The Miracle of Conception

A new life starts when just one sperm cell from the father joins and fertilizes an egg cell from the mother. Just moments after conception numerous hereditary characteristics are determined. These include the different features and individual trademarks such as gender; color of eyes, hair and skin; the shape of the face and body; and certain qualities of temperament and intelligence. A wonderful and unique little life has begun!

WEEK 1

• My cells begin dividing as I travel along your fallopian tube.
• In these cells are the blueprints for my development-hair and eye color, height and sex.

WEEK 2

• The cells have now divided into three layers: The inside layer will become my breathing and digestive organs. The middle layer will develop into bones and muscles, circulatory system, kidneys and sex organs. My outside layer will become my skin and nerves.

WEEK 3

• I am now attached to the wall of your uterus.
• My brain is starting to take shape.

WEEK 4

• My heart is beating.
• My backbone and muscles are forming.
• My eyes are beginning to show.

WEEK 5

• I have arms and legs.
• My brain waves can be detected and recorded.
• My nose and mouth are beginning to show.

WEEK 6

• I have little fingers.
• My heart is beating twice as fast as yours.

WEEK 7

• I'm moving around now.
• My mouth can open and I have lips and a tongue.
• My toes are stubby.

WEEK 8

• My home is about the size of a hen's egg now.
• I'm a little more than an inch long.
• All my major organs are working-my heart, brain, lungs and kidneys, liver and intestine, although not fully developed.
• I can even feel!

WEEK 9

• My vocal cords are developing.
• I even have taste buds.
• The development of my eyes is complete.

WEEK 10

• I am now 1 ½ "long (they measure me from the top of my head to my little bottom).
• My ears are almost fully developed.

WEEK 11

• I get hiccups now.
• I know how to swallow.
• I can even turn my head and make facial expressions-I can frown, squint, and wrinkle my forehead, and I am 2" long!

WEEK 12

• My home (the ovum) is the size of a tennis ball.
• I am swimming and exercising every day.
• I can curl my toes and make a tight fist.
• I'm kicking you now but you probably can't feel it.
• Your clothes are probably starting to get tight now.

The growth pattern described above is recognized medical information, documented by scientific research. Slight variation in development days may exist from individual to individual.