Week by week
How your baby grows
Slide through your pregnancy and watch your baby grow — how big they are this week, what's developing, and what you might be feeling.
8weeks
This week, your baby
How you may feel
How baby grows is from MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine) — Fetal development; how you may feel is from U.S. Office on Women's Health — Stages of pregnancy. Planning and comfort help, not medical advice — always follow your own doctor or midwife.
Week 8 — about the size of a raspberry
Tiny arms and legs are getting longer, and hands and feet are starting to form — right now they look like little paddles. The brain is busy developing and the lungs are just beginning to take shape.
Week 9 — about the size of a cherry
Elbows appear as the arms lengthen, and toes become visible. All the essential organs have started to grow.
Week 10 — about the size of a strawberry
Eyelids are forming, the outer ears are taking shape, and the face is looking more like a little face. This is the week your baby is officially called a fetus — and a heartbeat may be heard.
Week 11 — about the size of a lime
The face is well-formed and the limbs are long and thin. Fingernails and toenails are beginning, tiny tooth buds are appearing, and your baby can make fists.
Week 12 — about the size of a plum
The face is well-formed and the limbs are long and thin. Fingernails and toenails are beginning, tiny tooth buds are appearing, and your baby can make fists.
Week 13 — about the size of a lemon
The face is well-formed and the limbs are long and thin. Fingernails and toenails are beginning, tiny tooth buds are appearing, and your baby can make fists.
Week 14 — about the size of a peach
Skin is still nearly see-through and a fine downy hair called lanugo is starting to grow. Bones are hardening, and your baby is moving and stretching — even practicing little sucking motions.
Week 15 — about the size of an apple
Skin is still nearly see-through and a fine downy hair called lanugo is starting to grow. Bones are hardening, and your baby is moving and stretching — even practicing little sucking motions.
Week 16 — about the size of an avocado
Skin is still nearly see-through and a fine downy hair called lanugo is starting to grow. Bones are hardening, and your baby is moving and stretching — even practicing little sucking motions.
Week 17 — about the size of a pear
Skin is still nearly see-through and a fine downy hair called lanugo is starting to grow. Bones are hardening, and your baby is moving and stretching — even practicing little sucking motions.
Week 18 — about the size of a bell pepper
Skin is still nearly see-through and a fine downy hair called lanugo is starting to grow. Bones are hardening, and your baby is moving and stretching — even practicing little sucking motions.
Week 19 — about the size of a mango
Your baby can hear now and is moving and floating more. This is around the time many people first feel those flutters — called quickening. By the end of this stretch, baby is learning to swallow.
Week 20 — about the size of a banana
Your baby can hear now and is moving and floating more. This is around the time many people first feel those flutters — called quickening. By the end of this stretch, baby is learning to swallow.
Week 21 — about the size of a carrot
Your baby can hear now and is moving and floating more. This is around the time many people first feel those flutters — called quickening. By the end of this stretch, baby is learning to swallow.
Week 22 — about the size of a papaya
Lanugo now covers the whole body, and eyebrows and eyelashes have appeared. The heartbeat can be heard with a stethoscope, and fingernails have grown to the fingertips.
Week 23 — about the size of a grapefruit
Bone marrow is starting to make blood cells, the lower airways of the lungs are developing, and your baby is beginning to store body fat.
Week 24 — about the size of an ear of corn
Bone marrow is starting to make blood cells, the lower airways of the lungs are developing, and your baby is beginning to store body fat.
Week 25 — about the size of an acorn squash
Bone marrow is starting to make blood cells, the lower airways of the lungs are developing, and your baby is beginning to store body fat.
Week 26 — about the size of a head of lettuce
Every part of the eyes has now developed, and your baby may startle at loud noises. Fingerprints and footprints are forming, and air sacs are beginning to form in the lungs.
Week 27 — about the size of a cauliflower
The brain is growing quickly and the nervous system is developed enough to control some of the body. Eyelids can open and close, and the lungs are making surfactant, the substance that helps them work after birth.
Week 28 — about the size of an eggplant
The brain is growing quickly and the nervous system is developed enough to control some of the body. Eyelids can open and close, and the lungs are making surfactant, the substance that helps them work after birth.
Week 29 — about the size of a butternut squash
The brain is growing quickly and the nervous system is developed enough to control some of the body. Eyelids can open and close, and the lungs are making surfactant, the substance that helps them work after birth.
Week 30 — about the size of a head of cabbage
The brain is growing quickly and the nervous system is developed enough to control some of the body. Eyelids can open and close, and the lungs are making surfactant, the substance that helps them work after birth.
Week 31 — about the size of a bunch of asparagus
This is a stretch of rapid growth and putting on fat. Your baby is practicing rhythmic breathing (the lungs are still maturing) and the bones are fully formed but still soft.
Week 32 — about the size of a large jicama
This is a stretch of rapid growth and putting on fat. Your baby is practicing rhythmic breathing (the lungs are still maturing) and the bones are fully formed but still soft.
Week 33 — about the size of a pineapple
This is a stretch of rapid growth and putting on fat. Your baby is practicing rhythmic breathing (the lungs are still maturing) and the bones are fully formed but still soft.
Week 34 — about the size of a cantaloupe
This is a stretch of rapid growth and putting on fat. Your baby is practicing rhythmic breathing (the lungs are still maturing) and the bones are fully formed but still soft.
Week 35 — about the size of a head of romaine lettuce
Your baby is filling out, so the skin looks less wrinkled, and definite sleep patterns are settling in. The heart and blood vessels are complete, and the muscles and bones are fully developed.
Week 36 — about the size of a bunch of Swiss chard
Your baby is filling out, so the skin looks less wrinkled, and definite sleep patterns are settling in. The heart and blood vessels are complete, and the muscles and bones are fully developed.
Week 37 — about the size of a leek
Your baby is filling out, so the skin looks less wrinkled, and definite sleep patterns are settling in. The heart and blood vessels are complete, and the muscles and bones are fully developed.
Week 38 — about the size of a stalk of celery
The downy lanugo is mostly gone now, the fingernails may reach past the fingertips, and the hair on the head is thicker. Your baby is ready — this is full term, and could arrive any day.
Week 39 — about the size of a small pumpkin
The downy lanugo is mostly gone now, the fingernails may reach past the fingertips, and the hair on the head is thicker. Your baby is ready — this is full term, and could arrive any day.
Week 40 — about the size of a full-term newborn
The downy lanugo is mostly gone now, the fingernails may reach past the fingertips, and the hair on the head is thicker. Your baby is ready — this is full term, and could arrive any day.
Week 41 — about the size of a full-term newborn — any day now
The downy lanugo is mostly gone now, the fingernails may reach past the fingertips, and the hair on the head is thicker. Your baby is ready — this is full term, and could arrive any day.