The Journey of Life Within
Nine months, an extraordinary journey.
Scroll to follow the stages of development, from the earliest beginning of pregnancy to full term.
Scroll to begin4Weeks · First trimester
Weeks 1 – 4
A beginning
In the first four weeks the foundations are laid. A single cell divides, settles into the lining of the uterus, and begins to organise itself into the earliest structures of a body.
- The neural tube — which becomes the brain and spine — starts to form
- The heart begins as a simple tube
- Most women do not yet know they are pregnant
وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ مِن سُلَالَةٍ مِّن طِينٍثُمَّ جَعَلْنَاهُ نُطْفَةً فِي قَرَارٍ مَّكِينٍ
And We created man from an extract of clay, then placed him as a drop in a firm lodging.
Week 5
The heart begins
Early cardiac activity starts this week. The embryo is about the size of a sesame seed, curved in on itself, with the beginnings of a circulation already moving.
- A heartbeat may be detectable on ultrasound from around week six
ثُمَّ خَلَقْنَا النُّطْفَةَ عَلَقَةً
Then We made the drop into a clinging form.
Week 6
Taking shape
The head grows faster than the rest of the body, and small buds appear where the arms and legs will be. Dark spots mark the places the eyes will form.
- Facial features begin to take shape
- Limb buds appear
فَخَلَقْنَا الْعَلَقَةَ مُضْغَةً
Then We made the clinging form into a lump.
Week 7
Development accelerates
Arms and legs lengthen and begin to bend. The brain is growing rapidly — faster than any other organ — and the embryo starts to make small, spontaneous movements.
- Roughly 10,000 new nerve cells form every minute
Week 8
Recognisably human
Fingers and toes have separated. The tail that marked the earliest weeks has gone. From this point the embryo is called a fetus.
- All major organs have begun to form
- About the size of a raspberry
فَخَلَقْنَا الْمُضْغَةَ عِظَامًا
Then We made the lump into bones.
Week 10
Hands and feet
Tiny nails begin to form. Joints work — elbows bend, knees flex — and the fetus moves often, though far too lightly to be felt.
- Vital organs are formed and starting to function
فَكَسَوْنَا الْعِظَامَ لَحْمًا
Then We clothed the bones with flesh.
Month 3
The first trimester closes
By the end of the third month the body is fully formed in miniature. The remaining six months are about growth and maturing rather than building anything new.
- Can swallow, yawn and curl the fingers
- The risk of miscarriage falls substantially
ثُمَّ أَنشَأْنَاهُ خَلْقًا آخَرَ
Then We brought him into being as another creation.
Month 6
A world within
Hearing is developing, and familiar voices begin to register. Movement becomes strong enough to feel clearly, and a pattern of sleeping and waking takes hold.
- Responds to sound and to touch
- The lungs continue an important period of development
Month 9
Ready to meet you
The baby is full term, curled close with little room left to move, resting and gaining weight in the final weeks before birth.
- Usually settles head-down in preparation
- Average weight around 3.4 kilograms
فَتَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ أَحْسَنُ الْخَالِقِينَ
So blessed is God, the best of creators.
Every pregnancy is a unique journey
From the first consultation to the first hello, one team follows you the whole way — obstetrics, fertility and paediatrics in the same building.
This page illustrates typical stages of fetal development and is intended for general educational purposes. Individual pregnancies and developmental timelines may vary. Medical imagery licensed for use by Aya Specialist Hospital.