"You are the one who put me together inside my mother's body, and I praise you because of the wonderful way you created me." Psalm 139:13-14

During the first months of pregnancy:

Fertilization and conception take place. From the very beginning, your child's gender has been determined. By the end of the third week, a small heart tube begins to beat and circulate blood.

During the end of the first month, your baby's shape is beginning to form; buds that will soon become arms and legs are appearing. Your baby's heart divides into chambers and pumps blood into major vessels. Your doctor may be able to detect a heartbeat.

Your baby's tiny feet can now kick, but you may not feel the movement yet. At the end of the first trimester an ultrasound can often reveal whether the baby is a boy or a girl!

"All you say can be trusted; your teachings are true and will last forever." Psalm 119:160

By the end of 16 weeks, your baby is four to five inches long and weighs anywhere from three to four ounces. During this month, your baby's bones are formed. Her arms, hands, and legs are visible on x-ray or ultrasound. Since your baby's ear folds are becoming more clearly developed and his hearing is more acute, the baby responds to sounds. Your baby's unique fingerprints are emerging!

By 16 weeks, your baby can sense changes in your position as she floats happy and safe in her bubble of amniotic fluid. Your baby takes in amniotic fluid through the developing air passages and tiny sacs in her lungs.

"All you say can be trusted; your teachings are true and will last forever." Psalm 119:160

The middle trimester of your pregnancy may find you feeling better and enjoying pregnancy. If you've had morning sickness, it usually subsides, and frequent urination has eased.  

Your baby will spend several more months in your womb growing bigger and bigger and developing her heart, lungs, and other vital organs.

"You are Lord God all-powerful! No one is as loving and faithful as you are." Psalm 89:8

Your baby continues to grow. He measures about 8-10 inches long and is about half the length he will be when he is born.

Your baby usually has hair now on her eyebrows and head. 

"And I have said, 'Only you are my Lord! Every good things I have is a gift from you.'" Psalm 16:2

How your baby is growing! On a sonogram he actually looks like a baby. At 21 weeks your baby is around 12 inches long and weighs about one to one and a half pounds.

Your baby's fingernails and eyelashes are developing. There are more fat deposits beneath the skin so your baby may begin to look plump.

You can really feel your baby moving as his limbs are longer and stronger. Your baby moves vigorously and responds to touch and sound.

"You, Lord God, have done many things, and you have planned marvelous things for us. No one is like you! I would never be able to tell all you have done." Psalm 40:5

The eyelids are open by 26-29 weeks. Your baby can now see, hear, smell, and taste.

Your baby's lungs begin to develop air sacs by 25 weeks; by 29 weeks your baby is almost able to breathe outside of the womb.

"Shout praises to the Lord! He is good to us, and His love never fails." Psalm 107:1

The time for baby's arrival is getting closer!

Your baby is looking more like a newborn. Some babies  will grow a full head of hair at this time. Your baby can blink his eyes in reaction to outside light. He becomes more aware of the outside world. He can react to sounds and movement, and he is more likely to be able to breathe on his own.

By the end of this trimester your baby measures about 18 - 20 inches and weighs between six and eight pounds. During these final weeks in the womb your baby starts to run out of room! She is rolled up like a little ball some of the time. At the end of the third trimester the baby is most likely in the head-down position, read for the birthing process.