Your Baby

profile of a pregnant woman who is looking at ultrasound photo
Photo credit: iStock.com / SDI Productions

Fetal development is truly miraculous. See how your baby grows in the womb and the stages of fetal development from fertilized egg to full-grown baby. If you're having twins, check out our amazing pictures of how fraternal twins develop side by side. And if you're wondering what cord blood banking is – and whether it's something you'll do for your baby – we have information on benefits to consider.  

Photo credit: iStock.com / SDI Productions

Twins & More

one orange and one red heart a yellow background
How twin babies grow in the womb month-by-month
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
2 pairs of heart-shaped sunglasses
Signs you’re having twins or multiples
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
illustration of a womb with twins embryo at 4 weeks
4 weeks pregnant with twins
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
dice for twins
What are the chances of having twins?
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
ultrasound photo showing twin babies
Can twins have different fathers?
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
illustration of womb with twins embryo at 8 weeks
8 weeks pregnant with twins
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
illustration of womb with twins fetus at 36 weeks
36 weeks pregnant with twins
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
Couple holding their twin babies in the air
Do twins run in families?
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
illustration of womb with twins fetus at 32 weeks
32 weeks pregnant with twins
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
two badminton shuttlecocks next to a yellow crescent shape on a pink background
How your twins' positions in utero affect labor and delivery
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
pregnant woman in living room
Here's the average weight of twins at birth – and potential complications to be aware of
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
woman in hospital bed next to man
go to video page
Live birth video: twins
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
illustration of womb with twins fetus at 16 weeks
16 weeks pregnant with twins
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
illustration of womb with twins fetus at 24 weeks
24 weeks pregnant with twins
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
illustration of womb with twins fetus at 20 weeks
20 weeks pregnant with twins
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
illustration of womb with twins fetus at 12 weeks
12 weeks pregnant with twins
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
two chess pieces
Will identical twins always be the same sex?
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
illustration of womb with twins fetus at 28 weeks
28 weeks pregnant with twins
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
A close-up of a woman's hands holding a positive pregnancy test
Can you get pregnant while you're pregnant? Superfetation, explained
Reviewed by Cheryl Axelrod, M.D., ob-gyn
Image of roses in glass representing di-di twins
Here's what it means to have di-di twins
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
image of roses representing mono-di twins
Mono-di twins: How they develop and what to expect
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
A field of sunflowers
What causes vanishing twin syndrome?
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
image of roses representing mono-mono twins
What are mono-mono twins? Understanding this rare twin type
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
image of red dice with cherry stem to represent fraternal twins
Everything you need to know about fraternal twins
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
Four pacifiers in a row
Pregnant with quadruplets? Here's what to know
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
mirror twins
How to tell if you have mirror twins
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
irish twins
What are Irish twins?
Reviewed by Chandani DeZure, M.D., FAAP, pediatric hospitalist
babies playing together
Mixed-race twins: one black, one white
By Evonne Lack Bradford
identical twin babies waving their legs while lying down
Do identical twins have the same DNA? The answer may surprise you
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
Can triplet babies be identical?
Reviewed by Shannon Smith, M.D., FACOG, ob-gyn
leaves representing different types of twins
What are the different types of twins?
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
colorful paper cut outs in lavender and yellow on a gray background
Do identical twins have the same fingerprints?
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
a chess piece reflected in a mirror symbolizing identical twins
Seeing double? Learn the fascinating truth about identical twins
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
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Fetal Health & Development

