"Fetal Development Milestone": Weeks Organ To Be Developed Clinical Implication

Balanay, Sonia Marie L.
BSN IV – B
“Fetal Development Milestone”

Weeks Organ to be Developed Clinical Implication
End of 4th  Length: 0.75 to 1 cm; Weight: 400 mg.  May have positive results in
Gestational Week  Spinal cord is formed and fused at midpoint. a hormone pregnancy test
 Lateral wings that will form the body are folded  Basal body temperature may
forward to fuse at the midline. be higher than usual
 Head folds forward, becoming prominent,  Mild uterine cramping
representing about one third of the entire  Morning sickness
structure.
 The back is bent so the head almost touches the
tip of the tall.
 The rudimentary heart appears as a prominent
bulge on the anterior surface.
 Arms and legs are budlike structures.
 Rudimentary eyes, ears, and nose are
discernible.
End of 8th  Length: 2.5 cm (1 in.); Weight: 20 g.  Brain waves can already be
Gestational Week  Organogenesis is complete. detected by the ECG
 The heart, with a septum and valves, is beating  The abdomen bulges
rhythmically. forward because the fetal
 Facial features are definitely discernible. intestine is growing so
 Arms and legs have developed. rapidly.
 External genitalia are forming, but sex is not yet  Sonogram shows a
distinguishable by simple observation. gestational sac, diagnostic
 The primitive tail is regressing. of pregnancy.
 Eyes, inner ears develop as projections of the
original neural tube.
End of 12th  Length: 7 to 8 cm; Weight: 45 g.  The heartbeat is audible
Gestational Week  Nail beds are forming on fingers and toes. through Doppler
(First Trimester)  Some reflexes, such as the Babinski reflex, are technology.
present.  Spontaneous movements are
 Bone ossification centers begin to form. possible, although they are
 Tooth buds are present. usually too faint to be felt
 Sex is distinguishable by outward appearance. by the mother.
 Urine secretion begins but may not yet be
evident in amniotic fluid.
End of 16th  Length: 10 to 17 cm; Weight: 55 to 120 g.  Fetal heart sounds are
Gestational Week  Lanugo is well formed. audible by an ordinary
 Liver and pancreas are functioning. stethoscope.
 Fetus actively swallows amniotic fluid,  Sex can be determined by
demonstrating an intact but uncoordinated ultrasound.
swallowing reflex; urine is present in amniotic
fluid.
 Urine is present in amniotic fluid.
End of 20th  Length: 25 cm; Weight: 223 g.  Spontaneous fetal
Gestational Week  Antibody production is possible. movements can be sensed
 The hair forms on the head, extending to by the mother.
include eyebrows.
 Meconium is present in the upper intestine.  Fetal heartbeat strong to be
 Brown fat forms. audible.
 Vernix caseosa produced by sebaceous gland.
 Passive antibody transfer from mother to fetus
begins.
 Definite sleeping and activity patterns are
distinguishable.
End of 28th  Length: 35 to 38 cm; Weight: 1,200 g.  The blood vessels of the
Gestational Week  Eyes open. retina are formed but thin
 Lung alveoli begin to mature. and extremely susceptible to
 Testes to begin to descend. damage from high oxygen
 Surfactant found in amniotic fluid. concentrations (an
important consideration
when caring for preterm
infants who need oxygen).
End of 32nd  Length: 38 to 43 cm; Weight: 1,600 g  Active Moro reflex is
Gestational Week  Subcutaneous fat begins to be deposited (the present.
former stringy, “little old man” appearance is  Fetus responds by
lost). movement to sounds outside
 Iron stores, which provide iron for the time the mother’s body.
during which the neonate will ingest only milk (Former stringy, “little old
after birth, are beginning to be developed. man” appearance is lost).
 Fingernails grow to reach the end of fingertips.  Birth position may be
assumed.
End of 36th  Length: 42 to 48 cm; Weight: 1,800 to 2,700 g  Most babies turn into a
Gestational Week (5 to 6 lbs.) vertex (head down)
 Body stores of glycogen, iron, carbohydrate, presentation during this
and calcium are deposited. month.
 Additional amounts of subcutaneous fat are  Sole of the foot has only
deposited. one or two crisscross
 Amount of lanugo begins to diminish. creases, compared with the
full crisscross pattern that
will be evident at term.
End of 40th  Length: 48 to 52 cm; Weight: 3,000g  Fetus kicks actively, hard
Gestational Week (7 to 7.5 lbs.) enough to cause the mother
(Third Trimester)  Fetal hemoglobin begins its conversion to adult considerable discomfort.
hemoglobin.  Creases on the soles of the
 Vernix caseosa is fully formed. feet cover at least two thirds
 Fingernails extend over the fingertips. of the surface.
Reference:
Johnson, Joyce Young., et al. Study Guide to Accompany Maternal & Child Health Nursing: Care of the
Childbearing & Childrearing Family. Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2008.

"Fetal Development Milestone": Weeks Organ To Be Developed Clinical Implication

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

"Fetal Development Milestone": Weeks Organ To Be Developed Clinical Implication

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

"Fetal Development Milestone": Weeks Organ To Be Developed Clinical Implication

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Balanay, Sonia Marie L.

“Fetal Development Milestone”

You might also like