Signs Of Pregnancy:

• The monthly menses stop.
• There may be some amount of nausea and vomiting in the morning also known as
  morning sickness.



• By the third month, the nipple darkens; the breast becomes larger and may also secrete
  milk.



• The abdomen gradually increases due to increase in the size of the womb as the fetus
  enlarges in the uterus.

Month-to-month development of fetus

First Month: After fertilization, a 2-celled embryo is formed. Further division takes place and a
small mass of cells is formed. These cells get embedded in the uterus and further growth takes
place.

Second and third month: The mass of cells start taking shape and by the 7th - 8th week the
embryo starts taking a human shape. The nose, ears, eyes and eyelashes become prominent.
Fingers start forming on the hands. Movements can be seen in the legs, hands and the thorax.
The fetal mind starts responding to pleasure and pain. The placenta is formed in the 3rd month
that provides the nourishment to the fetus by attaching to the uterine wall.

Fourth month: The fetal heart beats starts. As per ayurveda, consciousness now appears in the
fetus. It starts desiring the experiences and wishes of the past birth and starts echoing it through
the mother's desires. That is why some of the mothers have a peculiar desire for eating pickles
and ice cream.

Fifth month: The mind and the five sense organs become more developed. According to the
Vedas, the soul enters the fetus around the fifth month and the fetus finally becomes a living and
embodied structure.

Sixth and seventh month: The development of the fetus is complete. The fetus therefore can
now survive even if delivered prematurely even though some of the organs such as the lungs
may be somewhat underdeveloped.

Eight and Ninth month: The fetus continues to grow within the womb and increases in size and
dimension. By the end of ninth month, the fetus weighs about 3- 3.5 kgs. Labor starts at the end
of the ninth month and a normal healthy child is born at end of term.

Last created on 07-05-2004
Last updated on 18-11-2006