Month 1

A water-tight sac forms around the fertilised egg and fills with liquid. This is the amniotic sac that cushions the growing embryo. The placenta, which transfers nutrients from mother to baby and transfers waste from the baby also develops. The baby's face begins to develop. Circulation in the baby's body will begin. By the end of the first month baby is only a tiny ¼ inch long!

Month 2

Facial features develop on the baby and arms, legs, fingers, toes and eyes are forming. The neural tube will have formed and the digestive tract is starting to develop. By the end of the second month, the baby will be a foetus weighs about 1/3 ounce and measures about 1 inch long. At six weeks, the heartbeat can usually be detected.

Month 3

By the end of this month your baby will be fully formed. The reproductive organs are still in their early stages of forming, but the circulatory and urinary systems are working. At the end of this month, baby will measure about 3-4 inches long and weigh around 1 ounce. Chance of miscarriage at this stage is very low.

2^nd Trimester

Month 4

At this stage, baby can now suck his or her thumb, yawn and pull faces. Their eyelids, eyebrows, eyelashes, nails and hair are formed. The nervous system begins to function. Reproductive organs are now fully developed and an ultrasound will reveal the gender of your baby. By the end of this month, baby will weigh around 4 ounces and measure approximately 6 inches in length.

Month 5

A soft hair will have covered baby's shoulders, back and temples to protect him or her. The skin is also covered with vernix caseosa, which is a white coating that is believed to protect baby from amniotic fluid. It is shed just before birth. Mothers often feel their baby move for the first time in this month. At the end of this month, baby will weigh between ½ to 1 pound and be 10 inches long.

Month 6

At the end of this month, the baby's eyes will begin to open and fingerprints are visible. At the end of this month baby will measure about 12 inches long with weight around 2 pounds.

3rd Trimester

Month 7

By the end of the seventh month, baby's hearing is fully developed and he or she will move frequently in response to sound, light and pain. The amniotic fluid begins to dissipate. The baby will weigh from 2 to 4 pounds and measure 14 inches.

Month 8

The baby's brain will be developing quickly and baby can see and hear. As the body continues to mature the reserves of fat on the baby's body will develop. Baby now measures about 18 inches in length and can weigh up to 5 pounds.

Month 9

At this stage of the baby's development the lungs will be almost completely developed and reflexes will be functioning. The position of the baby will change to prepare itself for birth. Baby drops down in the pelvis and the head is usually facing towards the birth canal. By the end of this month, most babies weigh about 7 pounds and are 18-20 inches long.

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