Description of the development of the child by weeks. Intrauterine development of the child by weeks and months, stages

Summary: Pregnancy and the intelligence of the future baby. Factors affecting the formation of the intelligence of the unborn child during pregnancy. The activities of future parents aimed at developing the intelligence of the unborn child. The influence of bad habits of the future mother on the formation of the child's intelligence. Influence of infectious and chronic diseases of a pregnant woman on the intellectual development of a baby.

The activities of future parents aimed at developing the intelligence of the unborn child.

As an epigraph to this article, we can cite a well-known parable about how a woman came to a sage and asked for advice on how to raise a child. "When he was born?" - asked the old man. "Yesterday," replied the mother. "You are nine months late," the sage was upset. This amazing period from the moment of fertilization to the birth of a newborn is called childhood before birth. It is no coincidence that in some countries the age of a person is counted from the first day of his existence in the mother's womb.

In the whole life of a person there is no more complex, unusual, but also responsible stage. Pregnancy is a normal physiological process during which significant changes occur in a woman's body. This obliges the expectant mother to strictly observe hygiene rules under the supervision of a doctor in order to maintain health and promote the normal development of the fetus.

At this time, many vital systems are formed - respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive, nervous, etc. The mother's womb is the environment for the unborn child, and favorable conditions for the mother's body naturally create opportunities for its growth, normal development and, accordingly, already affect his intelligence. Even the ancients said: "In a healthy body of a woman - the future of the people."

In the process of fetal development, it is customary to distinguish two periods:

1) embryonic, or germinal, - the period lasting from the moment of fertilization of the egg to eight weeks of pregnancy,

2) fetal, or fruit, - the period lasting from the beginning of the ninth week of pregnancy until the moment of delivery.

Every woman who decides to give birth to a child must remember that the embryonic period is the most important and most vulnerable in the life of the fetus. Although it lasts only two months, at this time the formation of all its main organs and systems occurs in the embryo - organogenesis (i.e., the emergence of organs). Now the embryo is extremely sensitive to the effects of adverse factors that can lead to major malformations. In the first 8 weeks of life, the fetus does not yet have independent functions, so its well-being depends entirely on the mother's body.

Of particular importance for the development of the body is the nervous system, which is laid on the 18-19th day of embryo development. Cells that are destined to become "building material" for the nervous system are characterized by a higher rate of division than neighboring - integumentary - cells. Such an early appearance of the nervous system is due to the fact that only under its influence is it possible to "start" the processes of laying and developing other structures of the body. By the 28th day, the nervous system of the embryo is already a neural tube, in which the expanded anterior end (the future brain) is clearly visible, exceeding the rest of the size (the future spinal cord).

In the fourth week, the brain spinal cord is clearly revealed, its main sections are outlined within the brain. Nerve cells begin to establish connections with each other, as a result, nerves are formed that connect the periphery of the body with the brain. Already from the sixth week, the unborn child is able to carry out the first motor reactions.

A giant leap in the rate of brain development and the complication of connections with the periphery is observed in the period from the sixth to the seventh week. The seventh week is characterized by the laying of one of the main structures of the brain - the cerebral cortex, it is she who will face the difficult task of ensuring the higher mental functions of a person in the future.

Already now it is necessary to ensure that these processes develop at the right pace, which is manifested in the fact that expectant mothers should lead a healthy lifestyle, eat right and pay due attention to their unborn baby. His intellectual development begins precisely at this stage, as a result of the formation of the nervous system and brain. But for the final development of such a young formation, it will take a long time - in humans, the process of maturation of the cerebral cortex ends in the third decade of life. You need to do everything possible for its initial maturation, which will be discussed in this article.

By the eighth week, the baby has eyes, nostrils, lips. At the same time, rapid changes are taking place in the child's brain. At the eleventh week, both hemispheres of the brain are already working, the main coordinator of movement, the cerebellum, is developing. Every minute, 250 new brain cells are formed. This process is completed by the seventh month of pregnancy. Two months before his birth, the unborn child has already formed all the brain cells with which he will have to live.

During the second month of the life of the new organism, events of great importance take place, which are expressed in the fact that the embryo acquires the features of a human being. Any violation of the process of formation of the organism of the future person can lead to severe malformations. Therefore, substances that can harm the body are especially dangerous in these first two months of life. These include primarily alcohol, cigarettes and, of course, drugs, even in minimal doses.

The fetal period is the further growth and development of organs and systems of the fetus. Harmful substances acting at this stage of intrauterine life do not cause severe malformations in the fetus, but can cause functional disorders of its organs and systems. After eight weeks, the placenta begins to form in the fetus. Its full development ends at sixteen weeks.

The fetus is in the uterus in the fetal bladder with amniotic fluid, the amount of which normally ranges from 0.8 to 1.5 liters. Amniotic fluid is the habitat of the fetus and protects it from adverse external influences.

Already at four weeks old, your unborn child has the entire central nervous system fully formed, which means that he now feels pain just like you do. At the same time, the baby is sensitive to any change in the mood of the mother. It should be noted that nature has maximally secured future offspring from many troubles.

The period from the second to the fourth month (weeks 8-20) is extremely important in the life of a young organism. The brain and peripheral nervous system are developing at a tremendous pace. The circulatory system is being improved, designed to ensure the timely supply of oxygen and nutrients from the mother's body to the developing organism.

The development of the human body is characterized by the fact that it is different from the embryos of other vertebrates - the embryo already has the rudiments of reason. Such a purely human path of development is manifested in the specifics of the development of the brain, hands and tongue, i.e., those organs with the work of which our human activity is associated. Interestingly, the laying of the tongue occurs already in a four-week-old embryo. By the tenth week, the developed muscles of the tongue receive "signals" from the brain. At the same time, studies show that other structures of the oral cavity are not yet developed during this period. The hand is included in the work on the sixth or seventh week of the life of the embryo, while the shoulder and forearm begin to work much later.

The graceful, light movements of the fetus, attached to the mother by the umbilical cord, resemble the movements of an astronaut in space - swimming, bending, turning over, somersaulting. The liquid environment allows him not only to move, but also, which is no less valuable, to exercise his muscles. This is very useful for the physical development of the child, as well as for the mental, because the motor abilities of the baby are closely related to his intellectual development. At this time, the mother does not yet feel how the fetus moves and how much time it takes for its exercises. In the uterus, the fetus lies in the cavity of the fetal bladder, which is filled with amniotic fluid, which protects the developing organism from external shocks and provides the possibility of free movement ("swimming") of the fetus.

At fourteen to fifteen weeks, the first specific reactions are formed in him: irritation of the palm of the fetus causes squeezing of the fingers. This is how the innate grasping reflex manifests itself, which can be observed in newborn children and with the help of which children receive all the necessary information about the world around them.

The main elements of the digestive system are formed in the third or fourth month of fetal development. Already in the next month of pregnancy, the first sucking and swallowing movements of the fetus are observed. A normally developing fetus swallows about 450 ml of amniotic fluid during the day, which serves as an important nutritional component for him and stimulates the functional activity of his digestive system.

But, in addition to this, the natural ingestion of amniotic fluid by the fetus is also a prerequisite for the formation of a certain taste selectivity of the unborn child and determines his preference for mother's milk.

The gustatory and olfactory systems of the baby, even in the womb, are tuned to perceive and isolate from the environment the corresponding "signs of the mother" - the taste of her milk and the smell of the mother's body.

The prerequisites for the process of lactation are laid even before the birth of the child. In the last days of pregnancy, primary mother's milk is released - colostrum (or colostrum), which continues in the first 3-4 days after birth.

Colostrum has absolutely unique qualities. In addition to the fact that it has a laxative effect on the intestines of the newborn, which creates favorable conditions for the transition of the infant to the normal process of digestion, the mother's colostrum contains antibodies that protect the child from many diseases. These antibodies reliably protect his fragile body during the first six, the most difficult for him, weeks of life. The composition of colostrum is very close to that of amniotic fluid. The familiar taste helps the child to "recognize" the mother after birth, which contributes to their strong unity, which, apparently, begins even during pregnancy.

Studies by French scientists have shown that the moment of conception and the first days of embryo development do not occur in the dark, as previously thought, but in the rays of a weak red light that breaks through the mother's belly. The more light, the better the body of the unborn child is formed.

With the help of modern technology, it was possible to find out that complete darkness does not reign in the cavity of our body. Separate particles of light - photons - penetrate the tissues of the female abdomen and, "illuminating" the sperm, fill it with energy and help it move faster, which means it will reach the egg faster and easier.

If conception has taken place, light becomes even more important in the following weeks. And here a special role belongs to the placenta, which becomes a powerful source of the light flux of the red spectrum. The more powerful this flow, which penetrates the dividing cells of the embryo, the more energy-photons the protein molecules absorb, the better the baby grows.

In the cells of the embryo, there is an intensive metabolism, which is helped by "accumulations" in the mother's body, and an important factor is the recharging of her body with light rays. In the early days of pregnancy, it is useful to walk outside on a sunny day. In winter, a woman is tightly dressed - the embryo will not see the light, you can arrange a walk around the sun-drenched apartment.

According to the observations of French doctors, in children whose first half of gestation fell on spring-summer, the formation of the skeleton and both halves of the palate begins a few days earlier. Thus, he gets the opportunity to open his mouth, swallow. And the sooner the fetus begins to drink amniotic fluid, the better it will subsequently take the mother's breast, develop faster.

If in the last few months you often walk lightly dressed, for example, in a transparent dress, and spend a lot of time outdoors, then your baby will behave very actively. Usually, thin mothers have children who are more energetic, mobile, they start walking and talking earlier. Therefore, it is desirable for overweight women to be outdoors more often and take short sunbaths. It is better to do this before eleven in the morning and after four in the afternoon.

For the sake of health, full physical and mental development of children, it is necessary to plan their birth in terms of the age of parents established by nature. Practice gives a lot of evidence of the complexity of childbirth in women aged 18 and 35 years. Very young teenage girls have a very poor diet, and they themselves grow quickly, so a fetus that requires additional food from the mother is likely to cause some tension in the functioning of her body. In addition, a young mother is unlikely to receive the full care that a woman needs during pregnancy.

The reproductive system of women at the age of 35 has passed the peak of its development, and with age, the condition of the ovaries worsens. At this time, nulliparous women face a lot of problems and complications during pregnancy and childbirth. They tend to be long and complex. High blood pressure is one of the most common complications of a pregnant woman over the age of 35. Women at this age are threatened with premature birth, severe pain in the pelvic organs before and during childbirth. Older mothers' firstborns are more likely to be born with low birth weight, Down's syndrome, developmental delays, or premature births.

Modern women have a desire to first arrange their lives, build a career, find themselves in a professional field. They are not in a hurry to have a child before the age of 30. Modern business women are completely immersed in their work, they have a rather busy schedule.

According to statistics, an increasing number of women are faced with the problem of infertility and the birth of handicapped, retarded children due to the content in their blood of too much androgens - male sex hormones. A possible reason for the increased content of androgens in the blood is the constant stress of working women, and yet every year there are more and more of them.

For a woman, the most optimal term for the birth of a child is 19-28 years. A big gap between the appearance of the first and next children should also not be made, the best is two to three years.

As age increases, genetic counseling becomes more important. Genetic counseling can, in some circumstances, help you and your partner make the right decision about having a baby. It is available from some major universities. Any information will be strictly confidential. As a result, you will receive information about what may affect your future offspring or your ability to conceive. But, even knowing about the possible complications, there is no guarantee that you will be able to avoid them. Just you will know what can expect you in this or that case.

Such counseling is also necessary for any woman who has given birth to a child with congenital malformations, a woman who has had recurrent miscarriages; if any of the partners has a congenital defect; if there were cases of hereditary diseases in the family: Down syndrome, mental retardation, muscular dystrophy, blood diseases, congenital heart disease; if you and your partner are related in any way.

Children of spouses-relatives are much more likely than children from unrelated couples to be born with various physical disabilities, suffer from metabolic disorders, have speech defects, and lag behind in mental development. In consanguineous marriages, both husband and wife, having a common ancestor, can inherit from him a "spoiled" gene. The closer the blood relationship, the more likely the presence of pathology in the offspring. The first task of genetic counseling is early diagnosis and prevention of various complications.

