive to touch.
Child squints, swallows, puckers up brow and frowns.
11 weeks: Baby urinates, makes complex
facial expressions — even smiles.
12 weeks: Vigorous activity shows distinct
individuality. Child can kick, turn feet, curl and fan toes,
make a fist, move thumbs, bend wrists, turn head, open mouth
and press lips tightly together. Breathing is practiced.
13 weeks: Face is prettier, facial expressions
resembling parents’. Movements are graceful, reflexes
vigorous. Vocal chords are formed (but without air baby cannot
cry). Sex organs are apparent.
4 months: Child can grasp with hands,
swim and turn somersaults.
4-5 months: Mother first feels baby’s
movements.
5 months: Sleeping habits appear, but
a slammed door will provoke activity. Child responds to sounds
in frequencies too high or low for adults to hear.
6 months: Fine hair grows on eye brows
& head. Eye-lash fringe appears. Weight is about 640g (22
oz.), height 23 cm (9"). Babies born at this age 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 lbs.) and baby’s quarters get cramped.
9 months: 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.
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Article reprinted with permission from Heritage House 76, Inc.
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