Baby's development in the womb
check out this article: "Where Does Life Begin?"
We often refer to human beings according to their age using such terms as toddlers, teens, seniors.
And so the developing child in the womb is called several terms according to his/her 'age'.
A baby by any other name is still a baby!
Day 1: Zygote
* This term refers to the fertilized human egg.
* This is still one cell, however it now has 46 chromosomes (23 maternal and 23 paternal chromosomes) that now form a new individual.
Day 1.5 - 3: Morula
* By day 3, this one cell has divided into 16 to 32 cells and moves along the fallopian tube to the uterus.
Day 4 (approximately): Blastocyst
* 1/10 mm in size the morula changes shape and now the cells begin to differentiate - act unalike - due to the fact that certain genes are switched on or off!
* The first noticeable differentiation -- 2 types of cells form -- one will become the child, the other the yolk sac.
* A short time later, the second big differentiation -- the outer layer (ectoderm) forms -- containing cells for brain, nervous system, spinal cord and the inner layer (endoderm) which will become the inner lining for the stomach and intestines.
* Implantation takes place in the uterine wall -- ideally on the back wall near the spine for support and protection.
Day 14 (approximately): Embryo
* This term usually applies to the unborn baby up to about the 8th week of pregnancy
* During this time:
o 18 days -- baby's heart starts to beat
o 21 days -- baby's heart pumps blood
o 28 days -- baby's eyes, ears begin to form
o 42 days -- baby's brain waves recorded
o Week 8 -- baby's organs complete
the Fetus:
-- Week 9 -- baby swallows, moves tongue
-- Week 11 -- baby has fingernails
-- Week 12 -- baby weighs 1/2 ounce
-- Week 14 -- baby has fingerprints
-- Week 16 -- baby is 6 1/2 " long
(information from book from Conception to Birth - Alexander Tsiaras; ; also from www.prolifeaction.org and www.prolife.com)