Research shows that the age of the father of the unborn child may also be important. Over time, the likelihood of chromosomal diseases increases. The risk of having a child with Down syndrome doubles in men over the age of 55. Men, have children before the age of forty. The final maturation of a man's body - "adulthood" - occurs at 23-25 ​​years. This age is most favorable for fatherhood.

The special requirements for the life of a mother in an extremely important period for her and the unborn child are associated with the provision of sufficient and nutritious nutrition and the exclusion of junk food from the diet of pregnant women. The birth of a normal baby depends on this. The average weight of newborns is about 3.2 kg. Often, children are born, albeit on time, but with a lower weight - 2.3-2.5 kg. Children with low birth weight are significantly behind in physical and mental development. This may be the result of malnutrition of the mother during pregnancy, evidence of the inferiority of her nutrition.

However, other reasons for the low weight of the child are also possible: malnutrition of the fetus itself due to a violation of the transport of nutrients or the inability of the fetus to use them. These violations in the diet affect primarily the development of the higher parts of the nervous system, i.e., the brain.

According to studies, certain eating disorders during pregnancy affect the structural and functional development of the brain of the unborn child. In such children, the electrical reactions of the brain are changed, the orienting reflex is disturbed - the most important behavioral reaction that underlies the formation of the movements around them and the actions of other people.

So, during pregnancy, it is important for the expectant mother to eat right. If your diet is poor, it may affect your child's development. Increase your calorie intake by about 300-800 per day. They will be spent on the growth of tissues in your body and the child, on the growth and development of the baby. An increase in adipose tissue is necessary during pregnancy and after childbirth to feed the baby. For the vital activity of the child's body, the energy that you give him with food is necessary: ​​to create reserves of proteins (protein), fats, carbohydrates. Pregnancy is not the period of life when you can experiment with different diets and reduce your calorie intake. However, this does not mean that you can eat whatever you want, whenever you want.

In the early stages of pregnancy, the fetal egg uses its own reserves for nutrition. Therefore, in the first half of pregnancy, a woman's diet should not differ significantly from her diet before pregnancy. However, it must be complete (contain proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, microelements) and not contain foods and drinks that adversely affect the fetus (fatty, spicy foods, spices and seasonings, canned food, smoked meats, fried meat and fish, strong meat broths, products made from white flour and pastry, various sweets, alcohol, very strong tea, coffee). There should be at least four times a day, that is, you need to eat "for two."

In the second half of pregnancy, you should switch to five to six meals a day. Along with an increase in the mass of the fetus and uterus, the size of the placenta, mammary glands, blood mass, etc.

Products containing complete proteins include milk, yogurt, kefir, low-fat cottage cheese, mild cheese, boiled meat and fish, potatoes, cabbage, beans, wheat, rice, buckwheat and oatmeal.
Carbohydrates compensate for energy costs in the human body. A direct relationship has been proven between the amount of carbohydrates consumed and the weight of the fetus. Eat more foods that are rich in fiber and vitamins: wholemeal bread, vegetables, fruits, cereals.

Fats are also an important energy reserve, as they provide two and a half times more thermal energy than carbohydrates and proteins. Fats are involved in plastic processes, affect the functions of the central nervous system, endocrine glands, reduce heat transfer and mitigate the effect of fluctuations in external temperature on the body. Your diet should contain up to 40% of vegetable fats: sunflower, olive, cottonseed oil, etc. From animal fats, use butter and ghee, refrain from lamb and beef fat, margarine.

During pregnancy, the need for vitamins and minerals increases two to four times. Balanced vitamin and mineral complexes will provide you with all the necessary nutrients, and the baby will be born beautiful, strong and cheerful.

Vitamins of groups A, B, C, D, E, etc. act as regulators of metabolic processes. These can be products made from wholemeal flour, cereals, legumes, herbs, vegetables, fruits, berries, liver, meat, dairy products. In the winter and early spring months, in consultation with your doctor, take vitamin preparations. Today, one of the most effective is the Materna complex. We also recommend you "Pregnavit" and "Vitrum Prenatal", from domestic drugs - "Gendevit".

A pregnant woman should receive no more than 1-1.2 liters of fluid per day. It is advisable to reduce salt intake, especially in the second half of pregnancy, despite the fact that you are "drawn to salty". Your body also needs to get enough minerals (calcium, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, etc.) and trace elements (iron, cobalt, iodine, etc.), which are contained in sufficient quantities in your food.

Also, gymnastics designed specifically for pregnant women will be useful for you and your baby. In many modern magazines you can find various exercises, there are also special centers where expectant mothers come, they are advised on all issues that arise and they have aerobics lessons with them. Water aerobics, gymnastics and swimming will allow you to stay fit and slim all nine months of pregnancy, strengthen the muscles of your chest and abdomen, and simply cheer you up! Swimming is the optimal physical activity for pregnant women.

You can also work out at home with your unborn baby. But even before conception, you should pay special attention to special exercises that strengthen the muscles of the abdomen, perineum, and pelvic floor. Strong and trained muscles ensure the optimal location of the fetus in the uterus, contribute to the favorable course of childbirth.

The upcoming birth will require a lot of physical stress from you. A special set of exercises will increase the efficiency and defenses of the body to perform physical exertion during childbirth. In the first half of pregnancy, most exercises are aimed at strengthening the muscles of the arms, legs, back, and abdominals.

In the second half of pregnancy, you need to strengthen the muscles of the feet, as the center of gravity of the body shifts. Rotational exercises are useful for increasing the flexibility of the spine and pelvic joints.

The ability to control your breathing will be needed during childbirth. At the end of pregnancy, do breathing exercises. To do this, it is necessary to alternate deep breath holdings with subsequent relaxation of the body. Most of the exercises in late pregnancy are done with a stick or while sitting in a chair.

All classes are carried out at a slow pace, each exercise is repeated 3-5 times. After them, you should not feel physical fatigue, the pulse should remain within the normal range (60-80 beats per minute).

We must not forget about the intrauterine psychological comfort of the unborn baby. The formation of the emotional behavior of adult organisms is largely determined by the former conditions of intrauterine development. Scientists have proven that calm classical music has a calming effect not only on the expectant mother, but also on the child in her womb. Now there are many musical recordings for relaxation, whether it be the sounds of the forest or the surf. Such music has a very beneficial effect on the child. Even the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle argued that music can influence the formation of character.

And psychologists have found that if women listen to music very often during pregnancy, they give birth to children with absolute pitch. The fact is that sound affects the endocrine and vascular systems of an unborn child. Sound vibrations heal the body, act like a massage, affect the intellectual abilities of the baby.

Some smells also favorably affect the future baby: mint, roses, lavender, sea freshness and others. Oriental aromas have a somewhat depressing effect on the nervous system of both the expectant mother and the child. With the help of aromatherapy, you can cope with many ailments that accompany pregnancy, including stress relief. It is useful to take a bath with leuzea oil, we also recommend rubbing a mixture of jasmine and tangerine oils with deodorized vegetable oil into the zones of the central lymphatic ducts (armpits and groin).

The world in which the baby will appear, he begins to explore even in the womb. Embryos begin to hear already at the fifteenth or twentieth week of intrauterine life. The future baby feels well what is happening around the mother, distinguishes between male and female voices. He unmistakably recognizes his mother's voice, distinguishes between personal and telephone conversations, and reacts to changes in intonation. An unborn baby perfectly feels maternal emotions. Mother and child have a strong bond with each other. And this connection will never be as strong as during the months of pregnancy.

The sound of a mother's speech is the main and, perhaps, the only emotional stimulus for the life of an unborn child: it pleases, excites, and soothes. For the last three months of intrauterine life, the fetus listens, remembers the intonation, rhythm, and melody of the mother's speech. He is born with a solid supply of impressions and, consequently, information. But much of what a child learns in the womb is erased from memory after birth. Only not the mother's voice, which becomes the music of life for the baby, a sedative for the frightened, just born baby. A familiar voice helps to come to terms with the new conditions of life.

A person begins to prepare himself for understanding and reproducing speech even before birth. In the womb of his mother, he begins to hear speech, to distinguish the sound of speech from other sounds and noises. Scientists are sure that the behavioral code, individual for each person, is laid even before birth. And the nature of this code, no doubt, will be reflected in the words of love uttered by a native voice.

It is very useful for your unborn child to listen to foreign speech from mom and from those people who surround her. The fact is that a newborn child feels how different languages ​​​​sound differently. When he is born, he feels if his mother suddenly starts speaking in a foreign language. He reacts not so much to new words as to the general pattern of speech: stress, accent, intonation. A person is generally born a polyglot. A newborn is able to hear the difference between all the sounds and phonemes of human speech. If you immediately accustom him to someone else's speech, then later learning a foreign language will be easier for the child. But it is important to remember that, being in the environment of the native language after a month of life, the baby loses acute hearing for someone else's speech.

It has been established that the formation of the emotional behavior of adult organisms is largely determined by the former conditions of intrauterine development. For a pregnant woman, the family should have peace, a favorable psychological climate. While the expectant mother is waiting for the first meeting with her baby, it's time to start a dialogue that will continue when the baby is born. He still does not distinguish words, but their emotional connotation will unmistakably determine.

A month and a half before the birth, the future baby begins to memorize the verses and melody of the lullaby. Therefore, we would advise the expectant mother to sing lullabies before going to bed, because your baby needs a restful sleep, and in the last three months he has already developed his own cycle of sleep and wakefulness.

Back in 1913, Russian academician V. M. Bekhterev wrote about the important role of lullabies in the full development of the fetus. And if you regularly read the same poem out loud, then, having heard it after birth, the baby reacts precisely to this poem, distinguishes it from others (which is manifested in a change in the rhythm of sucking on the pacifier).

Even in the womb, the child fixes in memory the language spoken by others. Sometimes it turns out that after birth, the baby finds himself in a different language environment. In this case, in a few years, when he begins to learn a foreign language - the language that his mother spoke during pregnancy - he will learn it amazingly easily.

The influence of bad habits of the future mother on the formation of the child's intelligence.

Let's talk about how the bad habits of parents can affect the intellectual development of your baby.

In recent years, the "epidemic" of smoking has spread to girls and even pregnant women. Drinking alcohol and smoking tobacco are dangerous for the health of an unborn baby. Nicotine and alcohol easily penetrate the placenta to the fetus and cause irreparable harm to his body. The consequences of smoking can be quick: low birth weight and a "difficult", noisy baby. May not be detected immediately: slow development, low level of intellectual data.

Smoking nicotine can cause the development of the "tobacco syndrome" in the fetus, cause a spasm of the uterine arteries, which provide the child's place (placenta) with all the products necessary for life. As a result, blood flow in the placenta is disturbed and placental insufficiency develops, so the fetus does not receive the necessary amount of oxygen and nutritious foods. Tobacco smoke contains carbon monoxide, which, penetrating through the placenta into the blood of the fetus, is firmly bound to hemoglobin and prevents the delivery of oxygen to the tissues. As a result, the fetus develops oxygen starvation.

The composition of tobacco smoke, in addition to nicotine and carbon monoxide, includes other volatile toxic compounds. Therefore, passive smoking, that is, the stay of a non-smoking pregnant woman in a smoky room, also causes significant damage to the health of the expectant mother and fetus.

Alcohol has a high ability to dissolve easily in water and fats. Its low molecular weight allows it to pass unhindered through all the body's tissue barriers, which protect it from many damaging substances. Alcohol inhibits the process of maturation of germ cells, which damages their most important structure - the genetic apparatus, and offspring are born with developmental defects. The female reproductive system damaged by alcohol is the cause of infertility, spontaneous miscarriages, premature births and stillbirths.

Getting into the blood of the fetus, alcohol primarily affects its brain, liver, vascular system and endocrine glands. The concentration of alcohol in the blood of the fetus reaches 80-100% of its content in the blood of the mother. The fetus has not yet developed those systems that neutralize alcohol in the body of an adult, so its damaging effect on the fetus will be much stronger and longer. As a result, multiple deformities of the fetus inevitably arise, compatible or incompatible with its life. First of all, the child's brain suffers, those of its structures that determine mental activity.

