Pregnancy Questions

The third quarter

Baby already has all the interior organs and some of them even functioning. Now he/she just needs to grow and gain the required weight. This is the hardest period for the mother. Most of the indispositions and complication appear at this time: edema, the legs varicose enlargements of the veins, pain in the waist, hard breathing and so on are common for this time.

At this time the mother quickly gets tried, and that it is very hard for her to do some of the works and she often needs a rest. It is not recommended to do hard laundry or hung washed things on rope because the baby may easily entangle in the umbilical cord at this time.

The seventh month

During the seventh month all the vital organs finish their formation process. If the baby is born at the week 28 he (she) has all chance to survive.
By the 27-29th week the baby pretty well catches sound and even differs some of them. It is proved that the baby can catch more than 100 sounds that are mostly very low tone. That is why the baby catches his/her father’s voice. Besides that baby calms down when hears his voice.
It is very interesting fact is that lullaby songs that the father songs the baby identifies pretty easy. So the baby has memory of some sound. That means the brain is quite developed.

Also classic music is very good for baby and the mother’s heart beats is very calming of the baby.
That is why the baby sometimes sleeps while feeding. Another fact is that the baby catches sounds on the womb are his/her active reaction to some of the sounds. If you turn on pop music the baby will be afraid of it, and in the opposite is the classic music. Baby weight is about 1700-1800 mg and has 40 cm height at the week 31st. The pace of the motions increase to top, but soon it stops and the room for that becomes tight. Premature births become less under the vigilant medical experts and doctor in the recent times. That helps the mothers to give a birth quite healthy baby in an appropriate time. This fact curtails the number of infant deaths.

The eight week

So the week 8 starts. Baby grows another 4-6 cm more and gains more 800 mg weight. Meanwhile he/she poses and gets ready for the birth.
During this week such essential body organs as the heart (completely formed and has four chambers), intestines (the baby still sips) and kidney are working very well.

The brain, liver and lungs also slightly function no matter when baby born in the 7th or in 9th month.
At 32-36 weeks is time for the lungs and breathe development. As it was mention above that at the week 28th the baby is completely viable. That’s right but no there is a process coming up in the eight month. It is fat layer on the lungs which prevents alveolus to stick together during each inhalation.
Heart beating becomes more often- about 130 beats per minute. Blood circulation runs through umbilical cord. The aperture between left and right half of the heart is still open.

During the eight month the skin becomes pink not ruby as it was before. The reason is the fat under the skin, which helps to conceal the veins and makes the skin soft. Fluffs, on the skin, disappear later on.
At this time the baby look alike of the parents. So his/her face futures become more distinguished. Baby reduces the motion rates per day as the space around him/her becomes less and less. Now the mother can easily tell the baby’s position simply touching the belly, as the head, legs and hands outline themselves.
In many cases the baby takes the proper position at this time for the birth. The head turns downside. In some cases, as in tight womb, that is not a possible step. In this case baby is born buttocks – the legs ahead.
By the week 36 the baby has 2.5 kg weight and 44-46 cm height.

The 9 month

The last month of pregnancy became and intrauterine baby development is over. Now baby is ready to be born. It is very normal to have baby since 36 week up to 40 week. Last week is to gain baby’s weight; it is about 20 grams per day. At the end baby takes more 5 cm height.
Many moms are afraid that baby does not moving, so this is how it’s supposed to be, because baby does not have enough place to move.
The womb goes down, and baby turns over legs up (sometimes this process happened earlier)
At the 9th month very common event that pregnant woman feels very fast urination. This is easy to explain, because baby’s head press on the urinary bladder without allowing it to be filled.
Last days before giving birth the uterus acts faster, it is like self preparation process. Woman usually did not feel this muscle action, and did not feel changes.

Baby weights about 3-4 kg closer to 40th week. Statistic shows that last years many baby were born 4-5 kg, this is because many woman eat too much during pregnancy. Birth of big baby is complicated that normal weight baby, so we advise you to follow doctor’s recommendations and keep some diet.

The second quarter

The second quarter
During the entire period of the second quarter the fetus continuous its development. Baby grows up significantly. The pregnancy is visible as the belly is noticeable big. The baby does more simultaneously motions more than 600 per day, and becomes more lively and active during the 6th month.
By the end of the second quarter the baby is viable. If he/she is born at this time he/she can do first cry and breath. Yet baby is very weak and barely can survive.

