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Conception - from fertilisation to embryo

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Conception is when an egg is fertilised by a sperm. This usually happens 1 or 2 days after ovulation.

Over 4 to 5 days, the fertilised egg travels along the fallopian tube to the uterus for the egg to implant itself, and for pregnancy to begin.

  • Ovulation
  • Fertilisation
  • Zygote
  • 2-cell stage
  • 4-cell stage
  • 8-cell stage
  • Blastocyst
  • Blastocyst (hatching)
  • Implantation in uterus

Fetal development

  • Week 3 — brain and central nervous system
  • Week 3-4 — heart
  • Week 4 — upper limbs (arms)
  • Week 4-5 — eyes
  • Week 4-5 — lower limbs (legs)
  • Week 7 — teeth
  • Week 7 — palate
  • Week 7-8 — external genitalia
  • Week 4-5 — ears

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