Children with alcohol syndrome - a set of congenital pathological signs in the fetus - lag behind in mental and physical development. The birth of children with deformities, epilepsy, mental retardation is often associated with the father's alcoholism: in men, under the influence of frequent alcohol intake, degeneration of internal organs occurs, irreversible changes occur in the liver, heart vessels, and sex glands. Their children are born weakened, often and for a long time get sick, lag behind in physical and mental development.

In many countries of the world, there have long been customs forbidding newlyweds to drink alcoholic beverages. In Rus', young people were given only kvass. This fact once again suggests that alcohol consumption has a detrimental effect on offspring. The ban on drinking alcohol for newlyweds protected the health of future children. This was clear to the ancestors without genetics. In ancient India, it was strictly forbidden to drink wine for all women. Violators of this custom burned the notorious bottle on their foreheads with hot metal.

Until recently, there was an opinion that the state of the body of the father at the time of conception of the child does not play a significant role. But today this myth is completely dispelled. A father who drinks can harm his unborn child. Alcohol - a poison for any living cell - reduces the activity, mobility of spermatozoa, breaks, distorts their hereditary structure.

Damage caused by alcohol causes inevitable deviations, malformations of the child from the very beginning of his biological existence. The consequences of drinking alcohol by future fathers can be tragic: underdevelopment of the child's brain, mental retardation, dementia up to idiocy.

Alcohol can harm expectant mothers long before conception. Not to mention the fact that a woman with his "help" can generally deprive herself of happy motherhood. Alcohol quickly damages a woman's body, and the younger she is, the faster it happens. The menstrual cycle is disturbed - unfavorable conditions for conception are created. Due to alcohol intoxication, the ovaries produce immature, defective eggs. If such a damaged, defective egg combines according to biological laws to form an embryo with a spermatozoon, unhealthy unborn child is already guaranteed.

The toxic, destructive effect of alcohol on the germ cells of future parents lasts about two weeks from the moment of its use. A sperm cell poisoned by alcohol merged with an egg cell poisoned by the same poison - that's it, a drunken conception. The result is a distorted formation of the embryo, defective development of the fetus, a dead, ugly or sick child.

In addition to alcohol, tobacco and diseases, there are other factors that negatively affect the full development of the unborn child. They may be vibration, noise, radiant heat, ionizing radiation, dust, pesticides, various chemical compounds - paints, varnishes, cleaning solutions, gasoline vapors, lead compounds, mercury, etc. The fetus in the mother's womb often suffers already from a slight impact adverse factors that do not have a noticeable effect on the health of a pregnant woman.

The use of strong nitro-paints and varnishes during the repair of an apartment, the use of pesticides to kill domestic insects, and other household chemicals during pregnancy is fraught with very adverse consequences for the health of the unborn child if improperly handled and stored.

During pregnancy, the child's body is extremely sensitive to all kinds of influences. His developing brain firmly imprints the information that comes to him. This imposes a huge responsibility not only on the expectant mother, but also on the people around her. They form the "environment" of the child, influence the development of his psyche and intellect, form the main features of his character, and are most directly included in the process of his upbringing. The physical and mental health of a future person depends precisely on this "environment", which can either bring him good or cause irreparable harm.

Future parents can properly organize their own activities to develop the intelligence of their child. For the mother-to-be, moderate labor during pregnancy is necessary. But it is important to establish a reasonable combination of work and rest, especially in the second half of pregnancy. It is advisable to alternate work with rest every 40-45 minutes.

Fatigue, drowsiness are common factors that accompany a woman during pregnancy. The expectant mother should remember that the duration of sleep should be at least 8-9 hours. In case of sleep disturbance, on the advice of a doctor, you can take a sleeping pill. The room before going to bed should be well ventilated.

During pregnancy, the need for oxygen increases by 25-30%. The expectant mother needs to walk more often in the fresh air, since during walks the blood is saturated with oxygen especially actively. If possible, walk several times a day, before going to bed - be sure.

The expectant mother breathes for two (the child receives oxygen from her blood through the placenta through the umbilical cord). The full development and respiration of blood depends on the quality of the mother's blood, in particular on the level of hemoglobin. And during pregnancy, the composition of the blood changes - the number of red blood cells (erythrocytes) decreases or the amount of hemoglobin, an integral part of the erythrocyte, decreases. The main task of hemoglobin is to carry oxygen from the lungs to the tissues of the body, and carbon dioxide from the tissues to the lungs.

The total blood volume increases by one and a half times as pregnancy develops, while the mass of red blood cells increases by only 18%. The normal course of pregnancy means that the hemoglobin level drops by about 15% compared to the normal state. If your hemoglobin level was
130, then during pregnancy 110 is normal. If the indicator is less than a hundred, it's time to take action.

By the seventh month of pregnancy, your blood circulation reaches its maximum intensity. The increase in total blood volume does not keep pace with the baby's oxygen needs. If the blood retained its usual viscosity, then such a rapid circulation of the blood would be impossible. Therefore, a decrease in the percentage of red blood cells is inevitable here. But by the end of pregnancy, nature insures you against excessive blood loss during childbirth: the total blood volume reaches its maximum, and blood clotting increases.

At certain stages of pregnancy, anemia is even necessary for the successful bearing of a child. But, if the state of your blood goes beyond the norm, fatigue, frequent colds, dizziness, weakness and other troubles may appear. Therefore, try to eat more vegetables and fruits, pomegranates, bananas, beets, apples, dark grapes, plums, eggs, beef, liver, etc. are especially useful. Excessive consumption of dairy products or calcium preparations worsens the absorption of iron. Walk outdoors more often, do gymnastics and breathing exercises.

Influence of infectious and chronic diseases of a pregnant woman on the intellectual development of a baby.

Now you and your baby are one. You not only rejoice and grieve together, but also get sick together. Even a slight change in the temperature of the skin of the abdomen of a pregnant woman is immediately reflected in the heart rate of the fetus. Therefore, it is natural that all diseases of the mother, both chronic and acute, are dangerous for the fetus.

Many women, only after becoming pregnant, begin to check their health status. And some find out that they are either psychologically unprepared for childbearing, or have diseases that pose a threat to the unborn child.

Even before you decide to have a baby, find out from the doctors your level of physical development, your state of health, and check for any diseases that you may not be aware of. First of all, visit a therapist, he will refer you to other specialists if necessary.

Diseases of the teeth and nasopharynx can cause a lot of anxiety to the mother and damage the fetus. Such imperceptibly flowing diseases as toxoplasmosis, rubella, helminthic diseases affect the unborn child in the most severe way. You should also ask if you have received all the necessary vaccinations against infectious diseases.

For the most part, the pathogenic microbes that affect the mother are too large to penetrate the placenta into the blood of the fetus and infect it. The exceptions are the causative agents of chickenpox, hepatitis, poliomyelitis and smallpox. There are a significant number of diseases, including rubella, syphilis, and diabetes, that have a particularly strong impact on a child's intellectual development. In no case should such serious illnesses accompany the onset of pregnancy. Treating a pregnant woman with any type of infection is no easy task. After all, the use of certain drugs during pregnancy is contraindicated due to their possible harmful effects on the fetus.

Pregnancy should not occur immediately after completion of treatment. After all, the body is weakened by the disease, the functional activity of some organs and systems has not yet been finally restored.

Rubella - a viral infection - in an adult can manifest itself weakly or go unnoticed at all (in women, rubella can manifest itself only with a runny nose, a slight cough, a mild rash on the body for 1-3 days), while it causes serious complications in the fetus. The most severe consequences for the baby are brought by the infection in the first three months of intrauterine development, when there is an increased sensitivity and susceptibility of the fetus to any influences. The consequences are very terrible: disease or insufficient development of the heart, smaller (relative to the norm) head size, delays in overall development, hearing and vision defects, and even death. Rubella vaccinations should do everything - both children and adult women who do not have immunity, but the latter should first make sure that they are not pregnant.

Syphilis is passed from mother to fetus. The microorganisms that cause syphilis infect the fetus, quickly penetrating almost all of its tissues and organs, destroying the kidneys, liver, blood vessels, and lungs. If the child survives, then the threat of acute pneumonia or loss of sight will constantly hang over him. If a woman is cured before the fourth month of pregnancy, then the child can avoid this disease. Early detection of syphilis is essential for the woman, her partner, and the baby. If you notice any ulcerative lesions during pregnancy, contact your doctor immediately. An effective remedy for syphilis is penicillin and some other drugs that are harmless to pregnant women.

Not only infectious diseases of spouses are fraught with adverse consequences for children.

A common endocrine pathology is diabetes mellitus. This disease is caused by insufficient production of the pancreatic hormone - insulin. In the blood of such patients, the content of sugar is increased, which is not absorbed by the body and is excreted in large quantities in the urine. In diabetes mellitus, all types of metabolism are disturbed in a patient, first of all carbohydrate, then fat, protein, mineral, vitamin. In diabetic mothers, babies can be born with congenital defects.

The risk of complications during pregnancy can be reduced by constantly monitoring blood sugar levels. Most of the complications associated with diabetes appear within thirteen weeks of pregnancy. Doctors recommend monitoring the development of the disease especially closely for at least two to three months before conception. You will have to take blood sugar tests several times a day in order to fully control the disease and avoid possible complications. Thanks to complete and constant monitoring, even diabetic women can count on a successful outcome of pregnancy and childbirth.

Disturbances of carbohydrate metabolism have a particularly harmful effect on the fetus, which for a long period were hidden in women, and therefore the patients did not undergo treatment. This disorder is called prediabetes. The symptoms of this disease are the same as those of diabetes: thirst, increased appetite, skin itching, frequent urination, fatigue, weight loss, etc. Pre-diabetic conditions that are hidden for a long time can cause not only spontaneous miscarriages, but also the birth of children with developmental defects.

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, can cause complications for both mother and baby. A woman is at risk of kidney failure, a hypertensive crisis and a headache. Blood flow to the placenta will decrease, which can lead to fetal developmental delays, the baby may be born with an underweight.

During all nine months of bearing a child, it is necessary to monitor the pressure if you had it before pregnancy. Some high blood pressure medications are safe for pregnant women, and some are not. The course of pregnancy may be adversely affected by reducing the dosage of drugs or stopping their intake.

The most common kidney disease in expectant mothers is pyelonephritis (inflammation of the renal pelvis). It can adversely affect not only the course of pregnancy, but also the condition of the fetus. Almost half of pregnant women with pyelonephritis, especially chronic, have a so-called late toxicosis.

In the body of the expectant mother, there is a serious hormonal restructuring. The placenta produces the hormone progesterone, and under its influence, the smooth muscles of the intestines, bladder and ureters relax. You may develop a tendency to constipation, slow down the outflow of urine from the kidneys (the so-called "passage"). The situation is also aggravated by the pressure on the ureters of the growing uterus, which increases 60 times during pregnancy.

Also, the disease occurs and develops in the presence of an infectious focus in the body. Any focus of chronic infection can adversely affect the health of your baby. In expectant mothers, as a rule, immunity is weakened, so pathogenic microbes (fungi, mycoplasmas, Trichomonas) are activated and enter the kidneys with blood flow. Be especially careful if, even before pregnancy, the content of salts in the urine was increased or anomalies in the development of the urinary tract were detected.

Since pyelonephritis does not manifest itself for a long time, women rarely think about a urological examination on the eve of a planned pregnancy. Outside of exacerbations, you feel good, however, sometimes there are attacks of weakness, headaches, and backaches. But, as a rule, they do not pay attention to this, they attribute everything to fatigue. Consult a doctor, a specialist, depending on the form of pyelonephritis, will determine the degree of risk for you and for the child.

In no case do not self-medicate! Even if you are treated with herbs, consult your doctor, because there are no absolutely safe herbs either. Drink more - at least 2-3 liters per day: cranberry and lingonberry fruit drinks.

