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Fetal Development Weeks 5 Through 8
See what's happening with your baby in the second month of your pregnancy.
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Congratulations! The date your period would have normally started has come and gone, and by now you've probably taken a pregnancy test and learned the big news. That positive urine-test result was caused by your body's raised level of the telltale "pregnancy hormone," human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). This is the magical stuff that makes your period vanish for nine months.
You've only just found out that a baby is on the way, but deep inside the uterus, the first traces of the fetus's body are already beginning to appear. A "primitive streak" forms on the surface of the embryonic cell cluster: this pair of ridges will join to form the spinal cord and the brain. Folic acid helps this early development get started in just the right way -- and that's why it's incredibly important to get lots of this vital nutrient into your system as early as possible.
About sixteen days after ovulation, the embryo's cells organize themselves into three specialized layers: the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. These layers eventually give rise to all of baby's tiny parts:
- Endoderm forms the lungs, tongue, tonsils, urethra and associated glands, bladder and digestive tract.
- Mesoderm forms the muscles, bones, lymphatic tissue, spleen, blood cells, heart, and reproductive and excretory systems.
- Ectoderm forms the skin, nails, hair, lens of eye, lining of the internal and external ear, nose, sinuses, mouth, anus, tooth enamel, pituitary gland, mammary glands, and all parts of the nervous system.
Next: Week 6
Topics in Pregnancy Stages
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Im Mara, Im 5 weeks pregnant and just found out! Im 31 years old, 2nd child. My husband and I planned this pregnancy, and already had a scare. My Dr. thought it may be an Ectopic pregnancy, but it was a fasle alarm thank GOD! I to just want to get through this 1st trimester, and have a healthy baby.... boy or girl doesn't matter to me :)
11/6/2009 07:26:08 PM Report AbuseIam 5 weeks pregnant and this is my second one, also still nervous. This was a planned one and i think that makes it harder, specially the wait and hoping every thing is okay. No morning sickness, yes!
11/4/2009 10:13:05 AM Report AbuseIm Heather, im 6 weeks pregnant and im only 17 years old. I dont even know what to think. It wasn't planned but now that it happened my boyfriend of 3 years and I are kinda excited, but im also very nervous simply because i have a living, growing thing inside of me that im responsible for. Hopefully everything will turn out okay and i will have a healthy baby.
11/3/2009 08:19:09 PM Report AbuseHello my name is Sherry I'm 39 years old. My husband and I have been planning on starting at family and on October 20 we found out that we were pregnant. I too have been on a rollercoaster ride with all my emotions. I went to the library and checked out some pregnancy books and reading them have helped me out alote. I wish all of you the very best in your happy journey!
11/3/2009 02:41:55 PM Report AbuseHi,my name is Wanda.I'm 38 and 6wks pregnant.This will be my second child.My first is now 19.Yes...this was planned.Call me crazy,but my husband doesn't have any children.I'm very excited,but nervous too.Last Jan I had a miscarriage(ovum pregnancy).This was a sad time for us,but things happen for a reason.I just want to get through the first trimester and have a healthy baby.Best of luck to all of you.
11/1/2009 09:46:38 AM Report Abuse