You’re at the beginning of an incredible stage of life that will see your body undergo dramatic changes. From the moment of conception your baby grows at an extraordinary rate, from a tiny speck to a size comparable to a watermelon!
Weeks 1 to 6 From the first half hour of life, your baby is as small as a pinprick; by three weeks, the size of a grain of rice; and within six weeks, the size of a peanut. But amazing things are happening: her body, nose, and eyes are taking shape.
Week 8 By this time, your baby will look recognizably human, although partly transparent and about the size of a strawberry. Her tongue and some teeth are forming, and her heart has started beating.
Week 12 At the end of the first trimester, your baby has grown to the size of a lime or plum. By now, her skeleton is almost complete, though it is made of cartilage not bone, and she can curl her toes and open and close her fingers.
Week 16 Now the size of an avocado, your baby has become quite active. She can make intricate movements such as clench her fists, suck her thumb, make facial expressions, and grasp the umbilical cord. She begins to hear sounds.
Week 20 You will start to feel your baby’s activity levels rise now that she is about the size of a large mango. Her legs have grown substantially and are now longer than her arms—she looks much more like the baby you will meet.
Week 24 Your baby’s eyes have opened, and she ingests large quantities of amniotic fluid, which are then excreted via the placenta. Her lungs practice breathing movements, but are still immature. She is about the size of a cantaloupe.
Week 30 Although your baby has less room to move around now, you will feel sharper movements from her elbows and knees more. She is roughly the size of a medium-sized pumpkin and spends most of her time curled up sleeping and dreaming.
Weeks 38 to 40 During the final weeks of your pregnancy your baby will grow rapidly, ending up the size of a small watermelon. She can recognize your voice and her body is now preparing to deal with the outside world.
