The document outlines the key stages of fetal development from conception through 36 weeks of pregnancy. It notes that after fertilization, the embryo forms three cell layers and a membrane begins to protect and nourish it. A placenta then forms to transfer waste and nutrients between the embryo and uterus. The development process lasts around three months, with the fetus increasing in size between weeks 12-23 and its heartbeat becoming detectable. Between week 24 and birth, the baby rapidly grows larger and its respiratory and circulatory systems undergo changes to prepare for breathing after birth.