When you are pregnant, you learn a lot of new terms. There are also different names for your baby from the very beginning. This is how your little miracle is called an embryo during the first phase that it spends in your belly.
What is an embryo?
An embryo is the name for your baby at the very beginning of your pregnancy . Your baby lives as an embryo until it is about 8 weeks old. The embryonic phase is a vulnerable and important period for the development of your child. This is where the development of the organs takes place and the foundation for the rest of his life is laid. The term ’embryo’ comes from the Ancient Greek word émbruon, which means unborn fruit. In humans, the embryo is therefore also called a fruit.
When is your baby an embryo?
Your baby is called an embryo from the moment organs start developing until the 10th week of your pregnancy. Once the fertilization of the egg has taken place, the DNA of you and your partner merge and the first cell divisions start. The clump of cells travels from your fallopian tube to your uterus . The fertilized egg implants itself in the mucous membrane of your uterus wall. The hormones progesterone , hCG and estrogen in your body have ensured that this mucous membrane is in optimal condition and forms a good breeding ground for your baby-to-be.
At implantation, two different groups of cells can already be distinguished. One group, the trophoblast, develops into your placenta and the other group, the embryoblast, becomes the embryo. Your tiny version of a baby immediately goes to work. About a week after implantation, the development of various organs begins. From that moment on, the ball of cells is officially promoted to an embryo.
Development of the embryo
A lot happens in the embryonic phase of your baby’s development. He may still look like a tadpole during this period, but he does not sit still in your stomach. Your little embryo starts out as 3 layers. The inner layer grows to include the liver and lungs. The middle layer becomes the heart, bones, muscles, kidneys and genitals. The hair , skin, eyes and nervous system are formed from the outer layer .