Documentary proves vitality of human life in the womb

Washington D.C., Feb 22, 2005 / 22:00 pm

A new documentary takes viewers into the mysterious world of pregnancy and demonstrates the fragility of the human life within the womb.

With the use of 3D and 4D ultrasound technology, “In the Womb” explores the life of a fetus in each trimester in amazing new detail. Viewers will also witness a rare fetoscope operation, performed in the hope of correcting life-threatening complications before birth.

The documentary will air on the National Geographic Channel March 6 at 8 p.m. ET/ 9 p.m. PT

The documentary follows the embryo as it travels down the fallopian tube and implants itself into the uterine wall. Viewers then see the creation of the first nerve cells and return again a few weeks later to see how the spinal cord and brain have developed.

At end of the first trimester, the film documents the fetus’ reflex movements. The last trimester explores the fetus's ability to hear loud noises and respond to music playing or to nursery rhymes read aloud by its mother or father.

At week 26, watch as a doctor operate on a second fetus, diagnosed with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia.