Science Behind How We Were Born (from Sperm to the ninth month)

noble-noah (57)in #steemstem • 6 years ago

Greetings of the day, noble steemians! I will like to share with you what I learnt this week, though, I got the inspiration last week when I sat down and started thinking and imagining how we were born, the stages we have passed through and all that happened when we were inside that beautiful womb. Permit me to take us back a little into that beautiful nine months journey.

Ok; let's start the journey, it worth it, isn't it?

STAGE 1 (pre-fertilization period): What Happens to Sperm Once They're Inside a Woman?

_{[Image from: pixabay]}

Research has shown that females are born with up to two million (2,000000) eggs (immature eggs) and almost up to four hundred (400) of it are released during the course of their reproductive years. Contrary to this, males are constantly involve in producing millions of sperm cells throughout their lifetime.

Hmm, what a competition! A sperm’s journey from vagina to egg is assumed to be approximately 15 centimeters long and it is known to be a race with attrition. There are approximately up to 200 million sperm in each ejaculation, out of which about 2 million sperm only get to the cervix and only about 1 million out of this 2 million sperm make it into the uterus.

Only about 10,000 out of 1 million sperm that enter the uterus later get to the organ’s top and only 5,000 out of this 10,000 later turn in the other way (right direction). The rest 5,000 sperm tend towards the other oviduct.

Only 1000 out of the 5,000 that enter the 'uterotubal junction' go to the Fallopian tube and the remaining reside in the mucus lining the junction. Out of this 1,000 sperm that enter the aforementioned Fallopian tube, 200 of it only reach the egg and the rest get attached to the lining of the oviduct or just die. Only the lucky 1 out of this 200 enters the egg to fertilize it.

Below is a YouTube video of exactly What Happens to Sperm Once They're Inside a Woman. Let's enjoy it

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The First Trimester (weeeks 0-12 (# 1st, 2nd & 3rd month))

Recall that only the lucky 1 out of the 200 that enter the egg fertilize it. As this fertilized egg grows up, a water-tight sac will form and surround it and gradually filling up with fluid. This is usually refer to as the ‘amniotic sac’ which helps in cushioning the growing embryo. The placenta will also be formed at this stage, which helps in transferring nutrients from the carrier’s womb to the baby and transfers wastes from the baby back to the carrier’s womb.

Ok; let's watch what happen between the weeeks 1-4 (# 1month)

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During the second month, bone starts to replace cartilage and baby's body features will start to develop with ears start as a little fold of skin at both sides of the head, arms, legs, fingers, toes and eyes are developing concurrently. The brain, spinal cord and other neural tissue of the central nervous system will also be developed at this stage. Whereas the digestive tract system and sensory organs also begin to develop. The head is large in proportion to the rest of the body and baby's heart beat can usually be detected.

During the third month, all the body features are all well formed and fully developed, baby can open and close its mouth. Toe, nails and fingernails will begin to develop and the outer ears will also be formed. Teeth will start to be forming and baby's reproductive organs will also develop.

The Second Trimester (weeeks 12-28 (# 4th, 5th, 6th & 7th month))

During the fourth month, the toes and fingers are well formed. Eyebrows, eyelids and lashes, nails, and hair are formed. Teeth and bones become denser. Baby can even suck his or her thumb, yawn, stretch, and make faces. The central nervous system will start to function. Genitalia and the reproductive organs will fully be formed.

During the fifth month, baby may begin to move, since baby usually develop muscles and exercising them at this stage. Baby’s hair begins to grow on the head, shoulders, back, and temples are wrapped by a soft fine hair known as lanugo. The skin will be covered with a whitish coating named ‘vernix caseosa’.

During the sixth month, baby's skin will be reddish color, veins and wrinkled are visible through the baby's translucent skin. Finger and toe prints are also visible and the eyelids start to part and the eyes open. Baby usually responds to sounds by moving the pulse and the mother may notice a kind of jerking motions if baby hiccups.

At the seventh month, Baby will continue to develop and getting more mature, of course, hearing is fully formed and the baby can change position frequently, responds to stimuli, including sound, pain, and light. The amniotic fluid begins to diminish

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The Third Trimester (weeeks 28-40 (#8th and 9th month))

During the beginning of the last trimester, baby will continue to develop and mature in all areas, in fact, one may easily notice the kicking of the baby. Brain will develop rapidly and baby will be able to hear and see at this stage. Internal system will be fully developed and formed, though lungs may still not be mature at this stage. Baby will be almost 18 inches long and weighs as much as five (5) pounds.

During the ninth month and expected last month, Baby will still continue to develop and more mature and the lungs will almost be fully developed. Baby's reflexes are well coordinated and blinking can occur, baby can turn the head, close the eyes, grasp firmly, and show response to light, sounds, and touch and the system will be preparing to send the baby to the world!

As you are reading this, I pray for you and your wife to get pregnant and conception together with safe delivery at your convenient time and if you have had enough, I pray that they will live for long.

Hmm, what a journey so far! The journey is not an easy one but it worth it, isn't it?

At this junction, I want to believe that I have done my part and fair to you all by discussing and showing us the most important stages we have passed through during the cause of nine months inside our mothers. You are to do your part by answer the following questions: