Tater's Journey So Far

Weeks 1-4 (May 10 - June 11)

- Although still tiny, Tater has complete information about whether he will develop into a baby girl or baby boy.

- The beginnings of nerves, skin, bones, cartilage, muscles, circulatory system, kidneys, sex organs, respiratory and digestive systems, are laid down in the form of layers.

- It is amazing how Tater started the journey of life with a single cell and is now about 100 cells strong and still growing.

- Tater has found his home and lodges himself in the womb where he will stay for the next nine months floating in a fluid-filled sac called the amniotic sac. This sac is a very powerful shock absorber and hence, protects Tater.

- Even from this young a stage, Tater has a mechanism in place whereby it can link with your blood supply. This mechanism will develop into the placenta, your baby's life support system.


Week 5 (June 12-June 18)

-Visible to the naked eye

-Measures only about 4mm in length

-The spinal cord and brain have started to grow and the beginnings of the heart is laid down in the form of a blood vessel.


Week 6 (June 19- June 25)

-Tater is the size of an apple pip now and measures about 6mm in length.

-The heart, whose foundations were laid down last week, starts to beat and doesn't stop for the rest of Tater's life.

-Beginnings of the mouth, ears, eyes, jaw, digestive system have been laid down and four tiny buds have developed which will develop into the arms and legs.

-Your baby's movements can now be picked up on an ultrasound scan. However, these movements are too weak to be felt by you yet.

-The umbilical cord has begun to develop.

-Tater also has a distinct tail at this stage which is why he doesn't look quite so human yet.


Week 7 (June 26- July 2)

-Tater is now called the fetus which literally means the young one.

-Tater's length is about 1.3cm now, roughly the size of a small grape.

-Tater has clearly visible arms and legs and the future toes and fingers can be seen at the end of them as clefts.

-Nostrils, lips, tongue and teeth are beginning to form and the embryonic lungs are also developing.

-Tater's heart has has now started to circulate blood around the baby's body.
The spine and brain are almost fully developed.

-Although not fully formed, Tater already has internal sex organs, kidneys, lungs and intestines.

-The shape of the tail can still be seen clearly.


Week 8 (July 3- July 9)

-Tater is now about 2.5cm long, roughly the size of a strawberry.

-It is surprising how something so small has all the major organs present already, though not fully formed yet.

-Tater's eyes are still very wide apart on the sides of her head and it will be a while before they settle into the correct position.

-The heart is now pumping with a regular beat.

-The intestines in Tater's body are so long that they cannot fit into the body and some of them project out into the umbilical cord.

-Tater's arms and legs are longer and although he is kicking with them, he is too small for you to feel his movements.



Week 9 (July 10-July 16)

-Tater is about 3cm long now

-Face is developing and the mouth and nose are clearly visible.

-Arms and legs are growing rapidly.

-Tail begins to shrink relative to the rest of the body.