Any disease can be dangerous for the unborn baby. Discuss your condition with your doctor if you have a chronic condition or need to take medication on a regular basis. At the time of conception and in the early stages of pregnancy, it is better not to take drugs and not undergo any treatment. The laying of all the organs and tissues of the child occurs during the first thirteen weeks of pregnancy, so protect your baby from the harmful effects of drugs and examinations.

After the successful fertilization of the egg by the sperm, a new organism begins to form in the uterus, which after 40 weeks becomes a viable child, ready to be born. Pregnancy, as a physiological process, normally lasts 10 obstetric months, and the entire intrauterine period of fetal development is usually divided into two stages: embryonic and fetal. At the stage of embryonic development - up to and including the 8th week of the term, a fertilized egg is considered an embryo and gradually begins to acquire human forms and features. From the 9th week until the birth of the child, doctors distinguish the fetal period of pregnancy, during which the embryo already becomes a fetus and goes through the process of forming its own systems and organs. The development of all the vital internal organs of the child occurs at a specific time, which is subject to the genetic code laid down in the process of human evolution into germ cells.

Embryonic stage of development

First obstetric month

From the moment of connection of healthy male and female cells - sperm and egg, fertilization occurs in the ampulla of the fallopian tube. Over the next few hours, an active process of division of the fertilized egg begins, during which it begins to gradually move into the uterine cavity down the fallopian tube. On average, a fetal egg - a fertilized and multiplied egg reaches the uterine cavity in 5 days. After the egg divides exponentially, it begins to look like a blackberry. It is worth noting that in Latin this berry is called "morus", from which the multicellular organism formed after cell division is commonly called morula in medicine.

Morula by the end of the week should join one of the walls of the uterus - undergo the process of implantation, in which the outer cells of the embryo with their villi are introduced into the blood vessels of the organ. After the merger of the morula with the female body, placental tissues begin to form, which, subsequently, form a protective shell for the fetus, providing it with nutrition right up to the very birth. Embryo cells that do not take part in the formation of cells for the placenta give impetus to the development of other membranes and the umbilical cord. The internal cells of the embryo, due to reunification with the mother's body, after a while begin to lay the foundation for their own internal organs and systems.

After a successful fusion with the mother's body and the beginning of the formation of the placental tissue, umbilical cord and other membranes, the embryo is even more intensively implanted in the uterine mucosa. Over the next seven days, there is an active development of cells for the umbilical cord and placenta, in addition, the foundation is laid for an important system of the unborn child - the neural tube, from which the brain and the entire nervous system of the new organism will then begin to form.

15-21 days of pregnancy is considered the most dangerous period - there is a complex process of laying all the important systems and organs of the unborn child. The digestive, respiratory, circulatory, nervous and excretory systems "lay" the first rudiments in the embryo, and a wide plate appears in the place where its head will be formed. Based on this element and the neural tube, the brain will later form. Already by the 21st day of the term, the heart tissue is so developed that it is able to provide a heartbeat.

Until the 28th day of pregnancy, inclusive, the formation of the foundations for all the internal organs of the unborn child continues. It is quite natural when by this time the rudiments of the intestines, liver, lungs and kidneys appear in the embryo. His little heart gradually increases the intensity of the work, due to which more and more blood of the embryo is pumped through its circulatory system. It is worth noting that it is at the 4th week of development that the embryo acquires a clearer outline, resembling a human torso, since its spine has already begun to form. The neural tube completes the stage of development before the 25th day, and on the 28th day after conception, muscles develop, forming the future muscular system. During this period, the spine of the embryo is so strong that it divides its body into two identical parts, and also gives impetus to the formation of the lower and upper limbs. In the area of ​​​​the head of the unborn child, pits are formed, which will become the basis of the eyes of the fetus.

Second obstetric month

By the 35th day of development, the embryo grows to 1.5-2.5 millimeters in length and weighs about 0.4 grams. This week, the constituent elements of such systems as the respiratory, digestive, reproductive and nervous systems are actively formed. The embryo develops the rudiments of the liver, pancreas, larynx, trachea and lungs. Special cells are formed, a kind of precursors of germ cells. In the pits on the head, the process of formation of the eyeballs and the inner ear begins, and most of the sections of the future brain are actively formed. In the second month of pregnancy, the formation of the umbilical cord is more active, and it can already be distinguished. In general, the limbs of the embryo become more pronounced and acquire the foundations of future nails. In the area of ​​the child's face, the outline of the upper lip differs, and nasal cavities are formed.

From the 36th day of pregnancy, the embryo already has a body length of 4-5 millimeters. During this period, the tissues of the future placenta already form a pronounced shell for the baby. At this stage of fetal development, the placenta gradually establishes a merger with the blood vessels of the female body, but the blood circulation between the embryo and the mother is not yet functioning. The parts of the brain continue to take on clear forms, and when an encephalogram is performed during a routine examination, the signals of the child's brain are already clearly recorded by the device.

The face of the unborn child gradually acquires the first features, since the facial muscles are already being formed. On the upper limbs, which are noticeably elongated in length, the outlines of the fingers and hands are laid. It is worth noting that the lower limbs at this time are still in their infancy. The heart of the embryo acquires a clearer shape, is divided into chambers (atria and ventricles), the “primary” kidneys of the baby also finish forming, on the basis of which the ureters begin to grow. The digestive system lays the foundation for the stomach, large and small intestines, and other important digestive organs - the liver and pancreas, gradually complete their formation.

Utero-placental communication between the embryo and mother at this stage is already becoming possible due to the final formation of the umbilical cord. At this stage of development, the life support of the fetus is provided by the placenta and umbilical cord, oxygen and nutrients enter the body of the unborn child through the blood vessels. The location of the body of the embryo in the uterus has an arcuate shape, and in the lower part of the pelvis you can see a small tail. The head of the unborn child corresponds in size to half of the total size of the embryo. Normally, it should grow to 13-15 millimeters. The active growth of the upper limbs continues, the fingers have a clear shape, but are still interconnected. At this stage of its development, the child may make uncontrolled movements of the limbs, especially under the influence of external stimuli. His eyelids are already formed and protect his eyes from drying out, in addition, the baby periodically opens his mouth. A nasal fold and a nose begin to form on the head, and two small elevations are visible on the sides - the rudiments of future ears. The brain continues to actively develop.

From the 50th to the 56th day of pregnancy, the unborn baby grows from 15 to 21 millimeters in length. The internal organs and systems continue to develop actively, the heart grows, the lungs increase, the urinary system appears, the embryo acquires characteristic genital organs - the testicles form in the boy. The auricles are actively developing. By the end of the 8th week, the baby's face becomes more and more human-like - the eyes cover the eyelids, the nose and auricles are visible, and both lips are finally formed. The active growth of the entire head begins, and the arms and legs go through the stage of ossification, the bones of the skull are formed. Between the fingers, the membrane of the skin disappears. This week, the embryonic stage of the development of the unborn child is over, the embryo becomes a fetus and begins the fetal period of its development.

Fetal stage of development

Third obstetric month

On the 57th day of development, the fetus reaches 22 millimeters in length; by day 63, growth increases to 31 millimeters. At this time, the condition of the placental vessels improves, due to which the metabolic processes between the fetus and the mother become more intense. The bones and muscles of the unborn child are actively developing - there is a process of ossification, the development of joints on the fingers and toes. From this point on, frequent body movements can be observed in the fetus, which can squeeze and unclench its fingers. He lowers his head and presses his chin hard against his chest. The cardiovascular system becomes more powerful - the heart beats at a speed of 150 beats per minute, intensively pumping blood, which so far consists only of red blood cells. In the brain of the unborn child, the sections become larger and the basis for the future cerebellum begins to develop. In the endocrine system of the fetus, the adrenal glands begin to produce the first important hormones. The cartilaginous tissues of the auricles and larynx are actively formed, and the vocal cords are also developing.

On the 64th day of pregnancy, the fetus grows to 40 millimeters, the outlines of the buttocks are formed in it, and the small tail disappears. There is still quite a lot of space for him in the uterine cavity, so he takes a free half-bent position. The nervous system continues to develop intensively, and the fetus often makes reflex movements. For example, in contact with the uterine wall, he turns his head, unbends or bends his legs and arms to push himself to the side. The woman does not yet feel these movements, since the size of the fetus is too small. This week, the sucking reflex appears, and the diaphragm completes its development.

The length of the child from the crown to the tailbone by the end of this stage reaches 5 centimeters. His torso is still out of proportion due to his large head size, long arms and short legs. The fetus bends its limbs in all joints and presses it to the stomach. The development of the placenta is finally completed and the membrane fully performs all its functions, bringing the necessary amount of oxygen and nutrients to the child, while the vessels also remove metabolic products and carbon dioxide. The eyes form an iris that affects their color, the eyeball is able to rotate and the eyelid opens and closes.

From 78 to 85 days of pregnancy, the fetus grows to 50-60 millimeters. The sex becomes clearly visible, since the genitals are actively developing only according to the male or female type. The digestive organs are improved: the intestines lengthen, twisting into loops. In addition, the intestine periodically begins to contract - peristalsis is formed. Now the baby in the womb can swallow the amniotic fluid, thereby developing the swallowing reflex. His brain already exactly repeats the shape of an adult organ, has all departments and both hemispheres, but is still very small in size. The behavior of the fetus is now more diverse - by sucking on the fist, the baby satisfies his sucking reflex. Leukocytes are formed in the blood, and the chest makes respiratory movements. By the end of the 12th week, eyelashes and eyebrows appear on the face, and the neck takes on a noticeable shape.

Fourth obstetric month

At the end of this week, the fetus already reaches 75 millimeters, the outlines of its body are changing, now you can see a small person in it. The limbs become longer, the torso is larger, and the head is more proportional - now it no longer looks so big. The digestive organs are actively improved - the rudiments of milk teeth are formed under the upper and lower jaws. The facial features are almost formed - the nose, eyes and ears are clearly defined, and the eyelids are completely closed.

From 92-98 days, the unborn child grows up to 9 centimeters. His torso continues to improve, and the proportions become more familiar to the human eye. The forehead, nose, cheeks and chin are clearly visible on the face. The first hairs appear on the head, the body is also covered with small hairs. These hairs are fluff, retain lubricant and perform a number of protective functions. During this period, bones are actively compacted and muscle tissue grows, the fetus becomes more mobile - it periodically bends, turns over and tries to make the first swimming movements. The organs of the genitourinary system finish forming - the kidneys begin to secrete liquid (the baby pees), which enters the fetal waters. The endocrine system of the fetus is actively completing its formation, after which the pancreas will begin to secrete insulin. The pituitary cells in the brain gradually begin to function. The genital organs of the fetus take on a perfect form: the prostate gland of boys finishes forming, and in girls the ovaries migrate into the pelvic cavity. As a result, with the help of ultrasound, it becomes possible to determine the sex of the unborn child.

By the end of the week, on the 105th day of pregnancy, the unborn child weighs approximately 75 grams and reaches a length of ≈ 10 centimeters. The process of growth of the limbs of the fetus becomes more intense than the head, so the torso is already relatively proportional. By the end of the fourth month of pregnancy, the unborn child already has its own blood type and Rh factor, its blood vessels lengthen and thicken their walls. Meconium (the original feces of the fetus) begins to be periodically produced by the intestines and enter the fetal waters. This process is provoked by the entry of fetal water into the body of the unborn child, at a time when he makes reflex swallowing movements. Fingers and toes finish forming, the skin at the tips acquires a special pattern.

The fetus already weighs about 100 grams, grows up to 12 centimeters and has all the organs and systems. The genitourinary system works regularly, the kidneys produce a certain amount of urine (urine) every hour. Blood vessels are visible through the skin because subcutaneous fatty tissue has not yet formed. The skin has a bright red tint, covered with fluffy hairs and grease. Eyelashes and eyebrows become thicker, nails are actively formed and already cover the edge of the nail phalanx. The fetus has facial expressions - the facial muscles finish developing, so he periodically frowns his eyebrows and even smiles.

