Human Gestation, Time and the stages of becoming

Gestation: counting by the calendar, daylight, moonlight

Chronobiology, the study of periodicity in living things, points towards human association with sunlight, and what is healthiest for the greatest majority of us. Sunlight is best at around dusk and dawn, and can be too harsh during the middle of the day (depends on where you live). Likewise, our bodies calibrate themselves to the seasons near the vernal equinox, in the twilight. Often there are festivals scheduled at this time, so that entire communities spend these hours outside together, synchonizing themselves not only with the seasons, but with one another. The Full Moon also sees its share of celebrants, and in days before electric lighting, it provided enough light for us to gather outside together.

In any case, our bodies are tied to the rhythm of the day, the moon (lunar month) and the seasons, regardless of where we live. These three characteristics define our understanding of time: the rotation of the Earth around its axis, the orbit of the Moon around the Earth: the orbit of the Earth~Moon around the Sun.

During our earliest moments of existence, just after the egg and sperm come together, we are under the influence of two different times: the time according to our mother’s body, which is tied to the day, moon and season, and; the time according to the development of ourselves from a single cell to an entire person in under 270 days.

The presumption is that midday, when the Sun is highest in the sky, and the Full Moon, and the Summer Solstice are all equivalent, in that they are the time at which we receive the most sunlight, and therefore the most energy from the Sun. In looking at the development in utero against the phases of the Moon, keep in mind that the waxing Moon is growing and getting brighter, therefore day~to~day, we receive more energy from it. Same as we approach the Summer Solstice and the Days grow longer.

Ideally, women menstruate at the New Moon, and ovulate at the Full Moon. Therefore, conception occurs at the Full Moon in all of the examples below. People are most fertile in the spring. The model pregnancy in this case takes place from the Full Moon at the Vernal Equinox (as occurred in 2008) to the birth just prior to the Winter Solstice.

the Moon and Fertility:

from New Moon, when its gravitational pull is in the same direction as the Sun’s. It appears dark to us.

as First Quarter, the Moon’s gravity has now drawn away from the Sun’s so that it has become noticeably distinct. We see half of its surface illuminated by the Sun.

at the Full Moon, the draw of the Moon’s gravity is opposite that of the Sun’s. It’s entire face is illuminated.

at the Last Quarter, the Moon’s gravity returns towards that of the Sun, lessing. Half of its face is illuminated.

The Seasons and Fertility

The Seasons and Lunations

Here we have Year 8~XIV (dec 21st 2007 to dec 20th 2008) with the 12 lunations and when they occur relative to the months of the year. Following, we have the lunar cycle according to gestation beginning with the Full Moon at the Vernal Equinox.

Year 8~XIV, Months & Moons

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Gestation from Vernal Equinox to Winter Solstice by the Moon

Gestation, Time and Becoming

The duration from conception to birth varies from person to person, however, it tends to falls within range of 9 months. 9 Lunar Months comes to 266 Days. The Maya tzolkin Calendar counts 260 Days, which also stands for the duration of gestation. The Lunar 266 Days lasts from Full Moon to Full Moon, the tzolkin follows its own metre based on 13 numbers and 20 glyphs.

Here is a breakdown of some of the occurrences in the first 60 days of gestation, which is about 2 lunar months, from full moon to fulll moon. 13 x 5 = 65 days, which is close to this on the 13~XX Calendar

