The germinal period (about 14 days in length) lasts from conception to implantation of the zygote (fertilized egg) in the lining of the uterus.

The average length of human gestation is 280 days, or 40 weeks, from the first day of the woman’s last menstrual period. The medical term for the due date is estimated date of confinement (EDC). However, only about four per cent of women actually give birth on their EDC.

The total gestation period from fertilization to birth is about 38 weeks (birth usually occurring 40 weeks after the last menstrual period).

Your developing baby is most vulnerable to injury during the embryo stage when organs are developing. Indeed, infections and drugs can cause the greatest damage when exposure occurs two to 10 weeks after conception. Diabetes and obesity can possibly increase your child’s risk of birth defects.

Germinal Stage Conception occurs when a sperm fertilizes an egg and forms a zygote. A zygote begins as a one-cell structure that is created when a sperm and egg merge. At the moment of conception, the mother’s and father’s DNA are passed on to; the genetic makeup and sex of the future fetus are set at this point.

A typical pregnancy lasts 40 weeks from the first day of your last menstrual period (LMP) to the birth of the baby. It is divided into three stages, called trimesters: first trimester, second trimester, and third trimester. The fetus undergoes many changes throughout maturation.

This union marks the beginning of the prenatal period, which in humans encompasses three distinct stages: (1) the pre-embryonic stage, the first two weeks of development, which is a period of cell division and initial differentiation (cell maturation), (2) the embryonic period, or period of organogenesis, which lasts …

fetal stage

This is when organ development begins, lasting approximately six weeks. 5 weeks: The baby’s heart begins to beat, generally at about twice the rate of an adult heart. 6 weeks: Facial features begin to form, and little buds for the arms and legs start to develop. 10 weeks: The embryo officially becomes a fetus.

Signs of fetal distress may include changes in the baby’s heart rate (as seen on a fetal heart rate monitor), decreased fetal movement, and meconium in the amniotic fluid, among other signs.

Signs and Symptoms of Fetal Distress

• Decreased movement by the baby in the womb.
• Cramping.
• Vaginal bleeding.
• Excessive weight gain.
• Inadequate weight gain.
• The “baby bump” in the mother’s tummy is not progressing or looks smaller than expected.