Category: Fetal Development

Fact #30 already?! Week 30: The baby is fully developed by this point, measuring at about 39 cm or 3 lbs (think of iceberg lettuce)! There is about a pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounding the baby, but it will shrink as they get bigger and take up more room. They might even …

By Maria V. Gallagher, Legislative Director, Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation As a journalism student, I was taught never assume. Yet, as a radio reporter, when covering the issue of abortion, I assumed that my listeners knew the basics about abortion. The huge irony here is that I myself did not have a fundamental knowledge of abortion–in …

Week 28: The little baby is now perfectly formed and about the size of a cantaloupe! The heartbeat is so strong, that if someone puts their ear up to the belly, they might be able to hear the heartbeat. The eyes and ears are much more developed, too; the baby can distinguish between high and …

Week 26: By this time, the baby’s eyes can produce tears, the nose is fully “operational” and can detect odors, and the baby can produce deeper “breaths” (of amniotic fluid!). The child’s brain has increased brain activity, so they might respond to certain noises with increased activity or pulse rate.  The baby weighs about 2 …

By Dave Andrusko Over the years I have been fascinated by the skill of the BBC at offering absolutely amazing examples of science developed with laypeople in mind. But replete with spectacular graphics, it’s a series a few years back on “Inside the Human Body” that may be the most captivating  of all. Although it first appeared way …

Week 23: The baby is about the size and has the proportions of a newborn now, but still needs to bulk up a little! With the brain developing more every day, basic life functions are also developing. The baby can breathe, thanks to a substance called surfactant which enables the air sacs to inflate and …

Week 22: By this point, the baby is about the size of a sweet potato . Many organs are continuing to develop, including the pancreas and the lungs. Gums in the mouth are developing tooth buds, which will later prepare for the coming of their first baby teeth! The baby has started to develop their …

Week 20: Since 1973, the advancement of the medical field has seen astronomical improvements. Children at 20 weeks in the womb could not be seen as clear as day as in this picture. This is a human being living inside the womb at 20 weeks gestation. The difference between this child and another outside of …

Week 19: Around this time is when the pregnant mother should start to feel movement inside her womb! The little one can also start to hear voices by this time. The baby is about the size of a pomegranate. To protect their skin from amniotic fluid, the baby will start to form a thin, waxy …

An unborn child’s life is as dramatic as any series you will watch on cable television By Maria V. Gallagher, Legislative Director, Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation The reality of the hidden life of the unborn child can pop up in the least likely of places. I happened to be watching a “reality show” known for its …

Fact #18 underway. Our baby has just experienced her first Christmas nice and cozy in the womb! Week 18: By this time, movement, breathing activity, and heart rate start to follow circadian rhythms. Ultrasounds can start to detect a distinct movement in the baby’s voice box (also called larynx), which is similar to motions made …