FETAL GROWTH AND

DEVELOPMENT
Fertilization: The Beginning of
Pregnancy
 the union of an ovum
and a spermatozoon.

 This usually occurs

in the outer third of
a fallopian tube,
termed the ampullar
portion
Fertilization: The Beginning of
Pregnancy
 Fertilization is never a certain occurrence because it
depends on at least three separate factors:

 Equal maturation of both sperm and ovum

 Ability of the sperm to reach the ovum
 Ability of the sperm to penetrate the zona pellucida
and cell membrane and achieve fertilization
Fertilization: The Beginning of
Pregnancy
 Immediately
after penetration of the ovum, the
chromosomal material of the ovum and
spermatozoon fuse to form a zygote.
Implantation

 contactbetween the growing structure and the

uterine endometrium, occurs approximately 8 to
10 days after fertilization.
Ovulation to Fertilization to Implantation
TERMS USED TO DESCRIBE FETAL
GROWTH
Milestones of Fetal Growth and
Development
a fetus grows in utero for 9.5 lunar months or
three full trimesters (38 weeks, or 266 days).
End of 4th Gestational Week
End of 8th Gestational Week
End of 12th Gestational Week
End of 16th Gestational Week
End of 20th Gestational Week
End of 24th Gestational Week
End of 28th Gestational Week
End of 32nd Gestational Week
End of 36th Gestational Week
End of 40th Gestational Week
End of 40th Gestational Week
 Lightening - a fetal announcement the third
trimester of pregnancy has ended and birth is at
hand.

 In primiparas, the fetus often sinks into the birth

canal during the last 2 weeks of pregnancy, giving the
mother a feeling the load she is carrying is less.
Determination of Estimated Birth Date

 The due date or EDC

(expected date of
confinement) or EDB
(estimated date of birth) can
be calculated using

Naegele’s Rule.
Determination of Estimated Birth Date