Baby In The Womb video: 1 to 8 weeks

Within a week of conception, your fertilised egg, known as a blastocyst, will make its way to your uterus. The egg is about the size of a pen tip.In days, the cells in the egg arrange themselves into groupings. The inner cell mass will become your baby. The outer cells will become the amniotic sac and placenta.


The blastocyst then sheds its protective casing in a process called hatching, and burrows into the lush uterine wall.Around week 5, your developing baby is the size of a sesame seed. The cells that once formed the blastocyst's inner cell mass begin organising and arranging, giving shape to the young embryo and forming primitive organs.

Your baby's brain and spinal cord are visible through his translucent skin.Right around this time, your baby's circulatory system also forms and his heart begins to beat.Your baby looks more like a tiny tadpole than a human. He's drawing nutrients and oxygen through the newly formed placenta and umbilical cord.


By week 9, the embryonic tail is gone. Your baby's looking more human every day, with protruding limbs and fingers, a defined nose, mouth, and eyes, and tiny earlobes.Your new resident is about the size of a grape and weighs only 1g (a fraction of an ounce).


It's hard to believe how rapidly one cell evolves in such a short time into the unmistakable body of a baby.




video source:babycenter uk

Functions of the amniotic fluid

The Amniotic fluid also called liquor amnii is the protecting and nourishing fluid surrounding the baby in the amniotic cavity or sac of a pregnant woman. The amniotic fluid is covered by the amniotic membrane within the amniotic cavity, and is formed very early in the development of the human embryo. The amniotic fluid gradually changes its constituents as pregnancy advances.

Functions of the amniotic fluid.

• The amniotic fluid provides a liquid environment in which the fetus( unborn baby) can develop and exercise in absolute freedom.

• The amniotic fluid provides an environment of constant temperature for the baby.

• Its constituents changes as pregnancy progresses , in that way it meets the nutritional requirements of the fetus as it changes.

• It causes enlargement of the amniotic cavity (and therefore of the uterus) so that the developing fetus is not distorted by pressure from the walls of the uterus.

• It provides a means of excretion of substances like urine from the fetus

• The fetus also swallows the amniotic fluid. It is not known how much nutritional benefit this may have for the fetus , but it enables it to develop its mouth ,as well as its swallowing and breathing mechanisms.

• The amniotic fluid also functions as a shock absorber which is most efficient in preventing damage to the fetus as a result of a blow or undue pressure. If undue force is brought to bear upon any particular part of the uterus then the placenta may suffer damage or may even be separated, but it is virtually impossible to damage the fetus itself as a result of direct or indirect injury.

Many women fear that their baby might be hurt by a fall or a direct blow on the uterus or abdomen during pregnancy. If a woman does suffer from direct injury or if she falls down on her abdomen she is unlikely to cause any harm to her baby but it is advisable that she consults her doctor ,if she develops pain or if she is unduly concerned.

The three most common causes of abdominal injury during pregnancy are falling down the stairs, tripping over the edge of a pavement , and motor accidents . But no matter the kind of fall or accidents that a pregnant woman goes through, she should make it known to her doctor in her next antenatal visit or check up, just in case of any strange occurrences.