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Conception - from fertilisation to embryo

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Conception is when an egg is fertilised by a sperm. This usually happens 1 or 2 days after ovulation.

Over 4 to 5 days, the fertilised egg travels along the fallopian tube to the uterus for the egg to implant itself, and for pregnancy to begin.

Ovulation
Fertilisation
Zygote
2-cell stage
4-cell stage
8-cell stage
Blastocyst
Blastocyst (hatching)
Implantation in uterus

Fetal development

Week 3 — brain and central nervous system
Week 3-4 — heart
Week 4 — upper limbs (arms)
Week 4-5 — eyes
Week 4-5 — lower limbs (legs)
Week 7 — teeth
Week 7 — palate
Week 7-8 — external genitalia
Week 4-5 — ears

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Last reviewed: February 2024

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