Timeline by

Second Trimester

brookeperry1_1 — 2025-09-02 01:07:21 UTC

This trimester is about the fetus's development. They are growing and developing new parts of their bodies every day, each week looking more and more like the baby they will become. They reach the age of viability during the second trimester and often move into the birthing position. The doctor might notice any abnormalities at this point or if the baby is in an incorrect birthing position, such as being breached. The doctors who examine the mother and baby at this point are part of the baby's exosystem and are influenced by what the doctor does and does not see in the examination. A website that might be helpful for mothers who are finding their baby has an abnormality, https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/preventing-and-treating-birth-defects-what-you-need-to-know.

First Trimester

brookeperry1_1 — 2025-09-02 01:07:32 UTC

The first trimester is the preparation, creation, and very basic development of the baby. It is extremely important for the mother of the baby to stay away from terogens that may harm the baby or cause complications later or after birth. Such as smoking, drinking, and making sure to take prenatal vitamins (increase folate). This is important as the mother is the baby's first and only member of its microsystem at this point. The mother houses and nourishes the baby in the uterus. A website that expectant mothers might consider looking at to help navigate early pregnancy is, https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/tips-for-first-time-moms-on-pre-pregnancy-pregnancy-and-postpartum.

Third Trimester

brookeperry1_1 — 2025-09-02 01:08:10 UTC

This trimester is about preparing for birth. The final steps are taken to ensure the baby is ready to be born. At this point, it is important for parents to establish fundamentals about how they will be raising their child if they have not already. It is important for other family, friends, and caregivers to be made aware of these things as well. Things like religion, culture, beliefs and values, and parenting style are all things that make up the baby's macrosystem. Though most of what the macrosystem is does not matter, but that it is there and will shape how the baby learns and develops does. Things like parenting are fundamental to a child's development. During this time, the mother needs to be prepared for what is often the hardest part of giving birth, postpartum. A website that might help expectant mothers in their third trimester is https://www.chop.edu/pages/new-mother-taking-care-yourself-after-birth.

Month 1

brookeperry1_1 — 2025-09-02 01:54:47 UTC

Week 0: Hormones are released in the body, preparing for pregnancy

Week 1: The uterus prepares to be pregnancy

Week 2: An egg is released from the ovary if it meets sperm, resulting in fertilization

Week 3: Fertilization happens and a zygote is created

Week 4: The Zygote is a blastocyst and is implanted into the uterine lining, and the placenta forms

Month 2

brookeperry1_1 — 2025-09-02 01:54:59 UTC

Week 5: Neural tubes are created (brain, spinal cord, nervous system) and a tiny heartbeat

Week 6: Buds from where the arms and legs will form, blood cells are created, and the beginnings of face structure form

Week 7: Internal Genitals form, head grows large, and zygote looks tadpole-like.

Week 8: Hands and feet are formed, webbed, eyes and ears begin to form, and the umbilical cord is formed

Month 3

brookeperry1_1 — 2025-09-02 01:55:10 UTC

Week 9: Now referred to as a fetus, and teeth and taste buds. They look more human-like.

Week 10: Arms, hands, fingers, feet, and toes are developed. External ears and genitals are formed

Week 11: Start opening and closing fists, knees, elbows, and ankles work, and bones start to harden

Week 12: All organs, limbs, bones, and muscles present. Blies develop in the liver and start drinking and peeing amniotic fluid.

Month 4

brookeperry1_1 — 2025-09-02 01:55:32 UTC

Week 13: Vocal cords form and the body becomes more proportionate

Week 14: Skin thickens, head turns, and external genitals are fully formed and can be seen

Week 15: Some organs move to their permanent place, lungs develop, and purposeful movement

Week 16: Lips form, ears can hear, and the fetus reacts to light

Month 5

brookeperry1_1 — 2025-09-02 01:55:41 UTC

Week 17: Starts to put on fat and vernix covers skin ("cheese-like" substance to keep fetus warm and protected)

Week 18: Peach fuzz called lanugo covers the fetus to keep warm, develop a wake-sleep cycle, and loud noises may wake them

Week 19: Stronger kicks, finger prints, and starts to hiccup

Week 20: Fingernails grow to the end of the finger and all five senses are present and develop

Month 6

brookeperry1_1 — 2025-09-02 01:55:51 UTC

Week 21: Movements are coordinated and bone marrow has developed

Week 22: Strong grasp, touch ears, and umbilical cord. Can hear mother's heartbeat, stomach, and breathing

Week 23: Age of viability, where if a fetus is born prematurely, it may survive. Fat is added to the body.

Week 24: Lungs are fully developed only enough for inside the uterus.

Month 7

brookeperry1_1 — 2025-09-02 01:56:06 UTC

Week 25: Added fat to plump the fetus's skin and the nervous system is maturing

Week 26: Fetus develops melanin to add color to the skin and eyes and the lungs mature

Week 27: Eyes open and close to blink and eyelashes form

Week 28: Move to birth position

Month 8

brookeperry1_1 — 2025-09-02 01:56:15 UTC

Week 29: Kicks start to feel like pokes and become crowded within the uterus

Week 30: Control their own body heat and the brain is mostly developed

Week 31: Fetus can process stimuli and develop more distinct wake-sleep patterns

Week 32: All organs besides the lungs and the brain are developed and formed

Month 9

brookeperry1_1 — 2025-09-02 01:56:26 UTC

Week 33: Fetus's bones hardening, aside from cranial bones that stay soft for birth

Week 34: The vernix thickens

Week 35: The Brain grows and only weighs 2/3 of the desired birth weight

Week 36: Fetus loses lanugo and hair grows on the head

Month 10

brookeperry1_1 — 2025-09-02 01:56:36 UTC

Week 37: Toenails grow to the end of toes and the fetus drops to the pelvis

Week 38: Fetus puts on 1/2 pound per week until birth

Week 39: Fetus is full term and continues to gain weight

Week 40: Due date!