
The first trimester of pregnancy is the first 12 weeks, beginning on the first day of your last period. During this time, the fertilised egg rapidly divides into layers of cells and implants in the wall of the womb, where it continues to grow. By six weeks, a heartbeat can usually be heard, and by the end of the first trimester, the embryo becomes a fully formed foetus, weighing approximately 0.5 to 1 ounce and measuring, on average, 3 to 4 inches in length.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of weeks | 1-12 |
| Development | Organs and body systems are fully formed |
| Development | Embryo becomes a fetus |
| Development | Fetus weighs approximately 0.5 to 1 ounce |
| Development | Fetus measures, on average, 3 to 4 inches in length |
| Development | Heartbeat can usually be heard by six weeks |
| Development | Bones, muscles and organs have formed by the end of week 12 |
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What You'll Learn

The first trimester lasts for 12 weeks
The first trimester of pregnancy lasts for 12 weeks, from the first day of your last period to the end of week 12. During this time, the fertilised egg rapidly divides into layers of cells, which implant in the wall of the womb and continue to grow. These layers of cells become an embryo, which develops rapidly and by the end of the first trimester, becomes a fully formed foetus.
The embryo develops faster during the first trimester than at any other time, and by six weeks, a heartbeat can usually be heard. By the end of the first trimester, the foetus's bones, muscles and all the organs of the body have formed, and it measures, on average, 3 to 4 inches in length and weighs approximately 0.5 to 1 ounce.
The first trimester is a vital time for the development of the foetus, as all of the major organs and body systems are forming. The foetus is most vulnerable during these first 12 weeks, and can be damaged by exposure to drugs, infectious agents, radiation, certain medications, tobacco and toxic substances.
Although the organs and body systems are fully formed by the end of the first trimester, the foetus cannot survive independently.
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The fertilised egg divides into layers of cells and implants in the womb
The first trimester of pregnancy lasts for 12 weeks, from the first day of your last period to the end of week 12. During this time, the fertilised egg rapidly divides into layers of cells and implants in the wall of the womb, where it continues to grow. These layers of cells become an embryo, which is what the baby is called at this stage. By the end of the first trimester, the embryo has developed into a fully formed foetus, weighing approximately 0.5 to 1 ounce and measuring, on average, 3 to 4 inches in length.
The first trimester is a vital time for the developing baby, as this is when the major organs and body systems are forming. These include the bones, muscles, and all the organs of the body, which have formed by the end of the first trimester. The foetus is most vulnerable during these first 12 weeks, and exposure to drugs, infectious agents, radiation, certain medications, tobacco, and toxic substances can cause damage.
While the organs and body systems are fully formed by the end of the first trimester, the foetus cannot survive independently. It is important to note that each foetus develops differently, and the benchmarks provided are for most normal pregnancies.
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By six weeks, a heartbeat can usually be heard
The first trimester of pregnancy is the first 12 weeks, and it's a time of dramatic changes and development. By six weeks, a heartbeat can usually be heard. This is an exciting milestone for parents, as it's a sign that the baby is growing and developing as it should be.
During the first trimester, the fertilised egg rapidly divides into layers of cells and implants in the wall of the womb, where it continues to grow. These layers of cells become an embryo, which is what the baby is called during this stage. By the end of the first trimester, the embryo becomes a fetus, weighing approximately 0.5 to 1 ounce and measuring, on average, 3 to 4 inches in length.
The first trimester is a critical period for the baby's development. All of the major organs and body systems are forming, and they can be damaged if exposed to drugs, infectious agents, radiation, certain medications, tobacco, and toxic substances. By the end of the first trimester, the baby's bones, muscles, and all the organs of the body have formed, and the baby looks like a tiny human being.
While the organs and body systems are fully formed by the end of 12 weeks, the fetus cannot survive independently at this stage. It is still dependent on the mother for nourishment and protection. The first trimester is a vital time for both the mother and the baby, as the mother's body also undergoes changes to support the growing baby.
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By the end of the first trimester, the embryo becomes a fully formed foetus
The first trimester of pregnancy begins on the first day of your last period and lasts until the end of week 12. During this time, the fertilised egg rapidly divides into layers of cells and implants in the wall of the womb, where it continues to grow. These layers of cells become an embryo, which is what the baby is called at this stage. By the end of the first trimester, the embryo becomes a fully formed foetus, weighing approximately 0.5 to 1 ounce and measuring, on average, 3 to 4 inches in length.
The first trimester is a vital time as your body gets busy building a baby. The embryo develops rapidly, and by six weeks, a heartbeat can usually be heard. By the end of the trimester, the baby's bones, muscles, and all the organs of the body have formed. At this point, the baby looks like a tiny human being and is now called a foetus.
The most dramatic changes and developments happen during the first trimester. The foetus is most vulnerable during the first 12 weeks, as all of the major organs and body systems are forming and can be damaged if exposed to drugs, infectious agents, radiation, certain medications, tobacco, and toxic substances.
Although the organs and body systems are fully formed by the end of 12 weeks, the foetus cannot survive independently. Each foetus develops differently, and the benchmarks provided are for most normal pregnancies.
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The foetus is most vulnerable during the first 12 weeks
The first trimester of pregnancy is the first 12 weeks, and it is during this time that the foetus is most vulnerable. During these first three months, the fertilised egg rapidly divides into layers of cells and implants in the wall of the womb where it continues to grow. These layers of cells become an embryo, which is what the baby is called at this stage. The embryo develops rapidly and by the end of the first trimester, it becomes a foetus that is fully formed, weighing approximately 0.5 to 1 ounce and measuring, on average, 3 to 4 inches in length.
The first trimester is a vital time as the body gets busy building a baby. The most dramatic changes and developments happen during this time. By six weeks, a heartbeat can usually be heard and by the end of week 12, the baby's bones, muscles and all the organs of the body have formed. Although the organs and body systems are fully formed by the end of 12 weeks, the foetus cannot survive independently.
Although the foetus is most vulnerable during the first 12 weeks, it is important to note that each foetus develops differently and there may be variations in the timeline of development. It is always best to consult with a healthcare professional for specific advice and guidance regarding pregnancy and foetal development.
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Frequently asked questions
The first trimester is the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, from week 1 to the end of week 12.
The first trimester begins on the first day of your last period.
During the first trimester, the fertilised egg rapidly divides into layers of cells and implants in the wall of your womb where it carries on growing. By the end of the first trimester, the embryo becomes a fetus that is fully formed, weighing approximately 0.5 to 1 ounce and measuring, on average, 3 to 4 inches in length.
The fetus is most vulnerable during the first 12 weeks. During this time, all of the major organs and body systems are forming and can be damaged if the fetus is exposed to drugs, infectious agents, radiation, certain medications, tobacco and toxic substances.

























