How Big Is Your Baby: A Guide to The Prenatal Fetus Broken Down by Months and Weeks

If you are checking this out because of your own little miracle, I just have one word to say tot you: Congratulations! You are beginning one of the greatest adventures of your life! From this point forward, you're life will never be the same. Here is a look at the development of your baby as you go through your pregnancy. You will be walked through the size of your baby, what developments are going on, and what your baby is experiencing within each month of your pregnancy. This precious little miracle is growing so rapidly. Nine months down the road, you can hold that little darling in your arms. How you take care of your body and eat will be very important, such as your need for iron, your need to stay fit, and your health care options. But let's forget about those for the moment and enjoy learning about how your baby is developing right now!

Size: Just two layers of cells, with only a head and a tail a little less than a quarter of an inch. Tiny buds are beginning to form that will eventually form arms and legs.

Unique Qualities: Although your baby only consists of a few cells at the beginning of this month, all of their organs, tissues, and multiple cells will develop from these two layers. The spinal cord and muscles have begun to develop. At around the fifth week, a crevice that will be the mouth is beginning to form, the eyes are beginning to develop, and even the fingers and toes are beginning to appear. At the end of the month, a prominent bulge in the head will appear as major brain development will occur.

Size: equal to a kidney bean

Unique Qualities: Facial features are beginning to form. Your baby now has slightly webbed, but distinct fingers! At the beginning of this month, the intestines, liver, kidneys, lungs, and heart are forming. At around ten weeks your baby's joints are almost fully formed, and they will begin to actively move. They will begin to wrap their fingers around anything within its grasp (like it's arm, legs, fingers, ears, and nose).

Welcome to the Second Trimester!!!

Size: Weighs around one ounce, and is about three inches long.

Unique Qualities: Your baby is so developed they even have fingerprints! Although most babies are not born with teeth, buds for all 20 temporary teeth are beginning to develop. By the end of this month, your babies kidneys are beginning to work, and they can actually form urine that will be excreted in the amniotic fluid.

Size: Your child is about five inches long and weighs about five ounces. Slightly smaller than your hand! Despite the small size, he is filling your entire uterus leaving them feeling nice and cramped.

Unique Qualities: The bones are beginning to solidify. Up to this point, the bones were more like rubbery cartilage, like at the tip of your nose or the hard part of your ear. The bones are finally beginning to harden. The sex of the baby can usually be determined during this month!

Size: Ten inches long from head to toe!

Unique Qualities: Your baby now has eyebrows and eyelids.The mother most likely has begun feeling the babies movement. This usually occurs somewhere between 16 and 20 weeks along. Your babies skin is beginning to form sweat glands.

Size: Your baby weighs about a pound! Despite it's smallness, if you go into labor, the baby has a chance of survival.

Unique Qualities: Your baby is beginning to put on baby fat. The baby will begin to fill out and their skin will become the sweet lovable plump baby you will see in two to three months! Since the third month, you're babies eyelids have been fused shut. They are now beginning to have a slit so that way they can open their eyelids. They also now have taste buds. Ironically, their taste buds are more abundant than one can find in an adult or infant.

Welcome to the Third Trimester!!!

Size: Your baby weighs around 3 pounds and is about 15 inches long!

Unique Qualities: Your baby now can open and shut their eyes. They also are beginning to be able to follow light with their eyes!

Size: Your baby weighs about 4 3/4 pounds. A little more than half of the weight they will have when they are born.

Unique Qualities: Your baby is beginning to put on fat layers rounding out. Their lungs are beginning to finish developing and they are beginning to practice breathing.

Size: The average baby when born is around 19 inches and 7 pounds, but babies vary a lot when they are actually born.

Unique Qualities: They are preparing to be born, and ready to meet you! Congratulations! You're a Mom (or Dad)!