Pregnancy month 3 (Fetal growth in month 3)

Note: Information provided on this page is for reference only, growth of baby inside womb depends upon many factor and growth of your baby may differ slightly than indicated below, please seek medical assistance when in doubt.

In 3^rd month of pregnancy ...
Pregnancy month three starts at (pregnancy) week 9 till week 13, the third month of pregnancy completes the 1^st pregnancy trimester. The baby will grow to average length of about 2.91 inches or 7.4 centimeter measured Crown to Rump (CR) weighing about 0.81 ounce or 23 grams towards the ends of this month.


   In 1^st week of this month (pregnancy week 9)

• The size of baby is now about size of a green olive.
• The heart is almost completely developed and baby's heart beat can now be heard with a Doppler.
• Baby's eyes have grown bigger and have some pigment (color) to them. Most babies are born with black or brown eyes and permanent eye color will become obvious between 6 to 9 months.
• Baby's ears are forming, both inside and out. Mouth now has tiniest tongues and tooth buds are forming in their jaw. Eyelids are forming, as are hair follicles and nipples.
• Fingers and toes are no longer webbed. The arms develop bones, and the hands begin to touch the face. The legs start to move. Ossification or hardening of the bones begins.
• Gonads have become testes (for boys) or ovaries (for girls).
• Baby will grow to average length of about 0.90 inch or 2.3 centimeter Crown to Rump (CR) and weighs about 0.07 ounce or 2 grams towards the ends of this week.

   In 2^nd week of this month (pregnancy week 10)

• Baby now is of size of a small prune or a cumquat.
• The eyelids begin to fuse to protect the eyes. The eyes are largely open, but the eyelids are beginning to fuse, and will stay that way until 25-27 weeks.
• The fetus begin doing occasional breathing movements, although it gets oxygen through the umbilical cord. The skin becomes less translucent, and genitals begins to form. External ears are formed, as is the upper lip and the baby tail has disappeared or is disappearing soon.
• Baby's fingers and toes are clearly formed and they are developing finger and toe nails. Baby can bend its limbs this week, at its elbows and is able to flex its wrists.
• Baby's head is still large in proportion to the rest of its body, but now has a neck and all of the face bones are formed.
• A layer of fine hair known as lanugo is now covering baby's body. Inner and outer ear, tooth buds and eyes are all fully developed.
• Baby's vital organs are now located where they should be and for the remaining period of pregnancy, they will continue to mature and develop in preparation for extra-uterine life.
• Baby is now secreting digestive juices in stomach and getting ready for dealing with the amniotic fluid they'll be swallowing soon.
• Baby's kidneys are filtering their blood and producing urine. If your baby is a boy, his testicles are already doing their thing and producing testosterone, the important male sex hormone.
• Baby will grow to average length of about 1.22 inch or 3.1 centimeter Crown to Rump (CR) and weighs about 0.14 ounce or 4 grams towards the ends of this week.

   In 3^rd week of this month (pregnancy week 11)

• Baby now is almost an exact, but miniature version of itself at birth. Baby now looks less like a little alien and in next 3 weeks baby will double its current length.
• The head makes up about half of the fetus’s body; this will change as the baby grows. The fetus can sigh, stretch, move its head and suck its thumb.
• Baby's forehead is less bulging and its eyes positioned more in the middle of its face. Its fingers and toes, which until recently were just little connected paddles, have now separated into clear discernable and separate digits.
• Baby's body is less curled up and is straightening out. Until recently, its shape was more of a curved C, but now its body is less curled, except for its legs which remain flexed at the hip.
• Nearly all the organs and body structures are formed and beginning to function. Genitals begin to take on either male or female form. The iris will begin to develop this week and finger nails appear.
• Nipples appears on baby's chest, baby's ears which have been positioned low down on their neck are now in position almost where they should be, on either side of their head.
• If your baby is a girl, this week her ovaries will start to develop. At birth, she will have as many eggs as she will ever have throughout her lifetime. Your baby's external genitals are also forming, minute as they are.
• Mother may now start feeling the presence of a baby in her womb, a full feeling in pelvis when bladder is full, or after eating a large meal.
• Baby will grow to average length of about 1.61 inch or 4.1 centimeter Crown to Rump (CR) and weighs about 0.25 ounce or 7 grams towards the ends of this week.

   In 4^th week of this month (pregnancy week 12)

• Baby is now twice the size it was just 3 weeks ago and is the same size as a ripe plum. The baby face begins to look more like human. Baby from this week onward are mostly measured head to heel.
• While baby's brain is not the same size it will be at birth, it does have the same structure. Weeks 12 to 18 is a major, critical period in baby's brain development. Alcohol, tobacco or drugs should be strictly avoided as they could have long-term affects on your baby.
• Baby has its reflexes and also practices movements in the digestive tract preparing on for an extrauterine life. Baby's intestines start contracting and relaxing, so they get lots of practice for healthy digestion when they are born, Bile beings to secrete.
• Baby’s heartbeat can be clearly heard on a Doppler and it sounds like horses. Baby can suck its thumb. Its eyelids will fully cover its eyes so they are well protected.
• Baby is now moving all the time, kicking and stretching, twisting and turning. But because it is still so small and your uterus is only just at the top of your pelvis, you still won't be able to feel its movement.
• Baby's bone marrow is starting to produce its own white blood cells; they are the infection fighting cells that helps the baby to stay well and healthy.
• Baby's placenta is now doing its all important work in filtering oxygen and nutrients to assist baby to grow. Baby's pituitary gland starts working and manufacturing its own hormones.
• Baby will grow to average length of about 2.13 inches or 5.4 centimeter Crown to Rump (CR) and weighs about 0.49 ounce or 14 grams towards the ends of this week.

   In 5^th week of this month (pregnancy week 13)

• Baby's nose and lips are completely formed; baby is now preparing its vocal chords from this week onwards.
• Baby begins to produce and excrete urine. The pancreas of your little one is even secreting insulin. All twenty teeth have formed and are waiting, however teething happens only after birth.
• Baby's intestines are migrating from the umbilical cord into his or her abdomen. The villi are also forming in the intestines, these help in peristaltic movements and digestion. Meconium, the baby's first stool, is developing.
• The fine hair covers the surface of baby's body and serves to protect its skin when it is floating around in all that water.
• Fine connections between baby's brain, muscles and nerves have all formed and they are able to move freely and use their muscles to push and pull themselves into various positions.
• Baby will grow to average length of about 2.91 inches or 7.4 centimeter Crown to Rump (CR) and weighs about 0.81 ounce or 23 grams towards the ends of this week.

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