[This is part 13 of a multi-part series chronicling a pregnancy through the lens of “Baby Chris.” Click here for other parts.] One-third of this pregnancy is over! Baby Chris has entered the second trimester, and this week, his or her weight has increased about 58%. He or she is now about the size of […]
[This is part 12 of a multi-part series chronicling a pregnancy through the lens of “Baby Chris.” Click here for other parts.] Eleven weeks after conception (13 weeks LMP), Baby Chris is about three inches long. It’s been a busy week for the development of facial features. The tiny nose and lips have formed, allowing Baby […]
Definitions of “heartbeat.” To my knowledge there’s no unifying authoritative definition of “heartbeat.” Embryology textbooks do use the term. For example: “Blood flow begins during the fourth week, and heartbeats can be visualized by Doppler ultrasonography.” – The Developing Human, Moore et al, 10th Edition (2013) “The heartbeat is initiated around the twenty-first day, and […]
Recently a FB follower shared this post to our page: (Click to enlarge) The text reads, in part: This is what an embryo at 6 weeks looks like. There is no real heart beat because it’s heart isn’t nearly complete – they’re heart “vibrations” (vibrations are caused my cellular activity where the heart WILL be. […]
[This is part 11 of a multi-part series chronicling a pregnancy through the lens of “Baby Chris.” Click here for other parts.] Baby Chris has put on some serious weight this week: a whopping 77% increase, according to the Endowment for Human Development. He or she now weighs about half an ounce and is the […]
[This is part 10 of a multi-part series chronicling a pregnancy through the lens of “Baby Chris.” Click here for other parts.] One week into the fetal period, Baby Chris is exhibiting new behaviors. According to the Endowment for Human Development, “thumb sucking begins and the fetus may swallow amniotic fluid. The fetus can also […]
[This is part 9 of a multi-part series chronicling a pregnancy through the lens of “Baby Chris.” Click here for other parts.] Since his or her conception eight weeks ago, Baby Chris “has grown from a single cell into nearly 1 billion cells forming over 4000 distinct anatomic structures” and “now possesses more than 90 […]
Figure via the Endowment for Human Development [This is part 8 of a multi-part series chronicling a pregnancy through the lens of “Baby Chris.” Click here for other parts.] Seven weeks after fertilization, Baby Chris has brainwaves! In fact, brainwaves have been detected by EEG as early as six weeks and two days. Baby Chris’s […]
[This is part 7 of a multi-part series chronicling a pregnancy through the lens of “Baby Chris.” Click here for other parts.] Six weeks after conception, Baby Chris has reached several major milestones, particularly when it comes to nervous system development. Neurons are growing in the newly formed cerebral cortex, a brain structure crucial for […]
[This is part 6 of a multi-part series chronicling a pregnancy through the lens of “Baby Chris.” Click here for other parts.] Animation via Virtual Human Embryo Five weeks after his or her conception, Baby Chris is rapidly developing new organs. The kidneys have appeared, the liver is producing blood cells, and the yolk sac is […]
It’s crucial that we demonstrate that anyone can–and everyone should–oppose abortion. Thanks to you, we are working to change minds, transform our culture, and protect our prenatal children. Every donation supports our ability to provide nonsectarian, nonpartisan arguments against abortion. Read more details here. Please donate today.