Fifth obstetric month

By the 119th day of pregnancy, the fetus gains a mass of ≈ 120-150 grams, and reaches 15 centimeters in length. The skin is still quite thin, but subcutaneous fat is already beginning to form. Dentin is formed on the rudiments of milk teeth, and permanent teeth are formed under them. The fetus can already react to sound with active movements, and some women, especially very sensitive ones, can feel these movements. The position of the unborn child in the uterus changes - it becomes vertical, the baby bends his arms at the elbow joints, and squeezes his fingers into fists almost all the time. Unclenching his fists, the baby straightens his fingers and even sucks, often large. The heartbeat is already clearly audible when examined by a gynecologist with a stethoscope.

The mass of the body of the fetus reaches 200 grams, and the length from the crown of the head to the coccyx is 20 centimeters. This week, you can fix the semblance of sleep and wakefulness of the unborn child, who sleeps most of the time, and makes active movements during the wakefulness period. Most pregnant women at the 18th week of the term begin to clearly feel the movements and movements of the fetus. As a rule, you can feel the gentle pushes of the unborn child when he pushes off the wall of the uterus, or reacts to sounds. Maternal stress also provokes the fetus to move. Normally, at this time, the unborn child should do up to 10 episodes of movements during the day.

On the 127-133rd day of pregnancy, the fetus weighs up to 300 grams, while growing up to 22-23 centimeters. Its proportions change - the head grows much more slowly than the body, and the limbs continue to actively lengthen. The fetus often moves, his mother feels it, and others can even feel it by touching his stomach. It is worth noting that at this time during the first pregnancy, a woman may not yet recognize the movements of the fetus, unlike a more experienced mother. The organs of the endocrine system of the unborn child work very actively, and the blood gradually acquires a new composition - monocytes with lymphocytes are added to the erythrocytes and leukocytes. The spleen begins to take part in the formation of fetal blood cells.

The body weight of the fetus on the 134-140th day of the term reaches 340 grams, and it grows up to 25 centimeters in length. The skin is still very thin, but the subcutaneous tissue is almost formed, and the fluffy hairs and lubricant protect the fetus. The eyes are already so formed that the baby has a blink reflex. The coordination of the movements of the unborn child becomes more pronounced and active: the thumb is brought to the mouth with a conscious movement, the eyes can close, the lips stretch in a smile and the eyebrows frown. Without exception, all future mothers already clearly feel the movements of the child in the womb, noting changes in his movements during the day. The fetus becomes especially active under the influence of irritants - loud sounds or stuffiness.

Sixth obstetric month

On the 141-147th day of pregnancy, the fetus already reaches 27 centimeters in length and weighs about 380 grams. His skin acquires folds, becomes wrinkled due to the dense layer of subcutaneous tissue. The fetus moves more and more, moves freely in the uterus, can be located upside down or pelvis, sometimes lies across the uterus. Thanks to the developed hands, the unborn child periodically grabs the umbilical cord, and the legs can decisively push off the uterine wall. His sleep and wake patterns are changing - less time is devoted to sleep.

During 148-154 days of pregnancy, the fetus increases in size up to 28 centimeters and weighs about 500 grams. The torso of the unborn child becomes more proportional - the head is no longer so large relative to the whole body. His legs are almost always bent at the hip and knee joints. Bones continue to actively strengthen. The spine is almost fully formed and has all the joints, vertebrae and ligaments. All nerve cells appeared in the brain - neurons, and the organ weighs about 100 grams. The fetus becomes more conscious - interested in his own body, touching his face, arms and legs, while he deliberately tilts his head and brings his hands to his face. His heart enlarges and perfects its work.

At this stage of fetal development, the body reaches 30 centimeters in length, and the mass is 500 grams. At week 23, the skin already acquires a bright color - red, due to the synthesis of a special pigment, but the subcutaneous fatty tissue is still thin, so the body of the fetus looks thin and wrinkled. The entire skin of the unborn child is covered with a thick layer of lubricant that enters the folds of the body. The sexual organs continue to develop, and the activity of the movements of the diaphragm increases. The fetus can make respiratory movements 50-60 times per minute and constantly swallows fetal water along with a protective lubricant of the skin. As a result, these substances enter the intestines and turn into meconium, which normally should not leave his body before childbirth. The swallowing reflex and the ingress of fluid into the intestines of the child provokes hiccups, it is easily felt by the expectant mother.

On the 168th day of its development, the fetus reaches 32 centimeters in length and weighs approximately 600 grams. It begins to move even more actively in the womb and gradually occupies almost the entire uterine cavity. At the same time, the baby sometimes still changes its location and even turns over, which is facilitated by active muscle growth. It can be noted that at the 24th week of pregnancy, the unborn child already has developed sensory organs: the eyes begin to fully function, therefore, when bright light hits the pregnant woman’s stomach, the fetus turns away from it or closes its eyelids. The hearing organs are also well developed and functioning, so the fetus distinguishes the voice of its mother and actively responds to unpleasant or loud sounds. At this stage, a strong emotional connection is established between the fetus and the woman, so the child also begins to experience any negative emotions of the mother with her.

Seventh obstetric month

By the 175th day of the term, the weight of the fetus is approximately 650-700 grams, and the length is 30-34 centimeters. The skin of the child acquires elasticity, the folds become less noticeable, as the layer of fatty tissue increases. In the still thin skin, a large number of capillaries form, giving it a bright red hue. The front part of the head becomes more similar to the face of an adult: the eyes are clearly defined, framed by eyelashes and eyebrows, the cheeks of the unborn child and the outlines of the auricles are already visible on ultrasound. The curves and curls of the ears are not yet fully formed, the cartilage has a soft and thin structure. There is an active development of the bone marrow, due to which the process of hematopoiesis is enhanced, and the bones are strengthened. In the lungs, tissues mature - alveoli form, but until the birth of the baby, the organ will be without air. In their shape, the alveoli still resemble deflated balloons that will straighten out after the first breath of a child. At the 25th week of the term, the alveoli are already producing a special element - a surfactant, which ensures their shape.

This week, the unborn child grows to 35 centimeters in length, gaining a mass of 750-760 grams. Its adipose tissue and muscle tissue are actively gaining volume, and the main teeth also continue to form. The genitals in boys are already beginning to descend into the scrotum, and this process will last about 4 weeks, while in girls, the outlines of the external genitalia are formed at this time. The sense organs are increasingly being improved, so the fetus sometimes distinguishes odors.

On the 183-189th day of pregnancy, the weight of the unborn child increases to 850 grams with a growth of 37 centimeters. An active process of activity of the endocrine system of the fetus begins - the pituitary gland, pancreas and thyroid gland perform the necessary functions. The unborn child often makes movements with its limbs and head, freely changing its location in the uterine cavity. From this moment begins the process of formation of his personal metabolism.

The body weight of the unborn child reaches 950 grams, and the length is 38 centimeters. At this stage of formation, the fetus can be considered viable, but only in the absence of pathologies of the internal organs. Adipose tissue continues to increase its volume, but the skin is still red. The skin gradually gets rid of downy hairs, which are partially preserved on the shoulders and back. The hairs of the eyebrows and eyelashes acquire a more intense shade, and the number of dark hairs on the head also increases. Periodically, the unborn child opens his eyelids, his nose and ears remain soft, but the nails already cover half of the phalanx of the fingers. From this moment, one of the hemispheres of the brain can actively begin to work.

Eighth obstetric month

From 197 to 203 days of pregnancy, the unborn child is actively gaining body weight and weighs approximately 1200 grams with a height of 39 centimeters. The torso of the fetus has grown so much that it occupies almost the entire uterine cavity, so chaotic and frequent body movements are already excluded. The fetus occasionally moves gently, making points with its hands or feet to take a specific position in the uterus for future births. Normally, it should descend to the pharynx with the head or pelvis. In general, all internal organs and systems continue to develop in him, for example, the kidneys already secrete 500 milliliters of urine during the day. The cardiovascular system increases the load, but his blood circulation is still different from that of an adult.

From 204 to 210 days of pregnancy, the unborn child gains weight up to 1300-1350 grams with a height of 39 centimeters. The layer of subcutaneous fatty tissue actively accumulates, straightening the folds, and the child himself begins to gradually adapt to the limited space in the uterus. As a rule, he already occupies a certain and comfortable position for himself - he curls up and crosses his limbs. Despite the fact that the fluffy hairs and grease are gradually disappearing from his skin, it (skin) still remains a red tint. In the lungs, alveoli are actively formed and surfactant is produced, thereby preparing the respiratory organs for childbirth. The brain increases due to the formation of new convolutions and the expansion of the area of ​​the cortex.

211-217 days of pregnancy is characterized by a weight gain of the fetus up to 1500-1700 grams with a growth of 40 centimeters. In the mode of sleep and rest, changes occur: sleep takes up most of the time of the day, but when awake, the child actively moves and pushes the mother's stomach with her legs. You can note frequent blinking of the eyelids and a change in the color of the iris to blue. The pupils of the unborn child are already fully formed and react with narrowing to bright light. The volume of the brain reaches 25% of the size of the brain of an adult.

At this stage of the term, the fetus gains a mass of 1700-1800 grams and grows up to 42 centimeters. The skin is gradually lightened and get rid of wrinkles due to an increase in fatty tissue. The internal organs are actively improved, the endocrine system produces hormones, and the lungs accumulate a sufficient amount of surfactant. Thanks to a special hormone, in a woman’s body this week, the mammary glands begin to prepare to produce milk for the baby.

Ninth obstetric month

At 225-231 days of the term, the fetus weighs about 2 kilograms with a growth of 43-44 centimeters. The skin becomes lighter and smoothed out under the influence of fatty tissue. The fluff hairs almost completely disappear, but the layer of protective lubricant thickens. The nail plate is strengthened and covers the entire phalanx of the finger. The unborn child moves very rarely, but at the same time makes strong pushes, because he no longer has enough space for free movement. Its location relative to the pharynx of the womb is finally fixed, and from that moment on, the chances that it will change its position decrease. The internal organs increase the intensity of work, the heart becomes larger, the alveoli have finished forming and the vascular tone has appeared. The brain formed all departments and the cortex.

From 232 to 238 days of pregnancy, the weight of the unborn child increases to 2500 grams with a height of 45 centimeters. At this stage of development, the fetus has soft bones of the skull due to the mobility of the fontanelles, which is necessary for delivery. The bones in the head will only get stronger a few months after the baby is born. The active growth of hair on the head continues, while they acquire a certain color, which may change after childbirth. The bones of the trunk actively increase and strengthen, for which the child's body takes calcium and other substances from the mother's body. The fetus continues to actively swallow fetal water, which stimulates the production of up to 600 milliliters of urine per day.

On the 245th day of the term, the unborn child gains weight every day by about 35 grams, so the weight of the fetus can change a lot, and by the end of the week it can be 2200-2700 grams with a height of ≈ 46 centimeters. The body of the unborn child is actively preparing for childbirth, strengthening the internal organs, increasing the amount of fatty tissue and getting rid of vellus hairs. The fingernails have finally formed, and a large amount of meconium has accumulated in the intestines.

From 246 to 252 days of the term, the child gains from 2 to 3 kilograms of weight with a height of 46-48 centimeters. The skin acquires a light color, fatty tissue has formed and the folds have completely disappeared. Often, the fetus in the womb is located upside down, bending and leaning it against the chest, and crossing the limbs and pressing it to the body. Almost all bones, except for the skull, are already strong, and the internal organs are ready for extrauterine life.

Tenth obstetric month

By the 259th day of pregnancy, the unborn child can gain a different body weight, depending on the genetic disposition, but its height should be approximately 49 centimeters. The skin is actively compacted, and fatty tissue acquires up to 14-15 grams of volume per day. The cartilages of the nose and auricles are also actively compacted, the lungs are already mature, and a sufficient amount of surfactant has accumulated in the alveoli. The digestive organs have finished forming, and the stomach and intestines may periodically contract to push food through.

260-266 day of the term is characterized by a set of fetal body weight, which often varies. At the same time, the unborn child is already completely ready for childbirth and life outside the womb. His appearance fully corresponds to the appearance of a normal child: the skin is of a natural color, fatty tissue is present in sufficient volume, and vellus hair has completely disappeared.

