The A-Z of pregnancy: A-G

placeholding invisible text

Average rating:

All you need to know about your pregnancy and the little miracle inside you!

Amniotic fluid
This cushions and protects your baby from temperature changes in the womb and is replenished every three to four hours (with a little help from your baby's urine!)

Blastocyst
Your unborn baby reaches this stage as your egg enters the womb and begins to implant, which is around a week after fertilisation. The backbone, spinal column and nervous system are forming now.

Chorion
This is the outer layer of the amniotic sac (the bag of water that encloses and protects your baby in the womb).

Dreams
Research has shown that unborn babies have periods of REM sleep, where their eyes move rapidly under the eyelids. Some scientists believe this shows that your baby is dreaming.

Embryo
Your baby is referred to as an embryo from implantation up to the 10th week of your pregnancy.

Foetus
Your baby moves on to this stage at 10 weeks. He's around 1 inch long, his fingers and toes are forming and his brain waves can be measured.

Gender
High-definition pregnancy scans can now reveal if your baby is a girl or a boy as early as 11 weeks.

- Read on for more: H-N of Pregnancy

More help and advice

- Get expert advice and tips on all aspects of pregnancy
- Your pregnancy week by week
- Get all the facts about labour

By Kate Brophy

Next: The A-Z of pregnancy: H-N

Rate this!

Average rating:

All pages in this article

Please leave a comment, tip or story in the box below

gabriel oye-igbemo, 9 months

my wife is 12 weeks pregnant and we have just started the anti natal. i want to know if it is too late and what are the consequences. i also want to know the implication of her not to have been taking folic acid since inception so the baby's nervous system can be formed. as she is just on pregnacare, is it too late all everything would still be taken care of? pls let me know thank you.

Report this comment

Laila, about 1 year

I have had no morninsickness or anything and i am enjoying this pregnancy alot because i am not over the toilet every 2 seconds. I am just over 3 months and i have already been for a scan which was the most amazing thing ever.

Report this comment