I remember being where you are right now. You know, it wasn’t that long ago that I was pregnant (my youngest kid is 19-months-old). At this point, you’ve taken a home pregnancy test, calculated your due date, and now there’s only one question on your mind. How big is your baby right now? Okay, okay, so there’s probably more on your mind than your growing baby’s size (especially if this is your first baby) — but right here, right now, we can answer all the questions you have about your developing child’s size, from her length to her weight.
And here’s the thing: We’ve made it fun. See, instead of the tired old produce variation, we show you how big your baby is in every day objects. That’s right, from pencil dots to pencil skirts, we’ve found cool stuff that’s roughly the size of your growing baby from weeks four to 40.
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More for Pregnant Moms:
How Big Is Your Baby?
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Weeks 1-3
And here's the thing: You might not even realize that you're pregnant yet. By week four, however, things will start to change...
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Week 4
Congratulations! You are pregnant. But before you start envisioning fetal positions and umbilical cords, get this: Your fertilized egg (known as a zygote) is basically just a ball of 32 cells no bigger than the dot from a #2 pencil. Right now, the cells are beginning to separate into three distinct layers -- layers which will become your baby's internal organs and skin!
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Week 5
It’s still pretty teensy, but your growing baby is now as big as the eye of a sewing needle this week, and looks kinda like a tadpole. Mind-blowing stuff going on this week? Oh, you know, just the fact that the brain, spinal cord, heart, and blood vessels are starting to be formed!
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Week 6
Not like you can hear or feel it, but your baby’s heart has started beating (pretty fast, too, about 150 beats per minute -- which is twice as fast as yours!). She’s snug as a bug in a sac of amniotic fluid, developing arms, and is about the size of a 1 carat round-cut diamond. Bling never sounded so good!
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Week 7
At half-an-inch long, your baby is about the size of a pearl. Well, a pearl with paddle-like arm buds and paper thin, veiny skin, that is.
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Week 8
Your baby is about the size of the button on your favorite pair of jeans (which you'll need to part with soon, I'm afraid). Remember those arm paddles from last week? Well they’re webbed hands and feet now, which are on their way to becoming fingers and toes!
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Week 9
This week, your baby is about the size of a USB thumb drive. He's got tiny earlobes, a digestive tract, and reproductive organs, and pretty much all his anatomy in place. However, even with an ultrasound, it is still to early to tell whether he is actually a he, or a she.
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Week 10
If you saw The LEGO Movie, you'll agree that everything is awesome when your baby is as big as a LEGO brick! This week, her head is almost half the length of her body (complete with temporarily protruding forehead), and her eyes and eyelids are getting more developed. One more thing? Around now she's gone from being an embryo to an actual fetus!
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Week 11
Your mini is about the size of a spoonful of peanut butter, and he's developing like crazy. His vital organs are fully formed and functional. He's got tooth buds. He also has teeny little nails on his separated fingers and toes. Get ready to see some major changes, too, because starting now until week 20 this kiddo is going to start packing on the pounds and triple in length.
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Week 12
Your baby is about as big as a bottle of OPI nail polish, but her teeny nails aren't quite ready for their first coat. Her bones are forming, and she's got a fine layer of peach fuzz (called lanugo) covering most of her body. Another cool factoid? She's developing reflexes (but don't push your belly to test it because you probably can't feel her squirm yet).
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Week 13
Your baby's skin is transparent, so it might seem a bit ironic that he's the size of a L'Oreal True Match Powder compact right about now. He's developing vocal cords, fingerprints, and even cheek muscles which will come in handy if you are planning to breastfeed.
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Week 14
Woohoo! Second trimester! And your baby -- who is about the size of your average lightbulb -- can form a grip and make a range of facial expressions, and maybe even suck her thumb.
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Week 15
Your badass baby is now as big as the lens of your fave aviator shades. And speaking of aviators, your baby is doing a few loop-de-loops in your uterus, too! Don't stress out trying to feel him move yet, though. If this is your first baby, you probably won't for a few more weeks.
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Week 16
You know the adorable baby shoes you've started coveting? Well, your baby is now as big as a size 4, 0-12 month Toms shoe! She's got a working urinary tract and circulatory system, and probably likes sucking her thumb.
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Week 17
If you happen to have an iPhone 6, take a good look, because that's how big your baby is this week. She's got sweat glands, and her bones are more rubbery than stiff. Something else cool? You might actually start feeling her hiccup this week!
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Week 18
Your baby is now about the size of a Nintendo Gameboy (remember those?!). Things are really starting to fall into place now, too, from eyes to ears, and even the sex organs, which are becoming recognizable!
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Week 19
Bebecita is now about the size of your average cereal bowl. Her legs have grown longer than her arms, but she'll compensate by continuously punching you in the gut. Don't worry, it's not painful because (if this is your first pregnancy) you still might not be able to feel her love jabs.
