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.

1-2 Weeks: Within the first two weeks, the mother’s uterus prepares for pregnancy and hormones are being released.

3 Weeks: The sperm fertilizes the egg in week three, an event called conception. A zygote is created and there is human life.

4 Weeks: Within the fourth week, implantation occurs. In this time, the baby attaches to its mother.

5 Weeks: The baby’s cells are specializing to become what the baby needs. Both the brain and heart tissues are starting to form and develop.

6 Weeks: Blood is moving throughout the embryo due to the first beats of the heart. The arms and legs begin to develop.

7 Weeks: Cartilage in the fetus’ body begins to be replaced by bone. The baby’s head is relatively large compared to the rest of its body.

8 Weeks: The embryo will begin to respond to both light and touch within this week, reflecting neuron and muscle growth.

9 Weeks: Within this week, teeth and taste buds are developing. The heartbeat can be heard through a Doppler ultrasound.

10 Weeks: More than 90% of the baby’s body parts have been formed. External genital formation begins, though it’s too early to see on an ultrasound.

11 Weeks: The baby usually doesn’t stay in one place for a long period of time. The fetus is constantly moving. Facial features are more prominent.

12 Weeks: In this week, the baby’s organs, bones, limbs, and muscles are present and continue developing. Many organ systems are working.

13 Weeks: In week 13, the fetus’s vocal cords form and the head begins to grow.

14 Weeks: Baby’s skin starts to thicken and hair can grow. Their fingerprints begin to form and genitals are fully developed.

15-16 Weeks The fetus’s lungs are beginning to develop. The baby can hear you talk, and can react to light.

17-18 Weeks: Within these weeks, the baby’s skin is covered with a whitish coating called vernix and lanugo, a peach fuzz-like hair for protection.

19-20 Weeks: The fetus has a unique set of fingerprints, and is gaining strength. The area of the brain relating to senses develops.

21-22 Weeks: Blood cells are being produced and frequent limb movements occur. The baby’s grasp is getting stronger.

6 Months: With the help of intensive care, the fetus can survive after the 23rd week and the fetus’s lungs are fully developed.

7 Months: The nervous system is quickly developing. Both melanin and surfactant are being made. The fetus can open and blink its eyes.

8 Months: The fetus is beginning to feel cramped in the amniotic sac. It can also control its own body head and process more information and stimuli.

9 Months: Within this last month in the womb, the lungs and last minute things finish maturing.

Birth: Most babies are born around 40 weeks. The baby can identify a mother just through her voice or smell.

Development stages from the Cleveland Clinic.