The life cycle of a person is a series of victories and defeats, joys and sorrows. And one of the most important achievements is the birth of a child. This is the moment when a person overflowing with happy emotions begins to feel significant and necessary. Children are the flowers of life that bring their part to the arranged life of their parents and make them relive the memories of their childhood.
The life of the baby begins from the moment of its conception, and, of course, it is very important for future parents to monitor how the intrauterine development of the child occurs. The entire pregnancy consists of 40 weeks and is divided into 3 stages.
Stages of development
Stages of intrauterine development of the child in obstetric practice are usually called trimesters. This is a kind of division of the entire pregnancy into three identical periods, according to which the fetus is assessed for life, tests and ultrasounds are prescribed, and the anthropometric data of the pregnant woman are measured. The appearance of any physiological and psycho-emotional changes in the body of the expectant mother is characteristic of a certain trimester, and if they are not pathological, then they are considered the norm.
I trimester
It starts from 1 week and ends at 13. This stage is considered the most dangerous, since it is at this time that the fetal egg attaches to the uterine wall, if this does not happen, pregnancy does not occur.
Also at this time, the beginnings of future organs and tissues begin to form, therefore it is very important during this period to monitor your diet, relax on time and more often in the fresh air. At this stage, a woman can overtake such an unpleasant symptom as toxicosis. This is not a big deal if it is not very pronounced and protracted, in which case it is best to consult a doctor. Some women in the first trimester may experience such changes:
- violation of taste perception of food;
- frequent mood swings;
- the appearance of drowsiness and headaches.
All this, often associated with a change in the hormonal background and the beginning of the preparation of the body for bearing and giving birth to a child.
II trimester
It starts at 14 weeks and ends at 26. This trimester is characterized as the calmest and most pleasant period of pregnancy. The intrauterine development of the child continues, and at the same time new sensations appear - this, of course, is the stirring of the baby, which the expectant mother begins to clearly feel. In nulliparous, this happens for a period of 18-24 weeks, and in nulliparous, you can notice from 13, because they have already given birth before and know what it is.
III trimester
It starts at week 27 and ends with childbirth. The safest intrauterine developmental period of the child, but at the same time very restless. The child is already almost formed and in case of premature birth is ready for independent existence. A pregnant woman begins to have a feeling of anxiety and fear, the baby’s frequent movements are more distinct, and at some points you can even notice how the stomach “walks with a shiver”. Unpleasant symptoms such as heartburn and shortness of breath appear due to the pressure of the enlarged uterus on the stomach and diaphragm.
Intrauterine developmental periods
The physiological process of child development is usually divided into 3 periods:
- Fetal (up to 8 weeks) is the most critical. During this period, a crucial event takes place for the whole woman’s body - the emergence of three leaves, which in the future will differentiate in 3 different directions: the outer leaf is the future placenta and the fetal membrane, the middle gives rise to the skeleton, skin and muscles, and the inner one is the basis for future inner organs.
- Fetal (from 9 weeks before birth) - during this period, the future baby is called the fetus and the risk of losing a child is significantly reduced. By the end of 3 months of pregnancy, the laying of organs and tissues ends, but at the same time, their enhanced development occurs. Head growth slows down and is gradually compared with the body, after which the body begins to grow faster than the head. The face begins to acquire human features, and the sex of the child can be determined by the grown genitals. In the fetal period until birth, intrauterine development of the child continues, the photo below shows this perfectly.
Ultrasound during pregnancy
Currently, ultrasound is necessary to evaluate
the life of the fetus and the identification of congenital malformations. In total, for the entire period of pregnancy, this procedure must be completed 3-4 times. The first time at 12 weeks, the second at 21-24, the third time at 32 weeks. During this procedure, it is evaluated:
- intrauterine development of the child;
- compliance with gestational age;
- weight and height of the baby;
- its position in the uterine cavity;
- the presence of congenital malformations;
- is there cord entanglement;
- the condition of the placenta and amniotic fluid, as well as their quantity.
Intrauterine development of the child by months
1 month. In the first month of pregnancy, special changes in the woman’s body are not observed. During this period, the egg is fertilized by a sperm and the formation of a zygote, which will actively divide and be sent to the uterine cavity.
2 month. The intrauterine development of the child in the second month is characterized by the fact that the baby already has legs and arms formed, and fingers on them. All internal systems develop and the heart begins to beat with a frequency of 140-150 beats per minute. The weight of the fetus is 4-5 g, and the growth is 2.4-3 cm.
3 month. This month ends 1 trimester of pregnancy. The development of the child continues, and at the same time, the vocal cords, tongue, hair and nails begin to form. The first rudiments of the teeth appear in the oral cavity. The digestive and circulatory system begin their work.
4 month. During this period, the baby becomes larger. All its organs and systems are actively working, and the child himself is already able to bend and unbend his limbs, pushing his legs. Of the special changes, it is possible to note the development of the cerebral cortex, auricles and the appearance of an individual pattern at the tips of small fingers, and the baby also becomes sensitive to external sounds.
5 month. All systems and organs continue to improve. If we talk about the intrauterine development of the child by months, then the fifth month is perhaps the most memorable for the first pregnant woman. At this time, she can feel the fetal movement and feel the baby inside. The lungs are still underdeveloped, so you should better monitor your health to avoid premature birth.
6 month. This month of pregnancy carries many changes in the development of the fetus. By this time, he had learned to open and close the eyes, on which the cilia appeared, and on top of the brow. The genitals are formed, and individual features are traced on the face. The baby weighs 750g at this time, and the height is approximately 30 cm.
7 month. During this period, the brain and lungs develop rapidly. There is more and more subcutaneous fat, so the skin is smoothed out and less wrinkles remain on it. The growth of the baby this month is 33 cm, and the weight is about 1-1.2 kg.
8 month. During this period, the child gains weight significantly and increases in height. His skin is covered with thick hair, and the fat layer has become even more. The kid begins to react violently to all external stimuli.
9 month. The final stage of the entire pregnancy. The child by this time is fully formed and ready for independent existence. On his skin lanugo (fluff) completely disappeared, and she herself became smooth and pink.
Tips for pregnant women
In all periods of intrauterine development, the child should adhere to
a few rules and tips:
- Review your diet and, if necessary, add vitamin-rich foods to it.
- Do not overwork, sleep and rest is important for the full development of the child.
- At the beginning of pregnancy, you should start taking folic acid, naturally, under the supervision of a doctor. Do not use other drugs without a prescription.
- If there are bad habits (alcohol, smoking), then you should abandon them, because they do not have a positive effect, rather the opposite.
- Often walk in the fresh air, but in no case do not get too cold.
- Sexual life with a partner can be continued if there are no contraindications.
- To get an antenatal and postnatal bandage, it is very useful.
- The clothes should be worn loose, not constraining anywhere, shoes should be on a low heel.
Pregnancy is a very important period in the life of a woman and her other half, so it’s worth remembering every moment of this wonderful time and just enjoying it.