COMMUNITY PRAYER

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 PRENATAL
DEVELOPMENT
 HUMAN LIFE
BEGIN AT CONCEPTION
CONCEPTION

• The onion of male sperm cell and a

female egg cell to form a new
organism.
THE BEGINNING
OF LIFE
• During the menstrual cycle of a woman, a matured
egg cell is released once a month form one of the
ovaries that eventually enters the fallopian tube.
This process is called ovulation. It signals the
readiness of a woman to become pregnant when a
sperm penetrates the ovulated egg cell.
Fertilizations happens when the egg cell and the
sperm cell unites and the newly formed cell
become the zygote.
• One of the major activities in this period, aside from
travelling to the wall of the uterus, the zygote form a
blastocyst. Primarily, its purpose is to become the
protective membrane to the developing cell.

• Pre-natal stage typically covers 40 weeks or 280 days

including the additional two weeks to account for the
last menstrual period and ovulation.
• Infants born earlier that 37 weeks are considered pre-term while
those that are born 42 weeks or more are called post-term.

• The zygote is a combination of the 23 chromosomes from each

parents. These chromosomes contain genes that specifically
carry characteristics of an individual. The process of natural
selection determines the inherited characteristics of the child
such as physical attributes. These characteristics are particularly
carried by genes. These set of genetic characteristics composing
the zygote is called genotype.
• Some of those characteristics may
either come out later in the adulthood
development (called maturation) or
are not meant to come out at all. Hence,
those characteristics that become
observable are called phenotypes.
STAGES OF PRENATAL
DEVELOPMENT
STAGES OF PRENATAL DEVELOPMENT
Divided into three periods;

• Germinal Period
• Embryonic Period
• Fetal Period
GERMINAL
PERIOD
Germinal Period
• In 3-4 days, the zygote travel along the fallopian tube and
eventually implant itself to the uterus wall.
• Happened first 2 weeks after conception
• The mitosis (cell division) permits the development of
blastocyst.
• Rapid of cell division, it also the source in the development of
the amniotic, placenta and umbilical cord.
• By the end of the stage, the fertilized egg becomes a
blastocyst and plants itself in the wall of the uterus.
GERMINAL PERIOD
24 to 30 hours
after
fertilization
36 hours after
fertilization
48 hours after
fertilization
(2days)
 72 hours after
fertilization( 3days)
 96 hours after
fertilization( 4days)
6 to 7 days
11 to 15 days
Embryonic Period
Embryonic Period
• Happens 2 to 8 weeks after conception
• Zygote become embryo
• Cell differentiation intensifies
• Life-support systems for the embryo develop
• Organs appear
• Formation of major organs that form the biological
systems such as respiratory, digestive, and nervous
systems is significant in this stage.
• This rapid development of organ is also accompanied
by more risk of spontaneous abortion (miscarriage),
most especially during the first trimester (first 3
months).
• This is considered the most crucial period of
pregnancy.
 EMBRYONIC PERIOD

• At the end of 4 weeks:

- Heart, digestive,
backbone and spinal
cord begin to form.
At the end of 8 weeks:

• Eyes, nose, lips, tongue,

ears, and teeth are forming
• Heart is functioning
Embryonic Period
Fetal Period
 Fetal Period
• 2 to 7 months after conception
• Considered as the longest and final stage of pregnancy lasting until
giving birth
• All organs are high developing
• Senses are becoming more functional such as fetus being able to
respond to the hear beat and voice of the mother
• Locomotion can be felt also by the mother most especially when the
fetus stimulated
• Growth and development dramatically during this period
3 month after
conception
After 3 months conception:

• Fetus become more active by moving its arms and

legs, opens and closes its mouth, and move its head
• The genitals can now be identified as male or
female
After 4 months of conception:

• Fetus is about 6 inches long

• First arm and feet movement are
felt by the mother
After 5 months of conception:

• Fetus is about 12 inches long

• Structures of the skin have formed
• Fetus is more active
After 6 months of conception:

• Fetus is about 14 inches long

• Eyes and eyelids are completely
formed
• Fine layer of hair covers the head
After seven months of conception:

• Fetus is 16 inches long

• Taste buds have developed
• Organs are maturing
• Skin is still wrinkled and re
• If born at this time the baby will be considered a
premature baby and require special care
After 9 months of conception:

• Fetus is 19 to 20 inches long

• The lungs are mature
• Baby is now fully developed and can survive outside
the mothers body
• Skin is pink and smooth
• Baby is ready to come out