Conception Slideshow: From Egg to Embryo

Conception: From Egg to Embryo

Take a journey with us from the moment a single sperm fertilizes an egg. From tiny egg to growing
embryo, follow the incredible process of conception.

Ovulation
Ovulation happens each month when one of a woman's two ovaries releases a mature egg. It happens
about two weeks after the first day of her last menstrual period.

Moving Into the Fallopian Tube

After the egg is released from the ovary, it travels into the fallopian tube. It stays there until a single sperm
fertilizes it.

The Sperm's Long Journey

A man may ejaculate 40 million to150 million sperm, which start swimming upstream toward the fallopian
tubes on their mission to fertilize an egg. Fast-swimming sperm can reach the egg in a half an hour, while
others may take days. The sperm can live up to 48-72 hours. Only a few hundred will even come close to
the egg, because of the many natural barriers that exist in a woman's body.

Fertilization: Sperm Penetrates Egg

It takes about 24 hours for a sperm cell to fertilize an egg. When the sperm penetrates the egg, the
surface of the egg changes so that no other sperm can enter. At the moment of fertilization, the baby's
genetic makeup is complete, including whether it's a boy or girl.

The Cells Start to Divide

The fertilized egg starts growing fast, dividing into many cells. It leaves the fallopian tube and enters the
uterus three to four days after fertilization. In rare cases, the fertilized egg does not leave the fallopian
tube. This is called a tubal pregnancy or ectopic pregnancy and is a danger to the mother.

Implantation
After it gets to the uterus, the fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus, or endometrium. This
process is called implantation. The cells keep dividing.

Pregnancy Hormones
Within about a week of conception, a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) can be found
in the mother's blood. It is produced by cells that will become the placenta. The hormone will show up on
a blood or urine pregnancy test at the doctor's office. But it usually takes three to four weeks for levels of
hCG to be high enough to be detected by home pregnancy tests.

Baby's Development
After the egg attaches to the uterus, some cells become the placenta while others become the embryo.
The heart begins beating during week five. The brain, spinal cord, heart, and other organs are beginning
to form. At the eighth week the developing baby, now called a fetus, is well over a half-inch long -- and
growing. A "full term" delivery generally happens around 40 weeks.

Slideshow: Fetal Development Month by Month

Your Baby's Growth: Conception to Birth

You're pregnant. Congratulations! Are you curious how big your developing baby is, what your baby looks
like as it grows inside you, and when you'll feel it move? Take a peek inside the womb to see how a baby
develops from month to month.

Conception
Fertilization happens when a sperm meets and penetrates an egg. It's also called conception. At this
moment, the genetic makeup is complete, including the sex of the baby. Within about three days after
conception, the fertilized egg is dividing very fast into many cells. It passes through the fallopian tube into
the uterus, where it attaches to the uterine wall. The placenta, which will nourish the baby, also starts to
form.

Development at 4 Weeks

At this point the baby is developing the structures that will eventually form his face and neck. The heart
and blood vessels continue to develop. And the lungs, stomach, and liver start to develop. A home
pregnancy test would show positive.

Development at 8 Weeks
The baby is now a little over half an inch in size. Eyelids and ears are forming, and you can see the tip of
the nose. The arms and legs are well formed. The fingers and toes grow longer and more distinct.

Development at 12 Weeks
The baby measures about 2 inches and starts to make its own movements. You may start to feel the top
of your uterus above your pubic bone. Your doctor may hear the baby's heartbeat with special
instruments. The sex organs of the baby should start to become clear.

Development at 16 Weeks
The baby now measures about 4.3 to 4.6 inches and weighs about 3.5 ounces. You should be able to feel
the top of your uterus about 3 inches below your belly button. The baby's eyes can blink and the heart
and blood vessels are fully formed. The baby's fingers and toes have fingerprints.

Development at 20 Weeks
The baby weighs about 10 ounces and is a little more than 6 inches long. Your uterus should be at the
level of your belly button. The baby can suck a thumb, yawn, stretch, and make faces. Soon -- if you
haven't already -- you'll feel your baby move, which is called "quickening."

Time for an Ultrasound

An ultrasound is usually done for all pregnant women at 20 weeks. During this ultrasound, the doctor will
make sure that the placenta is healthy and attached normally and that your baby is growing properly. You
can see the baby's heartbeat and movement of its body, arms, and legs on the ultrasound. You can
usually find out whether it's a boy or a girl at 20 weeks.
Shown here is a 2D ultrasound (inset) contrasted with a 4D ultrasound, both at 20 weeks.

Development at 24 Weeks
The baby weighs about 1.4 pounds now and responds to sounds by moving or increasing his pulse. You
may notice jerking motions if he hiccups. With the inner ear fully developed, the baby may be able to
sense being upside down in the womb.

Development at 28 Weeks
The baby weighs about 2 pounds, 6 ounces, and changes position often at this point in pregnancy. If you
had to deliver prematurely now, there is a good chance the baby would survive. Ask your doctor about
preterm labor warning signs. Now is the time to register for birthing classes. Birthing classes prepare you
for many aspects of childbirth, including labor and delivery and taking care of your newborn.

Development at 32 Weeks
The baby weighs almost 4 pounds and is moving around often. The baby's skin has fewer wrinkles as a
layer of fat starts to form under the skin. Between now and delivery, your baby will gain up to half his birth
weight. Ask your doctor how to do a fetal movement chart. Think about breastfeeding. You may notice a
yellowish fluid leaking from your breasts. That is colostrum, and it happens to get your breasts ready for
making milk. Most women go to the doctor every two weeks at this stage of pregnancy.

Development at 36 Weeks
Babies differ in size, depending on many factors, such as gender, the number of babies being carried,
and size of the parents. So your baby's overall rate of growth is as important as the actual size. On
average, a baby at this stage is about 18.5 inches and weighs close to 6 pounds. The brain has been
developing rapidly. Lungs are nearly fully developed. The head is usually positioned down into the pelvis
by now. A pregnancy is considered "at term" once it's past 37 weeks.

Birth!
A mother's due date marks the end of her 40th week. The delivery date is calculated using the first day of
her last period. Based on this, pregnancy can last between 38 and 42 weeks with a full-term delivery
happening around 40 weeks. Some post-term pregnancies -- those lasting more than 42 weeks -- are not
really late. The due date may just not be accurate. For safety reasons, most babies are delivered by 42
weeks. Sometimes the doctor may need to induce labor.