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Test Results--

Urine HCG: Positive

Serum HCG Quant: 2450

US: 4 week gestation IUP w/ yolk sac present

Dx: Pregnancy, confirmed

Week 0 through 4 – Gestational Age

(Fetal age: none--embryonic phase of development)

Week 5 through 8 – Gestational Age

(Fetal Age: none--still embryonic phase)

This is the start of the embryonic period, which is marked by 

organogenesis.   The risk of effects from teratogens is greatest during 

this period.    

Starting in week 5, the fetal blood vessels in the chorionic villi 

appear.   The brain, spinal cord and heart also start to develop.  

During week 6, the embryo is 4-5mm long and continues to 

rapidly grow.   The cardiovascular system begins to form and 

function and arm and legs buds start to grow.   By week 7, the heart 

is beating and there is blood flow through the vessels.   Lips, tongue, 

and palpate are forming.    The embryo is 22-24mm long by the end of 

week 8.   This week is marked with elongation of arms and legs, fingers 

and toes forming and the lungs start to form.  

Week 9 through 13 – Gestational Age

(Fetal Age: Week 11)

During week 9 the structures of the ears are developed and 

early synapses in the spinal cord are forming.   Week 10 is 

characterized by the development of distinct facial features, it 

is the final week of the embryonic period and at the end of 

week 10, the embryo is known as a fetus.   Week 11 begins the 

“fetal period”, this period consists of maturation of the already 

formed organs, vessels and structures.   By week 11, the fetus 

is approximately 5cm long.   During week 12, the fetus starts 

to move spontaneously, although most mothers do not feel the 

movement until weeks later.   Also, the external genitalia is 

beginning to form.  

Weeks 13 Through 16 – Gestational Age 

(Fetal Age – Weeks 11 Through 14):

Fetal skin is transparent and fine hair (lanugo) begins to form on the head

The fetus begins sucking and swallows bits of amniotic fluid. 

Fingerprints which individualize each human being have now developed on 

the tiny fingers of the fetus. 

The nervous system in starting to function at this point

Meconium is made in the intestinal tract and will build up to be the 

baby’s first bowel movement. 

Flutters may be felt in the mom’s growing abdomen as the fetus begins to 

move around more. 

The fetal heartbeat may now be audible via doppler

The reproductive organs and genitalia are now fully developed, and your 

health care provider can see on ultrasound if you are having a boy or a girl.

Sweat glands have developed, and the liver and pancreas produce fluid 

secretions. 

The fetus has reached 6 inches in length and weighs about 4 ounces.

Weeks 17 Through 20 – Gestational Age 

(Fetal Age – Weeks 15 Through 18):

The baby has reached a point where movements are being felt 

more often by the mom. 

The eyebrows and eyelashes grow in, and tiny nails have 

begun to grow on the fingers and toes. 

Hair is beginning to grow on your baby's head, and lanugo, a 

soft, fine hair, covers his or her shoulders, back, and temples. 

This hair protects your baby and is usually shed at the end of 

the baby's first week of life.

The skin of the fetus is going through many changes and 

begins to produce vernix at the 20th week. (Vernix is a white 

pasty substance that covers the fetus’s skin to protect it from 

amniotic fluid.) 

A fetal heartbeat could be heard by a stethoscope now. 

The fetus has reached a length of 8 inches and weighs about 

12 ounces.

Weeks 21 Through 23 – Gestational Age 

(Fetal Age – Weeks 12 Through 16):

Lanugo now covers the fetus’s entire body. 

The fetus is beginning to have the look of a newborn infant as 

the skin becomes less transparent while fat begins to develop. 

All the components of the eyes are developed. 

The liver and pancreas are working hard to develop 

completely. 

The fetus has reached about 10-11 inches in 

length and weighs about 1 – 1 ¼ pounds.

Weeks 24 Through 26 – Gestational Age 

(Fetal Age – Weeks 22 Through 24):

If the fetus was delivered now, it could survive with the assistance of 

medical technology an don intensive care

His or her skin is reddish in color, wrinkled, and veins are visible 

through the baby's translucent skin. 

Baby's finger and toe prints are visible. 

The eyelids begin to part and the eyes open.

Your baby may respond to sounds by moving or increasing the pulse, 

and you may notice jerking motions if baby hiccups.

The fetus has developed sleeping and waking cycles and mom will begin 

to notice when each of these takes place. 

The fetus has a startle reflex, and the air sacs in the lungs have begun 

formation. 

The brain will be developing rapidly over the next few weeks. 

The nervous system has developed enough to control some functions. 

The fetus has reached about 14 inches in length and weighs about 2 ¼ 

pounds.

Wee

ks 

27 

Thru 

32 

Weeks 27 Through 31 – Gestational Age 

(Fetal Age – Weeks 25 Through 29):

The fetus really fills out over these next few weeks, 

storing fat on the body, reaching about 15-17 inches 

long and weighing about 4-4 ½ lbs by the 32nd week. 

The lungs are not fully mature yet, but some rhythmic 

breathing movements are occurring. The bones are fully 

developed but are still soft and pliable. The fetus is 

storing its own calcium, iron and phosphorus. The 

eyelids open after being closed since the end of the first 

trimester.

Weeks 32 Through 36 – Gestational Age

 (Fetal Age – Weeks 30 Through 34):

This is about the time that the fetus will descend 

into the head down position preparing for birth. 

The fetus is beginning to gain weight more rapidly. 

The lanugo hair will disappear from the skin, and it 

is becoming less red and wrinkled. The fetus is now 

16-19 inches and weighs anywhere from 5 ¾ lbs to 6 

¾ lbs.

Weeks 37 Through 40 – Gestational Age

 (Fetal Age – Weeks 35 Through 38):

At 38 weeks the fetus is considered full term and will be 

ready to make its appearance at any time. Mom may 

notice a decline in fetal movement as the fetus is now 

filling the uterus with little room to move. The 

fingernails have grown long and will need to be cut soon 

after birth. Small breast buds are present on both 

sexes. The mother is supplying the fetus with antibodies 

that will help protect against disease. All organs are 

developed, with the lungs maturing all the way until the 

day of delivery. The fetus is about 19 – 21 inches in 

length and weighs anywhere from 6 ¾ lbs to 10 lbs.

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