END OF FOURTH GESTATIONAL WEEK
be evident in amniotic fluid.
 The length of the embryo is about 0.75 cm;
weight is about 400 mg.
 The spinal cord is formed and fused at the
midpoint.
 The head is large in proportion and
represents about one third of the entire
structure.
 The rudimentary heart appears as a
prominent bulge on the anterior surface.
 Arms and legs are bud-like structures;
rudimentary eyes, ears, and nose are
discernible
END OF EIGHTH GESTATIONAL WEEK
 The length of the fetus is about 2.5 cm (1
in.); weight is about 20 g.
 Organogenesis is complete.
 The heart, with a septum and valves, beats
rhythmically.
 Facial features are definitely discernible;
arms and legs have developed.
 External genitalia are forming, but sex is not
yet distinguishable by simple observation.
 The abdomen bulges forward because the
fetal intestine is growing so rapidly.
 A sonogram shows a gestational sac, which
is diagnostic of pregnancy.
END OF 12TH GESTATIONAL WEEK (FIRST
TRIMESTER)
 The length of the fetus is 7 to 8 cm;
weight is about 45 g.
 Nail beds are forming on fingers and
toes.
 Spontaneous movements are possible,
although they are usually too faint to
be felt by the mother.
 Some reflexes, such as the Babinski
reflex, are present.
 Bone ossification centers begin to form.
 Tooth buds are present.
 Sex is distinguishable on outward
appearance.
 Urine secretion begins but may not yet
 The heartbeat is audible through
Doppler technology.
END OF 16TH GESTATIONAL WEEK
 The length of the fetus is 10 to 17 cm;
weight is 55 to 120 g.
 Fetal heart sounds are audible by an
ordinary stethoscope.
 Lanugo is well formed.
 Both the liver and pancreas are functioning.
 The fetus actively swallows amniotic fluid,
demonstrating an intact but uncoordinated
swallowing reflex; urine is present in
amniotic fluid.
 Sex can be determined by ultrasonography.
END OF 20TH GESTATIONAL WEEK
 The length of the fetus is 25 cm; weight is
223 g.
 Spontaneous fetal movements can be
sensed by the mother.
 Antibody production is possible.
 Hair, including eyebrows, forms on the
head; vernix caseosa begins to cover the
skin.
 Meconium is present in the upper intestine.
 Brown fat, a special fat that aids in
temperature regulation, begins to form
behind the kidneys, sternum, and posterior
neck.
 Passive antibody transfer from mother to
fetus begins.
 Definite sleeping and activity patterns are
distinguishable as the fetus develops
biorhythms that will guide sleep/wake
patterns throughout life.
END OF 24TH GESTATIONAL WEEK (SECOND
TRIMESTER)
 The length of the fetus is 28 to 36 cm;
weight is 550 g.
 Meconium is present as far as the rectum.
 Active production of lung surfactant begins.
 Eyelids, previously fused since the 12th
week, now open; pupils react to light.
 Hearing can be demonstrated by response
to sudden sound.
 When fetuses reach 24 weeks, or 500 to
600 g, they have achieved a practical low-
end age of viability if they are cared for
after birth in a modern intensive care
nursery.
END OF 28TH GESTATIONAL WEEK
 The length of the fetus is 35 to 38 cm;
weight is 1,200 g.
 Lung alveoli are almost mature; surfactant
can be demonstrated in amniotic fluid.
 Testes begin to descend into the scrotal sac
from the lower abdominal cavity.
 The blood vessels of the retina are formed
but thin and extremely susceptible to
damage from high oxygen concentrations
(an important consideration when caring for
preterm infants who need oxygen).
END OF 32ND GESTATIONAL WEEK
 The length of the fetus is 38 to 43 cm;
weight is 1,600 g.
 Subcutaneous fat begins to be deposited
(the former stringy, “little old man”
appearance is lost).
 Fetus responds by movement to sounds
outside the mother’s body.
 An active Moro reflex is present.
 Iron stores, which provide iron for the time
during which the neonate will ingest only
breast milk after birth, are beginning to be
built.
 Fingernails reach the end of fingertips.
END OF 36TH GESTATIONAL WEEK
 The length of the fetus is 42 to 48 cm;
weight is 1,800 to 2,700 g (5 to 6 lb).
 Body stores of glycogen, iron,
carbohydrate, and calcium
deposited.
 Additional amounts of subcutaneous
fat are deposited.
 Sole of the foot has only one or two
crisscross creases compared with a full
crisscross pattern evident at term.
 Amount of lanugo begins to diminish.
 Most fetuses turn into a vertex (head
down) presentation during this month.
END OF 40TH GESTATIONAL WEEK (THIRD
TRIMESTER)
 The length of the fetus is 48 to 52 cm
(crown to rump, 35 to 37 cm); weight is
3,000 g (7 to 7.5 lb).
 Fetus kicks actively, sometimes hard
enough to cause the mother considerable
discomfort.
 Fetal hemoglobin begins its conversion to
adult hemoglobin.
 Vernix caseosa starts to decrease after the
infant reaches 37 weeks gestation and may
be more apparent in the creases than the
covering of the body as the infant
approaches 40 weeks or more gestational
age.
 Fingernails extend over the fingertips.
 Creases on the soles of the feet cover at
least two thirds of the surface. In primiparas
(i.e., women having their first baby), the
fetus often sinks into the birth canal during
the last 2 weeks of pregnancy, giving the
mother a feeling the load she is carrying is
less. This event, termed lightening, is a fetal
announcement that the fetus is in a ready
position and birth is nearing.
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