24 weeks since conception
fat begins to form under the skin
eyelids no longer fused, but remain closed
glands within the skin start to produce a greasy, cheeselike material known as the vernix, thought to prevent hardening of skin from constant immersion in mineral-rich amniotic fluid

28 weeks since conception
fetus hiccups at intervals of two or three seconds, although it is amniotic fluid rather than air which enters and leaves the lungs
age of viability

36 weeks since conception
kidneys are fully matured, and the liver is able to cope with some of the waste product being produced
fetus fills the uterus, and assumes its final position
antibodies are received from mother's blood

40 weeks since conception
fine body hair disappears from most areas of the fetus, but it is usually still present on the back and shoulders
throughout the pregnancy, as new skin is formed the outermost layer dies and is shed; as the vernix covers the outer layer, it too is shed
the amniotic fluid, formerly clear, becomes milky from the flakes of skin and vernix floating in it

newborn - 28 days since birth
motor skills primarily reflexive: swallowing, sucking, gagging, coughing, yawning, tonic neck reflex, blinking, and elimination reflexes present
infant turns face toward the cheek being touched
infant tightly curls its fingers around an object being placed in hand; does not reach for objects
maintains fetal position when asleep
eyes do not always work together; continues looking about even in the dark
begins to study own hand when lying in tonic neck reflex (TNR) position
head is large in relation to body; accounts for nearly one-fourth of total body length

1 month since birth
learns to keep head up
head and chest circumference's are nearly equal
colour vision is present
shows no body awareness

2 months since birth
is able to raise head and upper body for a few moments when lying down on stomach
reaches for objects

4 months since birth
seems fascinated to watch hands approach each other and work together
does not reach for disappearing objects; "out of sight, out of mind"
begins to mouth objects

6 months since birth
teeth begin to appear
uses finger and thumb (pincer grasp) to pick up objects
reaches for objects with both hands simultaneously
puts everything in mouth
infants "discover" their feet; with great persistence they capture the foot, which is then brought to eyes for viewing and to the mouth for nibbling
puts self in crawling position but does not move forward
imitates actions such as pat-a-cake, waving bye-bye and playing peek-a-boo

8 months since birth
learns to crawl
grasps objects with entire hand (palmar grasp)
shows fear of falling from high places
delights in throwing objects for caregiver to retrieve
responds to own name; attends appropriately to familiar words such as "no-no", "daddy", "go bye-bye?"
indicates desire to be picked up by raising arms


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