Chapter 47
What Happens During Forty Weeks of
Pregnancy
The First Stage (Weeks 0 – 12)
Pregnancy is divided into three phases or stages. Much of the hard work of growing a baby
takes place during the first stage which is from conception until about twelve weeks.
(a) The egg is released from the ovary in the middle of the menstrual cycle (usually
at around day fourteen for a regular cycle). The sperms swim towards the egg,
and surround it in the outer part of one of the fallopian tubes.
(b) Once one sperm has penetrated the egg, the egg’s surface changes to prevent other
sperms from getting through, and the fertilized egg journeys on down the tube and
attaches itself to the lining of the uterus.
(c) You may begin to notice slight changes, perhaps in your sense of taste, some
breast tenderness, or feelings of nausea sometimes accompanied by throwing up.
(d) From week 5 to 8, the baby’s main organs begin to grow and the nervous system
develops. The heart begins to beat at about six weeks and the limbs start
developing. The face also begins to develop and the mouth and tongue become
visible.
(e) From this point, many women now notice they are pregnant. Your breasts may
start to grow bigger, and you may feel tired and nauseous and go off certain foods.
(f) From week 9 to 12, the embryo begins to look more like a baby now and is
technically referred to as a foetus. During this period, all the major organs such
as the lungs, kidneys and liver are formed. The skeleton begins to develop too.
The ears and nose can be recognized, and the eyes form, but are still closed.
Fingers and toes are growing, and the baby even has the beginnings of external
genital organs. You may discover that the feelings of nausea begin to reduce at
this stage.