Stages of Fetal Development - My Little Journey
I started as a teeny-weeny cell, smaller than those little dots you like to put at the end of your sentences when you’re writing. They told me I was formed after my Dad’s sperm joined my Mom’s egg. I keep asking them how the sperm and egg found their way together but they won’t tell. They said I’ll have to wait ’til I’m all grown to learn more about that. Anyway, my long journey began from that fated union. I started growing in Mom’s womb, in her uterus. I liked it in there. It felt like living in a balloon. I was floating and swimming through a watery wetness they like to call amniotic fluid. I was living in a soft and stretchy environment. It was warm and comfortable in there. I felt at home.
First Three Weeks
The first three weeks was an amazing ride! I started splitting into two cells. And then there were four of me. The next thing I knew, there were eight of me. I was already three weeks old, but I was only about as big as the mole on my Uncle Johnny’s face. I think I was ten times smaller than an inch.
But I felt very proud. But why, I already had a brain, a stomach, lungs and my very own pair of eyes. And I was surprised by how my heart was beating on a regular basis. It already started to beat when I was only eighteen days old, but it was unpredictable and irregular back then.
Maybe it was the regular flow of water, food and air coming through the umbilical cord that was making me better each day. That tube was attached to my mid-stomach. I tried to see where the other end of the tube went. I think it was attached to the inside of Mom’s uterus. Yeah, I think it was my Mom who was giving me all those nice things. I love you Mom!
Fourth and Fifth Week
Then the fourth and the fifth week came. I was amazed by how my fingers and toes started forming. They were very cute. Then all those nice stuff started showing on my face. Yeah, that was when my mouth, ears and nose started to appear. And my, oh my, I noticed that I’ve grown. I was no longer as big as Uncle Johnny’s mole. I’ve grown to the size of Aunt Tina’s fingernail! And I loved how I could now wiggle my body. And buds started growing in my mouth too.
Sixth Week
The next thing I knew, I was already six weeks old. My skeleton was finally complete. I must say I loved my new frame. It started out as an elastic-like substance, a cartilage, and then it started to harden. The soft cartilage turned into bones. I had bones!
Seventh Week
Then I grew a week older. I was taller then, about the size of my big brother Mike’s toe. My heart was already pumping blood that was all my own, not my Mom’s. Then I noticed something growing between my legs. It was weird but that’s how I found out that I was a boy. I was to grow up to be more like my Dad than my Mom, more like Mike too.
Ninth-Tenth Week
I was about 9-10 weeks old when I started to choose my own rhythm of play and naps. My mouth, my eyelids and my hands became much more sensitive to touch. I started feeling all sorts of things. I started playing. I enjoyed sucking my thumb too. I was proud of my fingers and their perfect nails. I also enjoyed opening and closing my mouth. I was only 1½ inch tall but I could do a lot of great things. I felt very proud!
Second Month
Before I knew it, I was already two months old. That’s when I felt really grown-up. I thought I heard my Mom laughing too. They told me later that it was because they were taking ultrasound images of me. My Mom was laughing because she could hear my heartbeat. I don’t know what’s so funny about it though. Grown-ups can be really weird.
Third Month
I was already two inches tall back then. And I could swim like one of those fishes my Grandma liked to keep in her aquarium. I must say I was very good. There was urine all over the place though. And it was all coming from my kidney. Good thing my Mom always changed the water in the uterus.
I was starting to make poopoo too. But they all went out through my Mom’s bloodstream. Thank God! And oh, I started making all sorts of funny faces. I loved how I could now smile and frown and do all sorts of stuff with my face.
Fourth Month
I got really big when I was four months old. Would you believe that I was 6 inches tall? My Mom started noticing me too, especially when I kicked and squirmed.
Fifth Month
I was five months old when I started to breathe. They say that was to get me ready for when I was finally out of my Mom’s womb. I was also already starting to really hear my Mom. All Mommies should be really careful with what they say when they have a baby living in their wombs.
Sometimes I would hiccup a lot. My Mom would then tell me to go to sleep. Maybe I was bothering her or something.
Sixth to Eighth Month
I was twelve inches long! I was all grown. My eyes were getting better too. Sometimes I would even see a red glow. I had to cover my eyes with my hands. Maybe my Mom was at the beach or something.
I’ve become fatter that time too. I felt ready to finally get out and meet my Mom. Besides, the womb was getting too small for me. I couldn’t swim or wiggle anymore.
Ninth Month
Though my Mom’s womb was already too small for me, it still felt soft and warm. And I loved how I could hear Mom’s heart beat. It never failed to lull me to sleep. But I was ready and willing to get out and finally meet her. I was all grown. I was ready.
Then it happened. After a really tight hug, blinding bright lights forced my eyes to open. Voila! I made it! I was out. Then I met my Mom. I knew I would love her forever.
Remember, taking good care of yourself now is imperative including your diet. If you have concerns or a motherly interest about the food and beverage you’re consuming, consult your doctor and down-load this pregnancy diet guide and read it!
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