On the 267-273rd day of pregnancy, the fetus should begin to gradually descend to the cervix of the uterus - to the birth canal. Usually it is pressed against the pelvic bones of the mother, and the placenta gradually grows old, no longer ensuring the normal course of all metabolic processes between the child and the mother. Normally, the fetus should reach absolute maturity, but at the same time it is still gaining 35 grams of weight per day. The proportions of his body are completely modified: the chest and shoulder girdle are well developed, the stomach has become rounded, and the limbs have lengthened.

On the 274-280th day of the term, the child should be born, as it has already reached compliance with the forms and condition of the newborn. Its body weight can vary from 2.5 to 4 kilograms. From this week, the expectant mother should expect the appearance of uterine contractions - the beginning of labor. In this case, the head of the child, with the soft bones of the skull, should be closely pressed against the pelvic cavity and prepare for passage through the birth canal.

Open the veil on this mystery and you will be able to trace the amazing development of your 9 month old baby, from a tiny cage to a little person.

First week of baby development

On the first day after fertilization, the egg, which is now called the "zygote", freezes. In the next 24 hours, it will not budge, but metabolic processes are already activated inside it, and at the end of the first day after conception, the first division will occur.

After another 12 hours, 2 daughter cells will turn into 12. On the fourth day, the zygote moving along the fallopian tube to the uterine cavity already consists of 32 or 64 cells. This cell complex, about 0.1 mm in size, as mentioned above, resembles a tiny mulberry or raspberry, which is why it is called the Latin word "morula".

Once in the uterus, for several days the morula moves freely in its cavity and actively divides in order to attach to the mucous membrane at the end of the first - beginning of the second week of its life.

Already at this time, the cells of the future fetus receive a clear differentiation, which will enable them to become the basis for the development of various organs and systems in the future!

The fertilized egg is now called a blastocyst and looks like a hollow vesicle. Approaching the wall of the uterus, it seems to spread out part of the cells of its mucous membrane and sink into it. This process usually occurs on the 6-7th day after conception and is called "implantation".

Second week of baby development

By the 12th day, the egg is already firmly attached to the wall of the uterus, and inside it, in the center of the morula, a germinal disc is formed, which is called the blastomere. It consists of two germ layers - two layers of cells, next to which two vesicles form. These cells will eventually develop into an embryo.

One of the vesicles forms an amniotic cavity surrounding the embryo and filled with fluid, and the second vesicle, having turned into a yolk sac, will perform nourishing and blood-forming functions for some time, after which it will atrophy.

Research shows that at this time, the father's genes work more actively than the mother's, providing the conditions for the survival of the baby.

The cells outside the fetal egg are transformed into chorion - villi, which initially cover the entire egg. After some time, they will remain only in the place where the placenta will be attached to the wall of the uterus.

Placentation

This organ is considered unique, since it is formed in the body of a woman only during the bearing of a child and belongs to two organisms at the same time.

When the embryo is introduced into the mucosa of the uterine wall, a gap is formed in it, which is filled with a certain amount of maternal blood. Gradually, through each villus of the shell around the embryo, its blood vessels begin to sprout. Thus, at the initial stage of the formation of the placenta, conditions are created for the exchange between the blood of the expectant mother and her baby. The umbilical cord of the child will be attached to the fetal surface of this organ.

At this time, the size of the unborn baby does not exceed 1 mm, however, in the second week of development, he already has a heart.

Third week of child development

In the third week of pregnancy, the third germ layer is formed. All three layers of cells will develop in different directions, forming new cells that will form various tissues and organs. The inner leaf - endoderm - will give rise to the development of the respiratory and digestive organs. From the outer sheet - the ectoderm - the sense organs and the nervous system of the future person are formed, as well as the skin, hair, nails, parts of the glands and teeth. And the skeleton, muscles, blood vessels, blood, lymph and many internal organs will be formed from the mesoderm - the middle sheet.

At this time, the laying of the main organs begins and the formation of the neural tube, brain and digestive system begins. The chorionic villi continue to grow into the wall of the uterus, forming a space filled with blood - the site of attachment of the placenta. A small protrusion forms on the body of the embryo, which will soon fill the blood vessels - the future umbilical cord. Vessels gradually form in the umbilical cord (two arteries and two veins), of which one will soon cease to function. Through the arteries, the blood of the fetus is sent to the placenta, through the vein - back to the fetus.

Fourth week of baby development

In the fourth week, there is a transition from embryogenesis - to the formation of organs - organogenesis. During these seven days, the future baby takes on its final form.

Now it looks like a bean about 5 mm in size, on which four outgrowths are visible in those places where limbs will soon begin to develop. The most noticeable part of the embryo is already the head, and on the opposite side of the body, the cauda is still visible - a small atavistic tail. The baby also has one more atavism - the beginnings of gill slits.

The embryo is already inside the fetal bladder and floats in the amniotic fluid, with the growing placenta it is connected by the emerging umbilical cord. The right umbilical vein has disappeared, only the left one remains.

His tiny heart is already formed.

At the same time, the rudiments of the eyes begin to form, which look like rudimentary tubercles.

In the fifth week, the face of the unborn child begins to take shape, his limbs develop. True, there are no fingers yet - tiny legs and arms have only split at the ends and resemble fins, but only a few days remain before their appearance.

The head end of the embryo develops more intensively than the pelvic end. The formation of the larynx and inner ear begins.

Weeks 5-12 baby development

At the sixth week in the heart of the embryo there are already four cavities - like in an adult. The rudiments of teeth begin to form and the jaws take shape. The inner ear is almost formed, the trachea and esophagus are developing. The sternum and small intestine begin to form.

At this time, the main hematopoietic organ of the future baby, the liver, is included in the work, the laying of the cortical part of the adrenal glands (one of the endocrine glands) begins.

Fluid appears in the cavities of the brain of the embryo, the spine begins to form, in which the spinal cord will be placed. All functions of the nervous system, which looks like a tube with centers at both ends, are now under the control of the spinal cord.

Until the 23rd day, the development of the rudimentary rudiments of the ears of the embryo occurs.

The growth of the embryo is about 1.5 cm.

On the seventh or eighth week, the embryo becomes a fetus. His body straightens a little, and his head rises, his chest and stomach are clearly visible.

Facial features continue to take shape, appearing first on the sides of the head and gradually moving towards the center. First, the oral cavity and the nasal slit were formed, and at the eighth week the baby already had the tip of the nose and nostrils, a mouth with a small tongue appeared, and the beginnings of the gill slits disappeared. In place of the eyes, he has two small slits, in the place where the ears will appear a little later - two grooves, although the formation of the auricles has already begun.

By the 44th day of development (the beginning of the seventh week), the embryo's facial features are already symmetrical, but the palate cavity will close only after a week.

By about the 65th day of development (the beginning of the tenth week), the baby has already formed a chin, and its profile has a characteristic appearance for a person.

Unique organ

The baby is connected to the growing placenta by the umbilical cord. By the end of the first trimester of pregnancy, the placenta is almost completely formed, but over the next months its structure will change depending on the needs of the child. The exchange between mother and child will be fully established by the beginning of the 4th month of pregnancy.

Your blood, carrying nutrients and oxygen, will flow to the placenta through the uterine arteries. All the substances necessary for the fetus and, unfortunately, some substances harmful to it, pass through the placental filter and enter its bloodstream. The umbilical vein helps deliver enriched blood to the baby. Through the arteries, the child's blood enters the smallest vessels, gets rid of carbon dioxide and toxins, which enter the mother's blood through the placental barrier and are excreted from her body through the lungs and kidneys.

Remember that the placenta is not a universal filter. The placental barrier is easily overcome by nicotine, alcohol and drugs, as well as many drugs and viruses!

Important changes

At this time, the gonads that produce testosterone are formed in boys. Its action stimulates the development of the genital organs. Those cells are formed that will subsequently be responsible for the production of spermatozoa.

The nerves, muscles and bone marrow of the unborn child develop. The mesencephalon, the midbrain, a more highly developed structure than the spinal cord, begins to function.

Next week, the brain will also start working.

Small fingers appear on the hands and feet, still connected by membranes, and after that all segments of the limbs are formed. The fetus is already actively moving its arms and legs, but these movements are still chaotic, and you cannot feel them.

At this time, its height is 3-4 cm, and its weight is 2-3 g.

Weeks 12-16 baby development

By this time, the baby already has a fairly developed liver and kidneys. Up to this point, the placenta acted as the excretory system of the baby.

The head is already quite in proportion to the body and the face is well formed, the tail disappeared a few weeks ago. The eyes are covered with eyelids with eyelashes, and the lips are outlined very clearly. Eyebrows appear on the face, and hair on the head.

His skeleton has already been formed in general terms, and his arms and legs will now only increase in size, but their structure will not change.

During the ultrasound examination, you can already observe the movements of your baby.

At the same time, both hemispheres of the brain are already formed. The ossification of the bones of the skull begins.

With a successful combination of circumstances, at this time, during the echography, it is already possible to see the genitals of the unborn baby - by the end of the 14th week of development, they are already completely differentiated. At the same time, the baby's head can be measured using ultrasound, which helps doctors more accurately determine the baby's age and due date.

During the 14-15th week, the sense of touch develops - by this moment all the receptors of skin sensitivity are already present on the fingers of the fetus. The baby develops taste sensitivity, and he tastes the amniotic fluid.

The volume of amniotic fluid is constantly increasing, and every few hours it is updated.

Gradually, all his organs begin to perform the same functions as the organs of an adult, for example, the liver is no longer involved in hematopoiesis.

The endocrine glands are actively developing, the structure of the adrenal glands is being improved.

At this time, your baby is about 14-15cm tall and weighs 120-130g.

Weeks 16-20 baby development

During this period, the immune system is formed, his body begins to produce immunoglobulin and interferon - protective proteins.

The functioning of all endocrine glands in the baby's body began.

The structure of the brain becomes more complex, the reproduction of nerve cells ends, and now the weight of the brain will increase by 90 g every month. The vestibular apparatus begins to work.

The hair on the baby's head is getting thicker, and his body is covered with thin fluffy hairs. His skin has become thicker, but it is still wrinkled and completely transparent.

The bones of the skeleton are not yet completely ossified, but the muscles are already developed enough so that the baby can make movements that are noticeable to the mother.

The development of the sense organs is improved - touching the umbilical cord with a hand, the fetus moves away from it.

The baby's digestive system is developing: he can already absorb most of the amniotic fluid swallowed by him.

The mass of the placenta will increase up to the 34-36th week of pregnancy. Your baby is 20-25cm tall and weighs about 250-300g.

Weeks 20-24 baby development

During this period, the movements of your crumbs become more and more active - they are easily felt not only by you, but also by his father. You may notice that he has certain periods of intense activity and rest. As a rule, at this time, most babies sleep 18-20 hours a day. The fetus's own biological rhythms may not coincide with yours: most pregnant women note that the desire to frolic appears in the baby just when they themselves want to lie down and fall asleep.

You may be surprised by the baby's weak rhythmic movements, like shudders, which are repeated for some time. Don't worry, the baby is just hiccuping. Yes, yes, he can already not only swallow, but also hiccup, and even cough. He tries to take breaths, drawing amniotic fluid into the lungs instead of air - now for him this is a kind of breathing exercises.

The fetus already hears and can respond to sounds.

His face is very mobile - he frowns, squints his eyes and puffs out his cheeks. By the way his movements have changed, you can tell if he likes the music you listen to.

Its bright pink skin is covered with a white or yellowish film of primordial lubricant that protects it from excessive contact with liquid. Lines appeared on the fingertips, the pattern of which is unique, nails were formed.

Now he does not move away from what he touched. So, for example, touching his finger to the lips, he puts it in his mouth and begins to suck.

Your baby is 30cm tall and now weighs around 600-650g.

Weeks 24-28 baby development

Your baby can now see: his little eyes have opened and he reacts to bright light. The characteristic movements of the eyeballs under the eyelids of the baby give researchers reason to assume that he is already dreaming at this time. He hears voices and singles out his mother among them - with his sounds, the heartbeat of the unborn baby quickens.

From the 26th week, your unborn baby may already feel pain and may respond to it in the same way as a newborn baby.

There are more taste buds on his tongue now than there will be when he was born, and this helps him to distinguish the subtlest taste nuances.

