Brain and spinal cord begin to form

Length is less than 1 inch

Fingers have grown and separated, toes are now visible

Facial features—eyes, nose, lips, and tongue—continue to develop

Each minute the brain develops as many as 250,000 new neurons

Unborn child is now called a fetus (Latin for offspring), rather than an embryo

All major body parts and organs are present

Heartbeat can be heard with electronic devices

Bones are beginning to harden

Movement may be felt by the mother

The unborn child can suck her thumb

Taste buds are present and functioning

Experts say she can feel pain

Swallowing begins

Can turn body side to side and front to back

Babies born at this time may be able to survive (21+ weeks gestation)

Outside sounds can be heard

Actions such as hiccuping, squinting, smiling, and frowning may be seen through ultrasound

Central nervous system is developed enough to control some major body functions

Another person might hear a heartbeat by listening to the pregnant woman’s abdomen

Pupils can dilate and constrict in dim or bright light

Connections between the nerve cells in the brain have increased

Body fat increasing rapidly

Head may soon start repositioning down in preparation for birth