1. Pregnancy Part One

2. Fertilization During intercourse, millions of sperm are released from the male and into the female. Only about 100 sperm will make its way to the fallopian tubes. Those 100 sperm try to penetrate the outer egg. As soon as one makes it (yhatzee!!!!!), the egg releases a protein that prevents other sperm from entering the egg. (WOW the human body is so amazing.)

3. Fertilization Upon a successful fertilization, the embryo grows for nine months (38 weeks) inside the mother to be and ends with the birth of an offspring. The nine months are divided into three trimesters (three months per trimester). Image of a human sperm entering a human egg.

4. First Trimester The first trimester starts from fertilization and ends after three months. Once it gets to the uterus it will attach to the wall of the uterus. Here the embryo creates a sac that is filled with amniotic fluid and the umbilical cord is created to combine the mother to the embryo. Amniotic fluid supports, protects, and maintains a warm environment for the embryo until birth. Once the uterus realizes it has a zygote, and not an un- fertilized egg, the body releases hormones to prevent the menstruation cycle.

5. First Trimester Here is a labelled diagram of the fetus after it attaches itself to the uterus wall.

6. First Trimester By the fourth week the brain and a nervous system have been developed and the heart is beating. By the end of week 5 the eyes, ears and nose are noticeable; as are the limb buds (small little hands and feet) and the tail (which becomes the tailbone) are visible.

7. First Trimester By the end of the eighth week the embryo has started to develop the beginning of all the organs and is now called a fetus. The fetus looks like a human being, however it is only the size of a lima bean. Through the umbilical cord the fetus and mother are able to share nutrients, oxygen, and the the fetus’ waste. By the end of the third month, muscles and bones are starting to form. The heart is beating, blood is circulating through the fetus and sex organs are forming. It is at this point you can determine the sex of the baby. The fetus is about 12 cm long and weighs approx. 50 grams

8. Second Trimester Through months four – six the fetus starts to really take shape. It grows from 8 cm to 30 cm long. The heartbeat can be heard by a stethoscope. Movements can be felt by the mother – especially now that he abdomen is starting to swell as the fetus gets bigger. By 24 weeks (or approx. 6 months) the fetus resembles a tiny infant. Fingers and toes have elongated. Facial features start to develop. Oxygen is still being pumped through the umbilical cord.

9. Second Trimester Image of a fetus in the second trimester Notice the hands, face, nose, ears, eyes and etc… as they are starting to become more developed.

10. Third Trimester During months seven - nine the fetus puts on more mass. It starts to have sleeping and waking patterns, and it reacts to stimuli from the outside world (i.e. music, sound, movement and etc…) The lungs continue to mature, and the final development of the body comes to an end just before delivery. The fetus fills the capacity of the uterus, its body turns around with its head pointing towards the cervix and the birth canal in preparation for delivery. At 37 weeks, the fetus is considered to be full term and ranges from 45 – 55 cm and can weigh up to 4.5 kg (10 lbs)

11. Third Trimester In the thrid trimester, the fetus has fully formed, there is no room left for it to grow in the uterus and is ready for delivery.

12. Growth Progression

13. Birth After 9 months of being pregnant, the muscles of the mothers uterus start to contract regularly (like every 15 – 20 minutes and lasting for as long as 40 seconds). This is the body’s natural way to start delivery, it is at this point labour has begun. During labour, hormones start to control the process of delivery, and while the mother is able to use her abdominal muscles to help with delivery, it is her body and the hormones that start and play an vital role in the delivery process. There are four main parts to the birthing process.

14. Birth First – the cervix begins to dilate (open up). The membrane surrounding the baby is forced into the birth canal (the Vagina)

15. Birth Second – the amniotic membrane breaks, and amniotic fluid lubricates the birth canal. This is called the breaking of the water.

16. Birth Third – Once the cervix has widened (dilated) to 10 cm, uterine contractions (this is done via the hormones being released during labour) push the baby’s head into the birth canal.

17. Birth Fourth – When the head and shoulders are free of the birth canal, the rest of the baby slips out easily – usually with the help of a nurse or doctor. After the baby is born, the placenta is pushed out of the uterus (this is called the after-birth). Once the baby is able to breath on its own, the umbilical cord is cut and tied to prevent bleeding. The “belly – button” is the scar from the umbilical cord.

18. Disk Use Disk to show Fetal Development and Pregnancy Calendar