Dr Prerna Jhawar
Dr Prerna Jhawar is a Fetal medicine expert with 12+ years of experience. As a Fetal medicine expert, Dr Prerna takes care of babies while they are still in their Mother’s womb! Sharing the More
Reviewed by Dr Prerna Jhawar MBBS, MS(Obstetrics and Gynaecology), FFM Consultant, Fetal Medicine,Rainbow Children's Hospitals, Bengaluru
Dr Prerna Jhawar is a Fetal medicine expert with 12+ years of experience. As a Fetal medicine expert, Dr Prerna takes care of babies while they are still in their Mother’s womb! Sharing the More
Written by Editorial Team
When you are within the 7 to 8 weeks of your pregnancy, you can feel the baby’s movements inside your belly. It will start with those basic uncoordinated flutters and then will progress into something more like jabs, flips, and kicks, when you are in your 2nd and 3rd trimester. All this happens with progress in the fetal development of baby arms and legs.
Most of the time, you will feel those movements when you are in your 16 to 22 weeks of pregnancy. Some women feel strong fetal movement around 24 weeks of pregnancy. Let’s learn about the time when your baby’s legs, arms, toes, and fingernails start to take shape.
In This Article
So, when will the arms and legs of a baby start to form and develop? As a would-be parent, you are sure to be curious about the various stages of development. We give you a week-by-week breakup.
Like every other organ in the body, your little one will also follow specific development patterns when it comes to fingers and toes.
[Read: First Ultrasound During Pregnancy]
Experiencing baby movements is one of the most precious and memorable parts of your pregnancy. As a would-be mother, you will surely be curious to know where you can experience your baby moving. Here is a breakup of the timeline.
Once you become accustomed to your baby’s movements, you will be able to spot some of the major patterns. Some babies are highly active during the afternoons and evenings. So, you can feel their presence more during such instances. Then you have other babies who are hyperactive during morning hours. For parents, it is exciting to observe if the babies are following the same pattern once they are born. Some might follow the same routines, but most of them don’t.
[Read: Fetal Development – Know Everything About Your Baby’s Brain and Nervous System]
Depending on the progressive weeks, there are some major changes in the fetal limb development department. Getting a thorough understanding of the weeks and the development rate will help mothers to keep track of their baby’s healthy growth. Some of those key stages are listed below for your reference.
Pregnancy Week | Key Milestone |
5 to 6 Weeks | It is during this time that the arm buds start to pop up. |
7 Weeks | This stage will often focus on the leg buds and the first-ever fluttering movements inside your belly. |
8 Weeks | During this time, the baby will start growing webbed legs and hands. |
11 Weeks | In this time, the baby will have separate toes and fingers. He or she can even bend the knee and elbow region. |
12 Weeks | During this time, the baby will start to open and close their hands, and you can see their toes curling up. |
16 Weeks | At this stage, the baby’s limbs will start to move in the most coordinated manner. |
16 to 22 weeks | During this time, mothers can feel the movement of the baby. |
20 to 24 Weeks | At this point, others are going to feel the baby’s movement by placing their feet on your stomach. |
34 Weeks | It is the perfect time for your baby to form his or her fingernails. |
38 Weeks | Toenails will start to form and take up shapes. |
Pregnancy can be really hard for women as the body is going through so many hormonal changes. So, keeping up with those changes is a bit time-consuming, which is why pregnant women are always tired. To be on the safe side and to know if your baby is going through proper growth, you have to tune into your little one’s pattern of movement. In case you notice less activity than usual, you may have to visit your doctor right away! The mother’s instinct works great during such instances. So, if you feel something is off, always get in touch with your gynecologist to ensure there are no major problems.
The entire process of changing into a baby and getting in shape is a really amazing experience. It’s pleasant to watch and wonder at the same time. A lot happens inside the mother’s stomach, and many people are unaware of it. But, focusing on the time and checking out the fetals’ limb growth is important to know if the baby is developing properly with time. So, keeping a watch on the key table mentioned above for the weeks and developments is important.
Nowadays, you have a 3D ultrasound exam where you can see the baby’s growth fully with every week passing by. So, make sure to get your appointments accordingly and have a direct chat with the doctors to see if everything is alright.
During the first trimester, you can see the baby forming toes and fingers alongside eyes, ears, nose and mouth.
The fetus will start to grow limbs eight weeks into pregnancy or six weeks after you have conceived.
You can see the baby’s toes and fingers in the 16-week ultrasound. You can see a fully formed baby during this stage but very small.
Read Also: Fetal Devepment – Know Everything About Your Baby’s Skull, Skeleton, and Bones Development
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