10 weeks development
By the end of pregnancy 10 weeks your baby will have moved past the embryonic period, and will begin the ‘fetal’ period. The fetal period is the time when your fetus will grow rapidly. By week ten your baby is less at risk for congenital malformations, which usually occur during the first nine weeks of pregnancy.
By the end of pregnancy week 10 your baby’s organ systems are growing quickly. Now internal organs are starting to form and the vital organs including the liver, kidney, intestines and brain will start functioning. Tiny details will start appearing on your baby’s body, including items such as toenails. If you were to look really closely you might even notice some peach fuzz growing on your baby’s skin!
By now your baby will be consumed with swallowing and kicking. That’s right, your baby will swallow amniotic fluid during your pregnancy. Consider it a practice run for breathing once she is born!
Spinal nerves are also visible at this point in pregnancy, and your baby’s liver is busy making blood cells.
By the end of this week, your baby will have verifiable fingers and toes. The
tadpole appearance diminishes as the tail completely disappears. Eyelids fuse and will stay shut until weeks 25 to 27. Both the external ear and upper lip are complete, and the beginnings of external genitalia appear. At the end of the eighth week of gestation your little one is no longer an embryo; from now on he or she is refered to as a fetus.
Brain has the first detectable brain waves.
The head is more erect and semicircular canals start to form in the inner ear which will enable a sense of balance and body position.
Knee and ankles locations indicated by indentations. Legs are now at their proper location, proportional to the embryo. The critical period for the lower limbs is about to end. Toes are almost completely notched and toenails begin to appear. Joints grow more distinct. Muscles develop and get stronger.
Spontaneous Involuntary Movement: Brain is connected to tiny muscles and nerves and enables the embryo to make spontaneous movements. The scalp plexus is now present.
Nasal openings and the tip of the nose are fully formed.
The upper limbs become longer and continue to bend at the elbows and extend forward.
Skin on the foot plate folds down between the future toes, each distinguishable from the other.
Anal membrane is perforated. Urogenital membranes differentiate in male and female embryos.
Testes or ovaries are distinguishable.
Intestines Begin to Recede Into Body Cavity
Eyes are well-developed, but are still located on the side of the embryonic head. As head development continues, they will migrate forward.
External ears are set low on the embryo’s head, but will move up as the head enlarges.
Over the next few days, tongue development finishes.
Intestines begin migration within the umbilical cord towards the embryo. Liver causes a ventral prominence of the abdomen.
Fingers lengthen while distinct grooves (digital rays) form between the fingers, which also lengthen as the hands approach each other across the abdomen.
Feet approach each other, but are still fan-shaped and the toe digits are still webbed.
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