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What is a Fetus?

A.E. Freeman
A.E. Freeman

A fetus is an unborn, developing mammal. The fetal stage comes after the embryo stage, after the eighth week of gestation or the 10th week of pregnancy, and lasts until birth. A normally developing embryo will have begun to form major identifying features at the end of the eighth week, such as its nose and mouth. Its organs will also have begun to develop and will continue to do so until it is born.

As an embryo develops into a fetus in a pregnant woman, it grows arms and legs and begins to develop fingers and toes. It also begins to grow ears and eyelids. The embryo also begins to form lungs in the eighth week of pregnancy, and its brain continues developing. At this stage in the pregnancy, the embryo is still very small, at less than 0.75 of an inch long.

Most mothers are unable to feel a fetus's movement until around the 20th week of pregnancy.
Most mothers are unable to feel a fetus's movement until around the 20th week of pregnancy.

In the beginning of the fetal period of a pregnancy, starting at week nine of gestation, the baby closes its eyelids. The eyes remain closed until the pregnancy is nearly over. It genitals have begun to develop, and it is beginning to produce red blood cells in its liver. During weeks nine to 12, the face will become fully formed, and it will be able to clench its hand into a fist.

Throughout the rest of the pregnancy, the baby will continue to grow and develop. It will grow hair, eyelashes, and nails. The body will begin to store fat, and its respiratory system will develop and mature over the course of the pregnancy.

A fetus is an unborn, developing baby.
A fetus is an unborn, developing baby.

Although most fetuses are able to move by the eighth week, most mothers are unable to feel the movement until around the 20th week, or halfway through a human pregnancy. During the 20th week, the fetal heartbeat becomes audible through a stethoscope outside of the uterus.

The definition of a fetus can be a source for debate. Some people believe that a human child is not fully a human child until born and that abortion is acceptable because the fetus is not yet a baby. Other people argue that life begins once the egg is fertilized, so even an embryo qualifies as a living being with rights to life. Some debates focus on whether a fetus can feel pain inside the womb and whether it is acceptable to show a pregnant woman ultrasound images as she makes a decision to abort.

Discussion Comments

calpat

One thing that I learned during my pregnancies is that although a fetus is considered to be full-term at 37 weeks because its lungs are finally developed enough to work, some babies just need a bit more time for one reason or another. So to all you mothers out there who feel like you're about to pop, just remember that the baby will come in its own time, and you should not try to rush things without medical reason to do so!

rosoph

It is important to note that elective 3D and 4D ultrasounds are not meant to replace the complete diagnostic 2D ultrasound routinely done by a health care provider. It is very important to get a routine ultrasound done by a health care provider to monitor the health of the fetus.

write79

As an additional treat, it is now possible to get a 3D or 4D ultrasound. A 3D ultrasound shows the baby in three dimensional images. A 4D ultrasound gives the same three dimensional images, as well as movement of the fetus. These ultrasounds are used as a bonding technique between the parents and the fetus.

roxytalks

One of the most exciting moments during pregnancy is when a fetus ultrasound is performed. Fetus ultrasounds are used by medical professionals to determine a variety of things, including the expected due date, the size of the baby, and the sex of the baby. For the parents however, this is their first glimpse of their child.

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    • Most mothers are unable to feel a fetus's movement until around the 20th week of pregnancy.
      By: Langstrup
      Most mothers are unable to feel a fetus's movement until around the 20th week of pregnancy.
    • A fetus is an unborn, developing baby.
      By: Oleksandr Bondar
      A fetus is an unborn, developing baby.
    • The fetal stage comes after the 10th week of pregnancy.
      By: coffeemill
      The fetal stage comes after the 10th week of pregnancy.
    • A fetus can be detected in the womb using ultrasound technology.
      By: photographmd
      A fetus can be detected in the womb using ultrasound technology.
    • Vaginal ultrasound probes may be inserted into the vagina during pregnancy to obtain an image of the uterus.
      By: zayacsk
      Vaginal ultrasound probes may be inserted into the vagina during pregnancy to obtain an image of the uterus.