Fetal Development Timeline

Study Notes

Development inside the womb starts with the meeting of the mother's egg and father's sperm, with the fetus receiving messages from the outside world about safety and food availability.
Month 1: Rapid cell division leads to the development of essential organs like the spinal cord, heart, and brain, growing at a rate of 1 million cells per second.
Month 2: Neurological development is crucial as the brain grows rapidly, but exposure to substances like alcohol or extreme stress can lead to long-term issues.
Month 3: Fetus starts reacting to stimuli, developing senses like smell, hearing the mother's heartbeat and voice, and showing movements like stretching arms.
Month 4: Taste buds develop, and inadequate nutrition can lead to fetal programming, potentially causing health problems like obesity and heart conditions later in life.
Month 5: Fetus experiences a growth spurt, develops teeth, hair, and nails, and starts responding to external stimuli like maternal movements.
Month 6: Significant brain development occurs with the splitting of the cerebral cortex, eyes open for the first time, and fetus starts responding to light.
Month 7: Fetus establishes sleeping and waking intervals, responds to external voices, potentially starting to learn language, and has a 90% chance of survival if born.
Month 8: Fetus behaves like a newborn, with functional brain and almost fully formed lungs, practicing breathing movements.
Month 9: Motor skills are practiced, responses to external stimuli like maternal laughter are observed, and preference for natural birth for stronger immunity is highlighted.
Fetal development culminates after nine months with the foundation laid for future learning experiences.

Description

Explore the stages of fetal development from conception to birth, highlighting significant milestones each month such as organ formation, neurological growth, sensory development, and readiness for survival outside the womb.