Studies have shown that most children, even in the womb, prefer sweets.

The features of his face become thinner, the nose is more clearly drawn, the size of the auricles increases, and the neck becomes noticeable.

Your baby's lungs during this period are already noticeably developed - a surfactant substance begins to be produced, which will help them straighten out when the baby takes its first breath. However, they will not be prepared for independent breathing until the eighth month of pregnancy.

Now his entire body is beginning to prepare for life outside the mother's body. So, for example, the connections between the centers in the brain that are responsible for the work of the endocrine system and the adrenal glands become clearer.

Namely, these organs ensure the viability of the organism and its adaptation to a change in the environment.

The body length of the unborn baby is now 37 cm, and its weight reaches 1 kg. It now occupies all the space inside the uterus, but its movements are still quite free. He may already be in a head down position, if he has not already done so, he still has such an opportunity.

Weeks 28-32 baby development

The baby continues to grow and gain weight, his muscle tone improves, sucking, breathing and swallowing movements become more perfect. Under the skin of the child, a fatty layer begins to form. Its rapid growth is facilitated by a special hormone that is produced by its pituitary gland.

His uterus is already cramped, and perhaps sometimes you can see the outline of his body showing through the skin of your abdomen. Most likely, he is no longer moving as actively as in previous months. The doctor, during an external examination, by feeling your stomach, can already determine where the fetal head is.

His stomach and intestines function normally, however, the baby excretes only urine into the amniotic fluid - the first bowel movement should take place after birth.

He clearly distinguishes sounds and reacts to them, being frightened by loud and sudden ones and calming down at the sounds of pleasant music or parental voices.

After waking up, he stretches, twists, straightens his legs and arms.

The baby's head has grown noticeably - now its dimensions are approximately 60% of the size of an adult's head.

Small fingernails do not yet reach their tips.

His height is now 40-42 cm, and his weight is about 1.5 kg. Babies born at this time are now quite successfully nursed.

Weeks 32-36 baby development

As a rule, at this time, most children take the final position before birth, which is called presentation.

More than 90% of all children before being born are in head presentation - head to exit from the uterus, but there are those who take the position forward with their legs or buttocks.

At this time, the size of the baby noticeably increases, and its nervous, immune and endocrine systems are being improved. The hole between the right and left parts of the little heart is still open.

The growth of the baby at the end of this period reaches 47 cm, and the weight is 2 - 2.5 kg.

Weeks 36-38 baby development

In recent weeks, the baby is preparing to meet with his mother. He grows and gains weight, it is difficult for him to move inside the uterus, and very soon he will leave it. And although he still receives oxygen and nutrition through the placenta, which no longer grows, his organs are ready to work on their own.

His head descends into the pelvis of the expectant mother. The skull is not yet completely ossified - between its bones there are open seams and two pulsating spaces called fontanelles. This structure helps the bones of the skull to move when the baby passes through the birth canal of the mother, which makes his birth easier.

His skin becomes smoother, the lubrication can separate from it in places and float in the amniotic fluid. The delicate primary fluff of lanugo, which covered his entire body, also comes off, remaining only on the arms and shoulders.

Your baby already has a lot of reflexes that will help him adapt to the outside world.

The thickness of the umbilical cord is about 1.3 cm.

Now he is very crowded in the uterus: his knees are pressed to his chin, so his movements are not as active as before. However, he still makes a certain number of movements a day.

Be attentive to this, and if you notice any changes - a prolonged period of rest or, on the contrary, increased activity - consult a doctor immediately!

By the time of birth, the weight of the child is often about 50 cm, and the weight is 3 - 3.5 kg, although the size of the baby is largely determined by the heredity and constitution of his parents.

Pregnancy is a unique physiological process that allows parental cells to connect and form a new organism. The development of the fetus by weeks of pregnancy is an interesting event that many mothers like to remember. Every day, weeks of pregnancy entail grandiose changes in the fetus and unforgettable impressions that arise in the mother. From this article, future mothers will learn a lot of useful and interesting information: when the baby begins to lead an active lifestyle, to hear her voice. It is equally interesting to know about changes in the weight of the fetus, when the long-awaited ultrasound will take place to recognize the sex of the crumbs.

Intrauterine development of the fetus is divided into two stages:

1. the embryonic period lasts eight weeks after the fertilization of the egg. At this time, the embryo is inside the woman;
2. the fetal period is counted from the ninth week until the moment of delivery. At this stage of development, a woman already carries a fetus under her heart.

There is a real term of childbirth, which is counted from the moment of fertilization and obstetric, taking into account the first day of the last menstruation. Their difference is 14 days.

An exciting journey through the weeks of pregnancy

First

An important event took place - fertilization. The zygote begins its formation. Every day and even an hour, the number of embryonic cells increases by crushing, and on the third day it consists of 8 cells, and on the fourth of 20. They form a small lump that moves to the uterus to begin full development and growth.

Second

The fertilized egg is attached to the wall of the uterus. This process is called implantation, it is a critical moment for the development of the embryo. The mother's body is rebuilt, producing hormones to protect the embryo. Pink or brown discharge may be observed.

In the same week, the cells of the ovum are grouped:

• the inner layer is responsible for the formation of the lungs, liver, digestive organs;
• the middle layer forms the bone and circulatory system;
• the outer layer develops the nervous system, skin and hairline, etc.

Third

This week precedes the development of the spinal cord and brain, the spine is formed.

On the 20-21st day, we can say with confidence that the conception was successful. The embryo consists of many cells, and the tiny heart begins to beat - the fetus is ready for intrauterine changes. The dark discharge that appears indicates the threat of a miscarriage.

4th

The embryo reaches the size of a poppy seed - 1.5 mm. During this period, the laying of the foundations for internal organs begins, the heartbeat increases, the neural tube enters a new phase for the development of the brain, limbs are born. Extra-embryonic organs are formed: the yolk sac, which provides nutrition to the embryo, the chorion - the future placenta.

Fifth

At this stage, the embryo is no larger than a sesame seed. The placenta is responsible for its nutrition, connecting to it through the umbilical cord.

• An ultrasound specialist can already determine how many children a woman will have.
• The heart begins to divide into two chambers, changes in the reproductive system and brain appear.
• On ultrasound, you can see inaccurate facial features, slits for the mouth, recesses for the eyes and nose appear.

sixth

There is an improvement of the heart, lungs and bronchial tree. The facial features continue to emerge, the phalanges of the fingers appear. The uterus enlarges and reaches the size of a plum.

seventh

This is the time when future parents begin to replenish the family album with the first photograph of the intrauterine development of the child. The heart is already four-chambered and there are 100-190 beats per minute - this is normal. The tail at the base of the spine disappears, the placenta fully supports nutrition and intrauterine processes. There is a rapid development of the brain, the middle layer of the adrenal glands, and lymph nodes.

eighth

The laying of vital organs and tissues is nearing completion. The size of the embryo is only 4 mm, and it already looks like a properly formed organism with protruding fingers, joints, auricles, slits for the eyes and mouth. The nervous system is developed, the rudiments of the first teeth are formed.

The embryo begins to move, but for the expectant mother it is imperceptible.

ninth

The embryo passes into the fetal stage. He gained weight up to 2 grams and has a size of 22-30 mm. The cerebellum, the middle layer of the adrenal glands, the lymph nodes, the mammary glands, the genitals continue to develop by weeks.

Grandiose changes are taking place: the tiny creature moves its head, swims in the uterus, reacts to the movements of the mother and hears sounds, grabs the umbilical cord, shoves a finger into the mouth. The urinary system begins to work, the sense of smell develops, which will help the newborn to find the breast.

Tenth

Weight - 5 g, size 30-40 mm. These days are full of events. The diaphragm is fully formed, the brain is actively developing, the skull and skeleton are ossified, the membranes between the fingers disappear. The liver begins to secrete bile, the intestines contract.

Eleventh

The weight of the baby is 8 g, the body length is 5 cm. The formation of blood vessels is coming to an end, the heart works correctly, the placenta becomes denser and creates excellent protection for the nascent organism. The head is still big, but its transformations take place every day, the liver occupies 10% of the whole body.

twelfth

The first trimester is in its final stages. The tiny creature has increased significantly and has a weight of about 9 cm. The rudiments of milk teeth are formed. The digestive system, bones and muscles continue their transformation. The little man is able to smile, sleeps little and has his own taste preferences. The immune system becomes stronger. The tummy of the expectant mother is rounded.

thirteenth

The mass of the baby reaches 15-25 grams, height is 10 cm, there are 150 heartbeats per minute, 30 liters of blood are pumped. The cerebral cortex becomes more complex, the sweat glands come to work. The fetus swallows nutrients, spits out liquid, exercising the lungs. The oral fissure opens periodically.

The bone tissue hardens, the skin becomes multi-layered, but it is still transparent, the eyelids are closed. The placenta independently supplies oxygen, removes waste.

fourteenth

The intrauterine baby is becoming more and more active. Her weight is 35-45 g, height is 11 cm. The skeleton is being formed, the diaphragm is preparing for the first cry, the child has a Rh factor and a blood type. The development of the thyroid gland occurs, the body prepares for the digestion of proteins and the onset of fat deposits. The intestines produce the first stool, which is bile.

The eyes took their place, the facial features take the correct form. The uterus becomes heavier, its weight is 250 gr.

Fifteenth

The size of the fruit resembles an orange, weighs 70 grams, and is 13 cm tall. Most of the body is covered with hair fluff, which retains heat. When the child gains a sufficient amount of adipose tissue, heat transfer will turn on in the process, then the extra hairs will fall off.

The nails are already formed and lines appear at the fingertips. The child grimaces, the sucking reflex is well developed. The sex organs continue to form.

sixteenth

The height of the baby is 14 cm. All the constituent components appeared in the blood. The neck is aligned, the liver takes over the function of digestion. There is a laying of permanent teeth, which replace milk teeth. The skin is still transparent and the blood vessels are visible. The baby moves all parts of the body, which has a positive effect on the development of the brain.

Seventeenth

Here the growth of a little man is already more than 15 cm, his weight exceeds the mass of the placenta. The neck has grown stronger, now the head turns 180 degrees. There is an active accumulation of fat on the body, the bronchi are almost fully developed. The child begins to move his eyes. He is already able to protect himself from infections that may come from his mother.

There is an emotional and mental development, so a pregnant woman is strictly forbidden to experience stress, worry, be nervous.

eighteenth

The inner ear is formed in the child, the retina of the eye acquires sensitivity, the blink reflex appears, but the eyelids are still lowered, the rudiments of the molars are laid. The baby is responding better to voices, so there is no need to be shy to talk to the tummy.

nineteenth

The fruit can be compared to a small vegetable marrow. The length reaches 16-17 cm, and the weight is 300 gr. The skin is protected by primordial lubrication from amniotic fluid. There is a leap in development, movements become clear and correct. The head rotates and holds its position for a long time. The kid perfectly reacts to the factors of the outside world, and responds to them with strong blows.

20th

The tiny creature already reaches 20 cm. It begins to show its dissatisfaction with the wrong postures of the mother or loud sounds, it can distinguish the time of day.

Intervertebral discs appear, a layer of the epidermis is formed, movements become more complicated, and mother feels them perfectly.

twenty first

The child gains weight up to 360 grams, reaching a length of 26.5 cm. The digestive system is active, the fetus swallows amniotic fluid, and the spleen begins to function. Bones and muscles are strengthened. Taste receptors are fully formed on the tongue. In boys, the testicles form, and in girls, the vagina.

twenty second

The baby is gaining more and more weight. Now her weight is 500 grams, and her height is 28 cm. The lungs are fully developed, the brain reaches a weight of 100 grams.

Preterm birth at 22 weeks can be successful, because there is modern equipment for nursing such babies.

twenty third

The mass of the child increases, and the uterus grows, creating discomfort for the mother. A wrinkled appearance of the skin is observed, fatty tissues grow. Arms and legs lengthen, nails and hair grow.

The genitals of the boys are lowered to the right place. It is impossible to believe, but such a small creature is able to dream. The number of movements reaches 10 times a day.

twenty fourth

The growth of a small person is 30 cm, he can already hiccup due to improper ingestion of amniotic fluid or hypoxia, you need to notify the gynecologist about this.

