Life in the Uterus

Genetics
"...every body cell--with two exceptions--there are 46 chromosomes, making 23 pairs. The two exceptions are the egg cell and the sperm cell, which have 23 chromosomes each, instead of 46." (p.71)

Boy or Girl?
"...statistically it appears that as women grow older, and also as they bear more children, then chance of having a girl is slightly increased." (p. 71)

Early Development
"...second week of the fertilized egg's life, the cells become differentiated. One set becomes the amniotic sac...the yolk sac...the placenta...cells that will form the baby...third week until there is a head and a tail..." (p. 74)

Six Weeks--"...embryo...neck and a head with rudimentary eyes and ears, a brain, and a heart that is already beating...bloodstream and a digestive system, kidneys, and a liver, and tiny buds that will become arms and legs." (p. 74)

Seven Weeks--"...nostrils, lips, and a tongue, and even the buds of its first teeth. Four chambers have developed in the heart." (p. 75)

Eight Weeks--"...heart has started the vigorous pumping...Even now the baby is trying out some gentle kicking..." (p. 75)
"The genitals have developed..." (p. 76)

The Placenta
"The flow of blood through the placenta in the fourth month of pregnancy is about 7.5 gallons (27.5 liters) a day, and by the end of pregnancy 87 gallons (330 liters) of blood are passing through the placenta each day." (p. 77)
"...when the placenta reduces its output of progesterone, estrogen takes over, initiates labor and ensures that the uterus begins to contract strongly." (p. 77)

The Growing Baby
16 weeks--lanugo-fine down covering baby (p. 79)

24 weeks--"If it is born, it must be registered as a birth. If the baby dies, it is now a stillbirth rather than a miscarriage." (p. 79)

28 weeks--"60 to 70 percent chance of survival" (p. 79)

36 weeks--"The baby is three times as heavy at birth as at 28 weeks." (p. 80)

Quickening
"For centuries pregnancy had little social acknowledgment before quickening occurred. Only after quickening was the baby considered to be a 'life.'" (p. 80)
"By the 24th week, the baby is starting to listen to and learn the sounds of language." (p. 81)