Baby Development Week By Week

Baby Development Week By Week - Birth To 1 1/2 Months

Kahlil Gibran

Baby Development Week By Week: Birth to 1½ months

- Just like the elderly your baby will sleep most of each day but for short periods of time.

· Your baby will watch and listen to people and things around him/her

· Being held or cuddled is important to your baby. TIME-TOUCH-TALK is things every relationship will always need.

· He/she will need to suck his/her hand or thumb - some babies never stop till late teens!

· Sudden changes like loud sounds or bright lights will startle your baby and often cause him/her to cry

· When laying on his/her back your baby will turn his/her head from side to side

Baby Development Week By Week: Language Development

Your child is beginning to notice the difference between voices and other sounds -

Get you baby to become familiar with your voice by talking and singing to him/her.

Pitch your voice higher and speak slowly using shorter sentences.

He/she is beginning to respond to sounds - create an environment filled with soft music, gentle conversation etc. Try and provide times of quiet. Try talking and singing in a soothing voice.

Different cries can mean different things- you will soon be able to differentiate the different sounds your baby makes when he/she cries. Baby Development Week By Week: Intellectual Development

Hold rock and smile at your baby. The easiest things for him to see are black and white patterns like stripes and checks not pastel shades that we traditionally associate with babies.

You will need to keep the room dimly lit as your baby is now sensitive to bright lights. Baby Development Week By Week: Emotional Development

It is vital you respond to your baby when he/she cries as this creates the sense of security he/she needs as a new baby. Too much stimulation will show if your baby turns her face away from you becomes sleepy, fails to respond. Try and recognise these signs and keep his/her environment as calm and pleasant as possible making sure baby has quiet times.

Your baby will now smile when she sees you and, occasionally, stop crying when held. Smile and talk gently to him/her and if she cries pick her up and comfort her.

Let your baby grasp your fingers as she/he is now responding to touch.

Your baby will be sensitive to your moods. Baby Development Week By Week: Motor Development

By placing your baby on his stomach at least once a day for a short time you will help him strengthen his neck and upper body. Sucking gives your baby great comfort so allow him to use his thumb or dummy.

Try and avoid sudden noises, bright lights and changes of position. Children develop at their own pace. This never changes. It's thrilling to know the changes taking place to you and your baby on a week by week basis during pregnancy. 5th to 8th week

In the week that follows, your baby's heart beat begins. By the eighth week, your baby has developed tiny arms and legs.

9th to 12th week

Eventually, it will be huge in order to accommodate your developing baby. Your baby will start moving inside of you. 13th to 16th week

Also, you can feel the movements of your baby, as her bones harden.

17th to 20th week

Your baby's vital organs develop rapidly. With the help of an ultrasound, you can know your baby's gender with accuracy. Your baby starts breathing. As your pregnancy reaches the 24th week, your baby gets chubbier due to the deposition of fat in her body. 25th to 28th week

At this time, your baby grows so much that your uterus seems to be small for her! You baby has all her senses working and she can distinguish between darkness and light. 29th to 32nd week

Your baby's head undergoes a rapid growth in proportion to the rest of her body. Her eyes and brain develop fully. 33rd to 36th week

Your baby can open and close her eyes. The weight of your baby reaches about four pounds and her length grows to around sixteen inches. 37th to 40th week

Your baby is fully developed.

Normally there are 40 weeks of pregnancy divided into three pregnancy stages. Here we will discuss pregnancy week by week in detail.

Week # 1 and 2: This is before becoming pregnant. In this week body prepares for ovulation. It is in these 2 weeks when the egg gets fertilized by sperm.

Week # 3: Fertilized egg starts to move through the fallopian tubes. The fluid passes in the wall of cell and divide it into two parts. The inner cells form the baby while the outer one forms the placenta. The body is unaware of being pregnant till this week. When the cell approaches the wall of uterus, implantation starts. During this process cells bury into the uterine wall thus causing spotting. Implanted cell transforms into embryo.

Week # 4: The rapid development takes place at this stage. Body realizes that it is now pregnant. Cavity and amniotic sac start to develop. Placenta begins to form. The blood of the mother goes in placenta. It is at this stage when morning sickness starts. It is normally the 27th day of pregnancy.