A pregnant woman holding her belly
When will my baby drop? Here's what lightening in pregnancy feels like
Reviewed by Kristin Cohen, DNP, CNM, WHNP-BC, midwife
image representing fetal heart rate
What's considered a normal fetal heart rate – and how this changes by week
Reviewed by Shannon Smith, M.D., FACOG, ob-gyn
fetal baby in utero
Fetal development week by week
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
expecting mom and daughter talking
When can your baby hear you?
Reviewed by Liz Donner, M.D., pediatric hospitalist
baby with hair
When do babies get their skin color?
Reviewed by Emily Holthaus, M.D., ob-gyn
pregnant woman holding ultrasound
When do your baby's sex organs develop in the womb?
Reviewed by Emily Holthaus, M.D., ob-gyn
happy pregnant woman with hands on belly
Fetal movement: When can you feel your baby move?
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
illustration of placenta in uterus and detail illustration with placements of maternal and umbilical vessels and chronionic villi
The placenta: What it is and how it works
Reviewed by Judith Venuti, Ph.D., embryologist
pregnant woman listening to partner playing guitar
Can babies listen to music in the womb?
Reviewed by Liz Donner, M.D., pediatric hospitalist
Baby's tummy
How does your baby eat and poop in the womb?
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
animation of baby inside woman's belly
go to video page
Inside pregnancy: Weeks 28 to 37
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
pregnant woman making heart on her belly with her hands
When does the heart develop in a fetus?
Reviewed by Cheryl Axelrod, M.D., ob-gyn
newborn baby crying
When are babies' lungs fully developed?
Reviewed by Emily Holthaus, M.D., ob-gyn
newborn with wide eyes looking excited
How your baby's eyes and vision develop in the womb
Reviewed by Judith Venuti, Ph.D., embryologist
Illustration of a baby's skull bones at birth
How many bones are babies born with?
Reviewed by Liz Donner, M.D., pediatric hospitalist
animation of fetus
go to video page
Inside pregnancy: Weeks 15 to 20
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
illustration of a fetal brain development
When does a fetus develop a brain?
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
A newborn with dark hair on their head and arms
What is lanugo and how does your baby's hair develop in the womb?
Reviewed by Shannon Smith, M.D., FACOG, ob-gyn
baby eating yogurt
Can babies taste in the womb?
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
animation of fetus
go to video page
Inside pregnancy: Weeks 21 to 27
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
Baby toes
When does a baby develop arms and legs?
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
a strand of DNA
Can a baby have two sets of DNA? Chimerism, explained
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
mom and young daughter feeling Mom's pregnant belly
How to do kick counts
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
close-up of fetus resting (animation)
go to video page
Inside pregnancy: Girl or boy?
Reviewed by Jacqueline Dela Merced, M.D., ob-gyn
baby's kneecap
Funny viral video makes us wonder, do babies actually have kneecaps?
Reviewed by Chandani DeZure, M.D., FAAP, pediatric hospitalist
image with pink flowers representing anterior placenta
What does an anterior placenta mean for your pregnancy?
Reviewed by Shannon Smith, M.D., FACOG, ob-gyn
Umbilical cord
Everything to know about your baby's umbilical cord
Reviewed by Liz Donner, M.D., pediatric hospitalist
an image of a zygote
What is a zygote, exactly? A guide to the single cell that starts a pregnancy
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
baby showing teeth
How your baby's tooth buds develop
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
baby looking into the distance
Welcoming babies with Down syndrome
animated image of fetus
go to video page
Your baby's senses during pregnancy
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
woman in chair looking at camera
go to video page
Baby kicks during pregnancy
Reviewed by Amanda Williams, M.D., MPH, ob-gyn
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Cord Blood Banking

a full blood bag
Cord blood banking reviews
Reviewed by Frances Verter, Ph.D., cord blood expert
Baby’s umbilical cord
What is cord blood banking?
Reviewed by Frances Verter, Ph.D., cord blood expert
Purse with heart
How much does cord blood banking cost?
Reviewed by Frances Verter, Ph.D., cord blood expert
Cord Blood Banking
- Ad content for Cord Blood Registry -
Flower with a long stem
'The Bachelor' inspired me to donate my son's cord blood
By Amelia Harnish
Pregnant woman talking to doctor
5 questions parents forget to ask their doctors before cord blood banking
Reviewed by Melissa Bykofsky, Executive Editor, Editorial Strategy and Growth
pregnant mom talking to mom with newborn
7 moms share why they chose cord blood banking
Reviewed by Melissa Bykofsky, Executive Editor, Editorial Strategy and Growth
heart graphic
Cord blood centers: Public vs. private banks
Reviewed by Frances Verter, Ph.D., cord blood expert
illustration of cord blood collection bag
go to video page
Cord blood: How and when it’s collected
Reviewed by Frances Verter, Ph.D., cord blood expert
illustration of mom and dad hugging baby
go to video page
Why bank cord blood? These parents tell all
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Latest in your baby

two badminton shuttlecocks next to a yellow crescent shape on a pink background
How your twins' positions in utero affect labor and delivery
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
one orange and one red heart a yellow background
How twin babies grow in the womb month-by-month
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
fetal baby in utero
Fetal development week by week
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
A pregnant woman holding her belly
When will my baby drop? Here's what lightening in pregnancy feels like
Reviewed by Kristin Cohen, DNP, CNM, WHNP-BC, midwife
Illustration of a baby's skull bones at birth
How many bones are babies born with?
Reviewed by Liz Donner, M.D., pediatric hospitalist
pregnant woman in living room
Here's the average weight of twins at birth – and potential complications to be aware of
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
Image of roses in glass representing di-di twins
Here's what it means to have di-di twins
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM
image of roses representing mono-di twins
Mono-di twins: How they develop and what to expect
Reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM

Community

  • August 2025 Birth Club
    What are your hopes for your baby or pregnancy?
    By Raynebow
    When we first start trying to conceive or get that beautiful BFP, we start dreaming of how our pregnancy will go, or what our baby will be like. Of course, our main hope is for a healthy pregnancy and baby. What are your other hopes and dreams for your baby or pregnancy?
    12-13-24 by HollieBolt
    Number of comments7
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    0
  • November 2025 Birth Club
    What are your hopes for your baby or pregnancy?
    By Raynebow
    When we first start trying to conceive or get that beautiful BFP, we start dreaming of how our pregnancy will go, or what our baby will be like. Of course, our main hope is for a healthy pregnancy and baby. What are your other hopes and dreams for your baby or pregnancy?Previous weeks:POLL: When wil
    02-28-25
    Number of comments0
    no reactions
    0
  • October 2025 Birth Club
    What are your hopes for your baby or pregnancy?
    By Raynebow
    When we first start trying to conceive or get that beautiful BFP, we start dreaming of how our pregnancy will go, or what our baby will be like. Of course, our main hope is for a healthy pregnancy and baby. What are your other hopes and dreams for your baby or pregnancy?Previous weeks:POLL: When wil
    02-02-25 by MamaNeeni
    Number of comments5
    no reactions
    0
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