The child often changes position. He already has little space in the placenta and he begins to push and push harder.

twenty fifth

The future family member has a body length of 33 cm and weighs 700 grams. The skin acquires density and color. The lungs train, prepare for the first breath, the brain begins the work of the adrenal glands. Muscles appear.

Weakness, dizziness in mom means signs of anemia, you need to see a doctor.

twenty sixth

Weight reaches 750 grams, height 35-36 cm. The little creature acquires individual features. The tremors become painful for the mother, and loved ones can follow the movements of the baby.

The brain produces the necessary hormones, hearing becomes thinner. The lungs are filled with a special substance that will help them not stick together at the moment of the first breath and cry.

twenty-seventh

The mass of the crumbs increases to one kilogram. The endocrine system begins to produce new functions, the amount of subcutaneous fat returns to normal. The substance that contributes to the full disclosure of the lungs has been completely developed.

28th

The baby already weighs more than one kilogram, the height is 38 cm. His skin becomes smooth, because fatty tissues increase.

The pupillary membrane disappears, allowing the eyes to open. The baby becomes cramped, but this does not affect ontogenesis.

twenty ninth

The creature inside the mother weighs 1,300 kg and is 40 cm tall. It is already preparing for birth. The nasal passages are freed from mucus, the amount of primordial lubrication and the fluff on the body are reduced. The child receives a sufficient amount of antibodies from the blood of the parent.

thirtieth

This is the period when the future family member grows rapidly, thermoregulation is developed, the liver accumulates iron, the eyes are fully opened. The child assumes a position for an auspicious birth.

thirty one

Each week is characterized by an increase in the weight of the fetus by 300-400 gr. At the 31st week of pregnancy, the weight of the baby is 1.5 kg, the length is 41 cm. The pancreas reproduces the production of insulin, the liver takes on the purification of blood from toxins, the brain makes up 1/4 of the organ of an adult.

In boys, the testicles "get" to the scrotum, in girls, the clitoris appears.

thirty second

The baby is growing, but his skull is still soft, the internal organs are fully functioning. The body produces immunoglobulins that mimic the infant's defenses against bacteria and germs in the first year of life.

thirty third

The baby lies down in the fetal position, because there is less and less space in the womb. It takes a lot of calcium and iron from the mother's body.

thirty fourth

The kid is preparing to meet his parents. His weight exceeds 2 kg, height is 47 cm. Active training of the gastrointestinal tract takes place. The woman begins to feel false signs of contractions.

thirty-fifth

The fetus weighs about 3 kg, body length reaches 48 cm. The shoulders are rounded, fat appears. The child is at the birth canal and takes the appropriate position.

thirty sixth

The head center coordinates the work of thermoregulation, the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. After the birth of the child, they immediately begin their work. The pregnant woman is worried about shortness of breath.

thirty-seventh

The baby's weight is 2,950 kg, length is 48-49 cm. Breathing, movements, and heart activity are improving.

thirty eighth

A new person has not yet been born, but weighs more than 3 kg, and is already 50 cm tall. All organs are fully developed and function well.

thirty ninth

Weight - 3.5 kg, height - 51 cm. The stomach is filled with enzymes that will help the child process food. A small person perfectly feels sounds and light, the sucking reflex is developed.

fortieth

The family is waiting for replenishment, and it will happen soon. The weight of "little happiness" is 3.5 - 4 kg, height - 51-54 cm.

The abdomen drops significantly. The mucous plug, amniotic fluid, depart, contractions begin. After a certain time, the long-awaited baby will be born. Experts assess his condition and monitor his health for several days.

So the long expedition for the weekly development of the fetus came to an end. In order for the pregnancy to be easy and successful, you need to listen to the doctor's recommendations and monitor your health. There is only joy and happiness ahead.

A film about the development of the fetus in the womb

The birth and intrauterine development of a new person is a complex but well-coordinated process. The formation of the fetus by weeks shows that an unborn baby is passing inside the woman.

For the embryo, every day is a new stage of development. A photo of the fetus by weeks of pregnancy proves that every day the fetus becomes more and more like a person and goes through a difficult path for this.

First - fourth weeks of fetal life

After the fusion of the egg with the sperm in seven days, a new organism is implanted into the uterine cavity. The formation of the fetus from the moment of conception begins with the connection of the villi of the embryo with blood vessels. This is the beginning of the formation of the umbilical cord and membranes.

From the second week, the foundation of the neural tube begins to form in the fetus - this is the structure that is the main link in the central nervous system. The embryo is fully attached to the walls of the uterus for further development and nutrition.

The formation of the heart in the fetus occurs in the third week and already on the 21st day it begins to beat. The cardiovascular system of the embryo is formed first and serves as the basis for the full-fledged emergence of new organs.

The fourth week is marked by the start of blood circulation in the body of the fetus. Organs such as the liver, intestines, lungs, and spine begin to form.

Embryo growth in the second obstetric month

During the fifth week are formed:

• eyes, inner ear;
• nervous system;
• the circulatory system develops;
• pancreas;
• digestive system;
• nasal cavity;
• upper lip;
• limb rudiments

In the same period, the formation of sex in the fetus occurs. Although it will be possible to determine whether a boy or a girl will be born much later.

During the sixth week, the development of the cerebral cortex continues, facial muscles begin to appear. The basis of the fingers and nails is formed. The heart is divided into two chambers, followed by the ventricles and atria. The liver and pancreas are practically formed. pregnancy changes slightly at first, the active growth of the embryo begins from the fourth month.

The seventh week is significant in that the umbilical cord has completed its formation completely, now nutrients are supplied to the fetus with its help. The embryo can already open its mouth, eyes and fingers have appeared.

This month, the following changes occur with the fetus:

• a nasal fold appears;
• ears, nose begin to develop;
• the webbing between the fingers disappears

Fetal life from 9 to 12 weeks

Since the embryo receives nutrients from the woman's blood, the development of the fetus by weeks of pregnancy largely depends on what the expectant mother eats. Make sure you get enough protein in your body.

During the ninth week, the joints of the fingers and hands are formed in the fetus. develops, which in the future will provide the basis for the appearance of the adrenal glands.

10-11 weeks of embryonic life are characterized by the following stages:

• a sucking reflex is developed;
• the fetus can already turn its head;
• buttocks are formed;
• it becomes possible to move your fingers;
• eyes continue to form

The twelfth week is characterized by the development of the genital organs, the fetus is trying to make respiratory movements. The nervous and digestive systems continue to develop.

What happens to the embryo in the fourth month of pregnancy

The formation of the fetus by weeks during the fourth month is as follows:

• eyes, ears, nose, mouth are already clearly visible on the face;
• in the circulatory system, the blood group, Rh factor is determined;
• urination begins in the amniotic fluid;
• completely appeared fingers on the legs, hands;
• nail plates have formed;
• insulin begins to be produced;
• in girls, the formation of the ovaries occurs, in boys - the prostate gland, but it is still difficult to determine the sex of the child on ultrasound

The child develops swallowing and sucking reflexes. He can already clench his fists, make movements with his hands. The baby sucks his thumb and can swim in it. This is his first habitat. It protects the child from damage, takes part in the metabolism, and gives a certain freedom of movement.

By the end of the fourth month, the baby's eyes open, and the retina continues to form.

17 - 20 weeks of fetal growth

During the seventeenth week, the baby begins to hear sounds. The heartbeat intensifies, the expectant mother can already hear it.

The development of the fetus by weeks of pregnancy is an energy-intensive activity, therefore, during the eighteenth week, the child sleeps almost all the time and occupies an upright position. During his wakefulness, the woman begins to feel tremors.

At 19-20 weeks, the fetus sucks a finger, learns to smile, frown, close his eyes. Formed adrenal glands, pituitary gland, pancreas.

During this period, the baby's head has a disproportionate size, this is due to the dominant formation of the brain. The child's immunity is strengthened by the synthesis of immunoglobulin and interferon.

sixth month of pregnancy

The formation of the fetus by week of the sixth month is marked by an increase in the time when the child is awake. He begins to take an interest in his body. This consists in touching the face, tilting the head.

The fetal brain continues to develop, neurons work at full capacity. The heart muscle increases in size, the vessels improve. During this period, the baby learns to breathe, the number of inhalations and exhalations increases. The lungs have not yet completed their development, but alveoli are already forming on them.

The sixth month is significant in that at this time an emotional connection is established between the child and the mother. All the feelings experienced by a woman are transmitted to the baby. If a pregnant woman is afraid, then the fetus will also begin to behave anxiously. Therefore, it is recommended that the expectant mother avoid negative emotions.

At the twenty-fourth week, the child's eyes and hearing are fully formed. He can already respond to various sounds.

Fetal development from 25 to 28 weeks

The development of the fetus by weeks of pregnancy from 25 to 28 is characterized by the following changes:

• the formation of lung tissue occurs, the lungs begin to produce a surfactant - a substance that is aimed at reducing excessive stress in these organs;
• the child has a metabolism;
• hemispheres of the brain begin to function;
• the genitals continue to develop;
• bones become stronger, the child can already smell;
• baby's eyelids open
• a fatty layer is formed;
• body covered with fluffy hairs

At a period of seven and a half months, the fetus can already be born, while the chance of survival is very high. But in case of premature birth, the mother's body has not yet developed the necessary amount of antibodies for the baby, so the resistance to diseases in such a child will be low.

The eighth month of a baby's life in the womb

The formation of the fetus by weeks of the eighth month is determined by the development of almost all organs. The cardiovascular system improves blood circulation, the endocrine system produces almost all hormones. In the body of the child, self-regulation of sleep and wakefulness occurs.

Due to the fact that the baby's body produces a hormone that favors the increased production of estrogen in the expectant mother, her mammary glands are preparing for the formation and production of milk.

The fluff that has formed on the body of the child gradually disappears during this period, instead a special lubricant is formed. The cheeks, arms, legs, hips, shoulders of a small person acquire roundness due to the accumulation of the necessary fat layer.

It is scientifically proven that the baby can already dream. Since it increases and it occupies almost the entire space in the uterus, its activity decreases.

Fetus at 33 - 36 weeks of gestation

The formation of the fetus during this period comes to the final stage before childbirth. His brain is actively functioning, the internal organs work almost like an adult, the nails are formed.

During the 34th week, the baby's hair grows, right now his body needs calcium so much for the proper development and strengthening of bones. In addition, the child's heart increases, vascular tone improves.

At week 36, a small person takes a position in which his head, arms, legs are pressed against the body. By the end of this period, the child is fully mature for existence outside the mother's womb.

Tenth obstetric month

Gynecologists and ordinary people have different opinions about how long a child is born. It is customary in society to talk about nine months, but doctors have their own calculation, the baby is born after ten obstetric months. One medical week is considered 7 days. Accordingly, there are only 28 days in the obstetric month. This is how the “extra” month runs.

A photo of the fetus by weeks of pregnancy shows that the baby is ready for birth at the end of the term. His stomach contracts, thus proving the possibility of eating not through the umbilical cord. The baby can smell, hear sounds, taste.

The brain is formed, the necessary amount of hormones is produced in the body, the metabolism is established in the cycle necessary for the fetus.

About fourteen days before delivery, the baby descends. From that moment on, birth can come at any moment.

How does the weight of the fetus change by week of pregnancy

Checking fetal weight throughout pregnancy is very important. Any deviation from the norm can indicate violations in the development of the child.

Weight is influenced not only by the nutrients supplied to the baby, but also by genetic predisposition. If parents know how much they weighed at birth, then we can assume the size of the child.

The table below shows by week.

Table of growth and weight of the fetus

The formation of the fetus by weeks of pregnancy shows that at times close to childbirth, weight gain slows down, the growth of the child practically does not change.

In order for the baby to receive enough nutrients and develop normally, the expectant mother should pay attention to proper healthy nutrition. Try to exclude flour products, as exceeding the norm of weight gain can lead to health problems for the child.

Understanding how a fetus develops in the womb will help you avoid unnecessary fears and unnecessary fears.