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Week 20
Your baby is now the size of a small Le Creuset skillet. The little dude has thin eyebrows and maybe a bit of hair on his head, too! Sounds cute, right? Well, now picture a thin layer of fatty white goop coating his skin, too -- that's called vernix caseosa, and it protects his skin from getting too wrinkly in his amniotic bathtub.
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Week 21
Your little is about the size of an iPad. With eyelids fully developed, he can now blink, and even respond to touch. Try poking your belly a little and feel him push back (or move away if you freaked him out -- way to go, mom!).
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Week 22
Cool things are happening for your long-as-a-Vogue-magazine baby: Her lungs and pancreas are developing.
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Week 23
Your little is as long as most 64oz beer growlers, which he'll be able to taste (in 21 years) with his tastebuds that are now fully developed. His ears and brain are developing splendidly, too, so now's the perfect time to start blasting a little Bach (or Bieber, just kidding) for his listening pleasure.
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Week 24
She is as long as a Barbie doll (and your womb is her Dreamhouse). Baby fat is starting to smooth out her wrinkled skin, she can squeeze her umbilical cord, and even stick her tongue out at you (which she'll probably do for the rest of her life).
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Week 25
Your baby is as long as a bottle of wine (which you might be missing by now!). His body is well proportioned in your womb, and his teeny tiny nostrils can widen in an effort to practice breathing (although he'll only get a noseful of amniotic fluid until he's born and can take his first breath of air).
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Week 26
Your baby is now the size of a 700 Series Roomba (though your child may never be as useful around the house). The hair on her head and eyebrows is getting pretty distinctive, and she's taking small practice breaths.
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Week 27
She's the size of this super cute Mini Satchel from Coach. At this point, your mini can probably recognize your voice, the sound of which is quickly becoming her favorite daily podcast.
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Week 28
Your wrinkly, quickly-fattening-up baby is the size of a 60-liter Soda Stream Cylinder. He's getting to be a very good blinker, batting those growing lashes every time he notices the glow of bright lights shining outside your belly.
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Week 29
Your baby is about the diameter of a 15" MacBook Pro. Much like your beloved laptop, your baby goes into sleep mode on and off throughout the day. If you can't feel her kicking, chances are she's taking a snooze.
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Week 30
Your little is as long and lovely as a short-stem rose. His head is getting bigger in order to make room for his creative, brilliant brain, and his baby-teeth buds are forming into actual baby-teeth within the gums!
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Week 31
She is as long as one Hunter rain boot, and is now in full on "freshman 15" mode. That's right, your baby will gain as much as a half pound per week for the rest of your pregnancy!
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Week 32
Your little is as long as an adult-size viola. His skeleton is fully formed but is still in the process of hardening. He's also having a major tea party with the amniotic fluid, so think about what you're eating because he's swallowing it right up!
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Week 33
Oven mitts are about the same size as your baby this week. Her peach fuzz (lanugo) is starting to shed, and the skeleton is pretty well hardened by now (except for the skull -- you're gonna want that to stay pretty pliable for D-day).
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Week 34
Okay art lovers, your baby is the size of The Girl With The Pearl Earring by Vermeer, and guess what he can do? Process waste products through his liver!
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Week 35
Your baby is now the size of an American Girl doll (but not as creepy). Although she may change her mind and do a few more yogic stretches, your baby is probably in the process of turning upside down right now, getting her head in the right position for his upcoming excursion.
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Week 36
She's as long as an above-the-knee pencil skirt (which you obvs can't fit into -- sorry!). She's getting gloriously plumped up, looking more and more like a typical newborn. With a month to go, she's gradually beginning to drop (aka "engage"), which should create some much-needed space for your ribs.
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Week 37
Your little is the length of a mini ukelele. The womb is getting mighty cramped by now, so expect to feel fidgety stretches rather than full on ninja kicks at this point. Also, if baby is not head down at this point, make sure you and your healthcare provider talk about best next steps.
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Week 38
Your baby is about the diameter of a big floppy sun hat. By now, almost everything is ready, from your baby's fully formed organs, to his limbs and eyes. The brain and lungs are still working, however, to make connections that will help him swallow, sleep, and breathe once he is born. So, even though you're probably over it, it's a good idea for him to stay put!
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Week 39
Your baby is now as long as an American Apparel gym bag (and weighs as much, if you put a 5-8lb hand weight inside!). She's shed most of the white waxy goo (vernix caseosa) and the fur-like hair (lanugo) that's been covering her skin since your second trimester, and she's just about ready to make her debut.
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Week 40
Your baby is the size of a kids' soccer ball by now (and probably looks like one protruding from your belly). Everything is ready, from hardened bones to developed organs, to fingers and toes (with nails!). But if you've noticed one crucial fact -- you're still pregnant!! -- don't worry. It's cozy up in the womb-hotel you've created, but your baby will make his or her grand entrance very soon. Promise!
