Patient's question:
My wife has recently become pregnant, and her check-up at the hospital went well. Could you please explain what the three stages of embryonic development mean?Doctor's answer:
The development of the fetus can be roughly divided into two stages: the embryonic stage and the fetal stage. The first 8 weeks after the formation of the fertilized egg are the early developmental stage of the embryo. The various organs and systems of the fetus are basically formed during this period. Although this stage lasts only two months, the normal developmental process may be affected by genetic defects and environmental factors, making this period extremely important. It is the most dangerous time for the formation of fetal malformations. People usually consider day 56 as the dividing line between the embryonic stage and the fetal stage. Therefore, the period from the eighth week of conception to the delivery of the fetus is called the fetal stage. According to the standard published by the WHO, if fertilization is complete on day 7, it is considered week 1, with days 1 to 7 being the first week, days 8 to 14 being the second week, days 15 to 21 being the third week, and so on.