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The miracle of life – more amazing and awe-inspiring than any other part of God’s creation. What we have been able to discern from research in chronicling precious life in the womb is remarkable. The pictures of babies still in their mother’s bodies serve as a reminder that we are all precious in God’s sight and need His protection.

2 Weeks: Mommy and Daddy’s egg and sperm meet to form a tiny cell that contains all the genetic information for every detail of the newly-created life.

3 Weeks: Around day 8 baby is about the size of the “period” used in this sentence.

4 Weeks: Baby gets nourishment from Mommy.

5 Weeks: Baby’s heart begins beating. The foundation for every organ system begins to develop.

6 Weeks: Baby is growing rapidly and measures 1/8 of an inch long. Eyes are developing and the arm and leg buds can be seen.

7 Weeks: Baby is now 1/3 of an inch long. The arms, hands, legs and feet are now beginning to appear.

8 Weeks: Baby is now about half of an inch long. Elbows and fingers can be seen and move and respond to touch by reflex. Taste buds are forming, along with tooth buds for “baby teeth” and eyelids.

9 Weeks: Baby measures 3/4 of an inch long and weighs almost 1/8 of an ounce. Baby ears and nose are visible.

10 Weeks: Baby’s brain is growing rapidly. Each minute it produces almost 250,000 new neurons and can make the muscles move on purpose. Baby’s upper and lower arms and legs are clearly seen. The fingers and toes are separating digits and becoming longer.

11 Weeks: Baby is about 2 inches long and can yawn and suck! Baby will grow rapidly, increasing in weight 30 times and tripling in length in the next two months!

14 Weeks: Now 3½ inches long, baby can find his or her thumb and suck it. Fingernails and toenails are beginning to form.

16 Weeks Mommy can see if baby is a boy or girl on an ultrasound. At almost 5 inches in length and weighing nearly 4 ounces, baby coordinates the movement of arms and legs.

18 Weeks: Baby has reflexes such as blinking and frowning now as well as unique fingerprints and toe prints. Baby can also start to feel pain.

20 Weeks: Baby is now about 10 inches long and weighs 11 ounces. Mommy can start to feel baby moving inside her tummy. Baby has unique waking and sleeping patterns and a favorite position to sleep in!

22 Weeks: Baby is about 11 inches long and weighs about 1 pound. Baby has visible hair on head and body.

24 Weeks: Baby now weighs about 1½ pounds. Baby recognizes mommy’s voice, breathing and heartbeat. Some babies born now are able to survive.

26 Weeks: Now baby weighs almost 2 pounds and can react to sounds outside the mommy’s body. Eyes can respond to light and permanent teeth buds are in the gums.

28 Weeks: Baby is now about 15 inches long and weighs about 2½ pounds. As baby continues to gain weight, skin is less wrinkled and more smooth.

34 Weeks: Baby is now about 17 inches long, weighs 4½ pounds and continues to grow and mature. Baby’s eyes are now wide open! Baby’s head is covered in hair, the fingernails have reached the tips of the fingers, with toenails are close behind.

40 Weeks: Baby is now around 20 inches long and may weigh 7 to 8 pounds – a cute plump body and a firm grasp! Typically, baby starts to head down in Mommy and awaits birth.