Week # 5: Primitive streak starts to develop. The cell develops into three layers from primitive streak.

Week # 6: In this week heart of the baby beat for the first time. Many other organs like arms, eyes, liver, stomach, pancreas and lungs begin to form.

Week # 7: It is busy week as the baby almost doubles in size. The eye lenses start to develop. Arms and legs develop into paddles.

Week # 8: Cerebellum starts forming this week. This part of brain is responsible for muscle movement. Wrist, elbow, hand and foot pallets start to form. Teeth buds start to form within gums. Four chambers of heart start to develop.

Week # 9: Bones and cartilage of baby is now forming. The ovaries develop into full sex organs. Now you can confirm whether you are going to have a baby girl or baby boy.

Week # 10: The embryo has now transformed into a baby. Taste buds are developing on his tongue. The development of heart now slows down.

Week # 11: Appetite of the mother starts to increase in this week. If it's a baby girl the vagina starts to form, if it's a baby boy then penis becomes visible. The body of the baby begins to straighten.

Week # 12: Gallbladder, pancreas and the brain are fully developed at this stage. The baby begins to open and close his mouth.

Week # 13: The vocal chords develop into larynx. The folds of the intestine start to form

Week # 14: The areola of the mother starts to become larger and darker. The heart beat of the baby can be heard with the help of the Doppler. Baby starts to practice sucking, breathing and swallowing motions.

Week # 15: The neck of the baby is better defined. The head now starts to rest on neck rather than on shoulders. Baby is now able to kick, turn its feet, press the lips and turn its head.

Week # 16: The muscles start to become stronger and head and neck start to grow straight. The uterus starts to move upwards.

Week # 17: Baby works more on reflexes this week including sucking, blinking and swallowing. During the following month the weight of baby will increase 6 folds.

Week # 18: The eyes and ears come on the right place in this week. The toes and fingertips develop pads. The fecal waste starts to develop in the bowel of baby.

Week # 19: A milky substance starts to form to cover the baby. This safeguard the baby and his sensory cells.

Week # 20: The danger zone is now over. The major development of baby has taken place. Baby will wake up and sleep like newborn. Eyebrows start to form.

Week # 21: Bones and muscles become stronger so the arms and legs movement increases. The heart beat of the baby can be detected with the stethoscope.

Week # 22: If it's a baby boy, then testes will move from pelvic into scrotum. The hair becomes visible now.

Week # 23: Bones of ear start to harden. Baby gains considerable weight during this and following 4 weeks. The body of the baby begins to come in proper proportion.

Week # 24: Baby has wrinkled skin but it will smooth after the deposition of fats. The heart beat can be heard by placing ear on the stomach.

Week # 25: The skin starts to turn pinkish because of the development of capillaries. The blood vessels start to develop in lungs.

Week # 26: Muscular breathing starts in this week as nostrils are open now. The air sacks will also begin to develop in lungs.

Week # 27: Thumping and bumping become stronger. The mother should feel almost 10 kicks in two hours.

Week # 28: In this week eyes open as eyelids un-fuse. Lungs become able to breathe air. If the baby is born premature; even then there are bright chances of survival.

Week # 29: The eyes of the baby become sensitive to light and dark. The baby is now able to move his eyes in sockets.

Week # 30:The baby has started to store nutrients eaten by the mother; protein for his growth, calcium for development of skeleton and iron for the blood cells.

Week # 31: Internal organs of the baby are still at the maturing stage. So it is important that mother gets enough folic acid, calcium and iron.

Week # 32: The five senses are rolling in the baby. The smell still is limited as baby is unable to breathe air in uterus.

Week # 33: Baby starts to suck his fingers. Constipation may be the problem for the mother as uterus may put extra pressure on bowel.

Week # 34: Baby start to develop the system of immunity.

Week # 35: Some babies may shift to the head down position.

Week # 36: The deposits of the fats appear in the form of creases in neck and dimples on knees and elbows.

Week # 37: Around 80 % babies are born before two weeks of expected due date. So it is important that mother is aware of the signs of labor. At the end of this week development will end. Growth will also slow down.

Week # 38: The Meconium start to pile up in the intestine.

Week # 39: Baby starts to settle in your pelvis. Mother must be prepared for her trip to hospital.

Week # 40: Congratulation to you and welcome to newborn.