Prenatal development refers to the process of growth and development of a fetus inside the womb, starting from conception until birth. This process is divided into three main stages: the germinal stage, the embryonic stage, and the fetal stage. During these stages, the fertilized egg, or zygote, undergoes rapid cell division and differentiation, forming essential structures and organs. The germinal stage lasts about two weeks, followed by the embryonic stage, which lasts from the third to the eighth week. The final stage, the fetal stage, continues from the ninth week until birth. Throughout these stages, the developing baby, or fetus, receives nutrients and oxygen through the placenta, which connects it to the mother's bloodstream.