How a Child is Born: Incredible Photos of a Baby Developing in the Womb

Incredible Photos of a Baby Developing in the Womb

Swedish photographer Lennart Nilsson spent 12 years of his life taking pictures of the foetus Developing in the womb. These incredible photographs were taken with conventional cameras with macro lenses, an endoscope and scanning electron microscope. Nilsson used a magnification of hundreds of thousands and “worked” right in the womb. His first photo of the human foetus was taken in 1965.

Lennart Nilsson managed to get his most precise shots with the help of a cystoscope — a medical instrument which is used to examine the inside of the urinary bladder. He attached a camera together with a tiny light to it, and took thousands of photos recording the life of the embryo in its mother’s womb.


Incredible Photos of a Baby Developing in the WombSperm as it makes its way down the fallopian tube.

Incredible Photos of a Baby Developing in the WombThe sperm approaches the egg cell.

Incredible Photos of a Baby Developing in the WombTwo sperms make contact with the egg cell.

Incredible Photos of a Baby Developing in the WombThe winning sperm penetrates the surface of the egg cell.

Incredible Photos of a Baby Developing in the WombThe moment of conception as the sperm enters the egg cell and fertilises it.

Incredible Photos of a Baby Developing in the WombAfter eight days, the human embryo is attached to a wall within the womb.

Incredible Photos of a Baby Developing in the Womb The brain starts to develop inside the human embryo.

Incredible Photos of a Baby Developing in the WombAt 24 days the one-month-old embryo has a heart that started beating on the 18th day.

Incredible Photos of a Baby Developing in the WombAfter four weeks you can start to distinguish the human shape as a skeleton starts to form.

Incredible Photos of a Baby Developing in the WombAt five weeks the face begins to take shape, with holes for the eyes, nostrils and mouth. The embryo is now around 9mm in size.

Incredible Photos of a Baby Developing in the WombAfter 40 days the placenta starts to be formed. This organ connects the embryo to the womb so that the developing foetus can take in nutrients, oxygen and get rid of waste via the mother’s blood supply.

Incredible Photos of a Baby Developing in the WombAt eight weeks the growing embryo is well protected in its foetal sack.

Incredible Photos of a Baby Developing in the WombThe foetus starts to use its hands to explore its body and surroundings after 16 weeks.

Incredible Photos of a Baby Developing in the WombThe tiny foetus is very much starting to look like a baby.

Incredible Photos of a Baby Developing in the WombAt this point the foetus’ skeleton consists of flexible cartilage while blood vessels can be seen through the thin skin.

Incredible Photos of a Baby Developing in the WombAt 18 weeks the foetus is now around 18cm and can hear sounds from the outside world.

Incredible Photos of a Baby Developing in the WombAfter 19 weeks the foetus has grown tiny fingernails.

Incredible Photos of a Baby Developing in the WombAt 20 weeks woolly hair known as lanugo covers the foetus’ head. In two weeks the baby has grown an additional 2cm.

Incredible Photos of a Baby Developing in the WombAfter 24 weeks the foetus continues to grow.

Incredible Photos of a Baby Developing in the WombHere is the foetus after 26 weeks.

Incredible Photos of a Baby Developing in the WombAfter six months the foetus is preparing to leave the womb. It turns upside down because it will be easier to get out this way.

Incredible Photos of a Baby Developing in the WombFour weeks before the baby is due to enter the world.