After 12 weeks of gestation, the embryo is now called fetus and starts to go through important changes.
Some of these changes are significant weight gain and a more human appearance (despite the fact that its head is bigger than its body).
Also at this stage, the fetus develops an important network of cells, in other words, an increase in neurons found within the brain. However, the fetus still lacks the connections needed for their brains to control said neurons.
At the beginning of the second trimester of pregnancy (fourth month), the fetus is covered in a fine, soft fuzz called lanugo, and it performs subtle movements, which the mother can feel.
The fetus’s heart pumps up to nearly 25 liters of blood a day; fingerprints and several brain folds start to form; the ossicles of the middle ear harden and the genitals complete their development, allowing us to determine the baby’s sex.
At the fifth month, the fetus performs strong movements, which can be felt by touching the mother’s stomach; and at the sixth month, the fetus can recognize some voices and sounds.
In the last trimester, the fetus has developed all of its organs, thus starting a consolidation stage.
At the eighth month, the fetus gets into the position for exiting the womb through the process known as childbirth.
