Growth Of Foetus

Question 1

How can a mother care for her developing foetus?

Answer 1

There will be many changes in a woman’s body during pregnancy. It is important that she eats the right foods, vitamins and minerals to keep her foetus healthy.

Question 2

How does the foetus develop during pregnancy?

Answer 2

The fertilised egg splits up into different cells, to from a ball of cells called an embryo. This implants into the soft lining of the uterus. The embryo gets food and oxygen from the blood in the soft uterus lining, to help it grow and develop. As it grows, it becomes surrounded by a bag (the amnion) filled with watery liquid (amniotic fluid).

Question 3

What does the foetus look like at the different stages of pregnancy?

Answer 3

After five weeks, the embryo is about 5mm long and has a small heart to pump blood.
After about 10 weeks, the embryo is now a foetus and has a full set of organs. The foetus is about 10cm long.
After 15 weeks, the foetus is 15cm long and the mother can now feel it move inside her.

Question 4

How does an embryo get its food?

Answer 4

An embryo gets its food and oxygen through the placenta.

Question 5

How does a foetus get organs?

Answer 5

The cells inside the embryo start to specialise in turning into organs to make a foetus.

Question 6

What crosses the placenta to the baby?

(What does the mother pass over to the baby through the placenta)?

Answer 6

Oxygen
Food
Alcohol
Blood
Water

Question 7

What crosses the placenta to the mother?

(What does the baby pass over to the mother through the placenta)?

Answer 7

Blood
Urine
Carbon dioxide
Water

Question 8

What does the foetus look like during each week of pregnancy?

Answer 8

0-4 weeks - a dot
4-8 weeks - an embryo
12-20 weeks - a foetus
20-36 weeks - a developed foetus
40 weeks - a child (born)