Day	Development
0	Conception
1	1 cell (zygote) fetilisation – polar bodies form
2	2 cells (blastomeres) (30 hours), 4 cells (40 hours).
3	16-32 cells (morula) – morula passes out of fallopian tubes
4	64 cells (blastocyst) – inner cavity (blastocele)cell mass inside blastocele (embryoblast)
5-6	the blastocyst implants itself in the blood-rich uteran wallcirculation between mother & blastocyst begins
7-12	trophoblast cells begin to form placenta with uterine wallembryoblast differentiates into upper, dark blue (epiblast – becomes embryo) & lower, yellow layers of cells (hypoblast – becomes yolk sac)
13	embryo anchored to the uterus via placentaembryo anchored to placenta by precursor to umbilical cord yolk sac produces blood cells (without nuclei)
14	(gastrula) 2-layer embryonic disc forms the primitive streakthe outer layer of cells folds into the primitive streak
15	Mesoderm – middle layer – muscles, bones, lymphatic tissue, spleen, blood cells, heart, lungs, reproductive & excratory systems
16	Ectoderm – top layer – skin, hair, lenses of eyes, lining of internal & external ear, nose, sinuses, mouth, anus, tooth enamel, pituitary and mammary glands & all parts of the nervous systemneural crest cells differentiate into neurons, glial cells, epidermis pigment cells, various skeletal & connective tissues of the head Endoderm – inner layer – lining of lungs, tongue, tonsils, urethra & associated glands, bladder & digestive tract
17-19	ectoderm thickens to form neural plateconcave groove forms in neural plate (neural groove – precursor to nervous system – one of the first organs to develop) blood cells develop & forming channels along epithelial cells
19-21	mesoderm forms somites on either side of the neural groovefirst 3-pair somites appear at tail, forming towards head head fold rises on either side of primitive streak secondary blood vessels in placenta & chorion (2-layer membrane) muscle cells begin to fuse forming into 2 heart tubes
21-23	4-12-pair somiteseye & ear cells appear beside neural fold 2 heart tubes fuse together into an S-shape, and cardiac muscle contraction begins
23-25	13-20 pairs somitesprimitive heart beating, major vessels along neural system peristalsis begins with 20 somites, the forebrain is completely closed
25-27	face & neck arches evident under developing forebrainblood system develops on surface of yolk sac, move to maternal blood system valves & septa appear in heart liver cells appear (beginning of digestive system)
26-30	digestive epithelium layer differentiates into locations for liver, lung, stomach & pancreas
31-35	mandibular & hyoid arches evident in headspinal cord wall in 3 zones (ventricular, mantle & marginal) ventricular – neurons, glial, & ependymal cells mantle – neuron clusters marginal – processes of neurons pituitary precusor defined lens vesicle nestled in optic cup opens to surface nasal plate evident digestive tube differentiates into esophagus & trachea semilunar valves form in heart – 4 major subdivisions right & left lung sacs lie on either side of esophagus ureteric bud appears metanephros – precursor to kidney, develops upper limbs elongate & innervation begins
35-38	stomodeum (ectodermic precursor to mouth & oral cavity)swelling of external ear begin lens pit has closed, retinal pigment may appear, lens fibres form depressions in nasal disc form into nasal pits esophagus lengthens blood flows through left & right streams lobar buds appear in bronchial tree intestines lengthen (in umbilicus) ureteric bud lengthens, tip lengthening towards kidney lower limb buds lengthen & innervate
37-42	cerebral hemispheres evidenthindbrain develops (responsible for heart, breath & muscle) future mandible visible nasal pits rotate to face ventrally cardiac tube divides into aortic & pulmonary channels mammary tissues begin to mature mesentery defined hand region differentiates lower limb sections evident
42-44	jaw & facial muscles developingolfactory bulb forms teeth buds begin forms pituitary forms trachea, larynx & bronchi system forms heart separates into 4 chambers diaphragm forms intestines develop in umbilical cord primitive germ cells forms at genital area hand region forming digital plate digital rays appear in foot plates
44-48	intersections of nerve networks (plexuses) develop in scalp regioneyes pigmented eyelids developing trunk of pulmonary artery separates from trunk of aorta nipples appear kidneys produce first urine urogenital & anal membranes appear arms at proper location, hand plates finish in another 2 days. ossification of the skeleton begins
48-51	first detectable brain wavessemicircular canals form in inner ear septum primum fuses with septum intermedium in the heart gonads form legs now at proper location, toes almost completed bone cartilage solidifies muscles develop & strengthen
51-53	Brain connected by nerves & muscles – spontaneous movementnasal openings & tip of nose fully formed anal membrane perforated urogenital membranes differentiate skin folds between future toes
53-54	tongue development finishesintestines migrate from umbilical cord to embryo
54-56	upper lip fully formedbrain can move muscles clitoris begins to form primary ossification in long bones (upper limbs first)
56-60	External ear completely developedeyes cosed, retina fully pigmented taste buds form primary teeth at cap stage bones of palate fuse scalp plexus reaches head vertex intestines migrate into body cavity toes no longer webbed all digits fully distinct thin precursor to skin covers ectoderm of embryo tail has disappeared

that’s a human embryo folks.