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" Hello, I have just found out I am pregnant and I would like to know more information about the three stages of prenatal development. I am wanting to know what to expect in terms of what I would be experiencing in each stage and the physical development that would be occuring for my baby"

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Hi, thanks for reaching out! and congratulations on your pregnancy. These are the three stages of prenatal development. these are the 3 stages of prenatal development, germinal stage, embryonic stage and the foetal stage.

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You should already be past the germinal stage since it lasts 0-2 weeks of pregnancy.

The germinal stage starts at fertilisation and ends with implantation.

In the first week of pregnancy, fertilization occurs, forming a zygote that travels to the uterus.

By the second week, the zygote becomes a blastocyst and implants into the uterine lining, where the placenta begins to develop.

The placenta, located in the uterus, connects to the umbilical cord, helping the transfer of nutrients to the baby.

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After the germinal stage, the pregnancy enters the embryonic stage at 3-8 weeks.

During the embryonic stage (3-8 weeks), cell differentiation occurs, developing specialized cells like heart, skin, and bone cells. Organogenesis occurs when the baby’s internal organs and systems, such as the circulatory, nervous, and digestive systems, as well as the stomach, kidneys, brain, and spinal cord, begin to form.

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The foetal stage, from 9 to 38 weeks of pregnancy, is the last stage of your baby's development before birth. During this time, your baby, now called a "foetus," grows rapidly and all the organs and systems that started forming earlier are now working properly.

Your baby starts practicing breathing movements, although their lungs are still filled with amniotic fluid, not air. As the foetus grows, your belly will expand significantly.

Around weeks 14 to 18, you can have an ultrasound to find out your baby's sex. By 34 to 38 weeks, the baby usually moves into a "head down" position, ready for a healthy birth.

I hope this information has helped answer your inquiry, good luck on your pregnancy.