Did You Know . . .

• Within two hours of the time the egg and sperm cell unite, they intertwine to form the chromosomes of a new individual.
• Already, 20 days after fertilization, the foundations of the brain, spinal cord and nervous system are established.
• Day 21: the heart begins to beat.
• By day 35 five fingers can be discerned in each hand.
• Brain waves can be detected and recorded by the 40th day.
• The 7th week brings spontaneous movement and the formation of the jaw and teeth buds in the gums.
• Though only about an inch long at eight weeks everything is now present in the baby that will be fully developed in the adult.
• Fingerprints are in evidence by the 9th week.
• Just 12 weeks into his/her development, the baby begins to exercise energetically and cycles between periods of sleep and wakefulness.
• Five months marks the half way point in the pregnancy. The baby is 12 inches long and the mother can feel movement. Loud noises can startle the baby.
• At seven months, the baby uses 4 senses; sight, hearing, touch and taste and can recognize his/her mother's voice
• Near the end of the 9th month, the baby weighs, on the average, between 6 and 9 pounds, has been developing from 266 to 294 days and is ready to be born!
• You can learn more about the stages of Fetal Development simply by clicking on Prenatal and Fetal Development .

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