The fourth month

The 4th month is the most quiet and smooth one for baby. At the beginning of the week 15th the abdominal cavity is well developed and contains all interior organs. That is why the belly seems bigger then the head. During four weeks the body covers with soft fuzz. They appear on the head, the elbows and eyelashes become noticeable.
Now the baby is more active than at the end week 16, baby do about 150 motions with the legs and hands per day. Baby often moves when awake. That lasts for about 20 minutes.
Then it is followed by 40 minute sleep. These terms are not common for every baby.
Circulatory system continues development; small veins are everywhere and that gives bright-red color to the skin. The heart beats very fast and rhythmically, about 160 times per minute.

During the week 16-17 the kidney starts its work. It is proved by meconium (he dark green mucoid material that forms the first period of a newborn infant) in the intestines. Meconium is green liquid which mainly contain bile produced by the liver.

The fifth month

During the 5th month very significant events and changes are happening that the mother can feel. Of course, there have been some motions before, but now baby is quite strong provided by developed muscles. That process continuous and the baby do first hits by legs and hands. The statistics says that baby movements are reflective and the reason is muscle clonus (contraction). All mothers should know that the baby shakes if she listen music of relax. So the baby can catch the mother’s mood. When the mother is worried or is upset the baby actively hits with hands and legs.
The doctors approved that the mother feels the first motions in the week of 18th.

During the second pregnancy the mother feels it at 16-17th weeks period. This is faster development of the fetus, the womb is accustomed of the conception and the walls are more sensitive. The first motions are very weak. But that process gradually speeds. Baby often twists as there is still enough space in the womb. Since the week 18th the baby catches the sounds, that is why reacts the mother’s voice especially when she caressing her belly, or moves when listen the father’s voice.

Many of the future mothers notice that when they walk fast or do sharp motions the baby stops to move. There is no need of worry for that. If the baby feels that the environment is not comfortable, accordingly pulls the hands and legs back. Baby will stay like that unless the mother relaxes. And another fact is that the baby should sleep every single hour, so you feel no movement at this time.

There is a public opinion that as often the baby moves in the womb as tempered baby will be during the childhood. But this concept is not approved by the specialists therefore there is no need of worry.
Starting from the week 20th doctors can locate the position of the baby simply touching the belly. This is necessary in order to learn the baby’s movement frequency and what kind of problems may arouse during the birth. (breech presentation, diametrical presentation and so on).
Starting 18-19th week of the pregnancy doctors will check up the heartbeat every 2-3 week. Now this can be performed just with a conventional periscope, which can catch the contraction of the heart muscles.

At the end of the 22nd week the baby has weight of 450-500 mg and 25 cm height. Ultrasound examination shows that the baby already has nails and hairs on the head. Lung muscles are develop enough to provide adequate breath in the womb. Baby of course does not breathe but ready for that.
During the 20-22nd week the baby can swallow pretty well, sometimes baby sucks his/her own fingers, especially while sleeping.

The sixth month

During the week 23-27th the fetus continues intensively develop. The face becomes more and more human like. The nose and the eyes increase, the outline of eyebrow become more obvious, the ear grow. The hairs become black and noticeable.
The baby can sip more. At that time baby doesn’t move. Baby may shake slightly with hands and legs when taking a nap. Deep sleep can last 16 hours with some interruptions per day. It usually starts at the midnight. That is why the baby shakes less during the night and in the morning hours.
During the 6 month the baby make more motions. Even some mothers think that there something is missing when the baby stops moving.
So there no need for worry if the baby doesn’t move for one or two hours. He/she might be sleeping. If no signs of movement last 20-30 hours we recommend to talk with the doctor. That means that the life of the baby is endangered so a rapid medical care is emergency case.

In the 22-25th weeks the baby starts to react more intensively to the mother’s mood. That can be monitored only by ultrasound examination. Baby smiles the mother smiles. And the otherwise, if she is upset then baby knit its eyebrows. Just recently the doctors discovered that baby can mimic after the mother. For instance if someone switches on the light in the room the pregnant screws her eyes and baby do the same. If the mother eats lemon, which is very sour, grimace appears on baby’s face.

At the end of the 6th month grows up to 30 cm and 1 kg twice more then a month ago. So, if baby born at this moment, he/she can cry and breath but still cannot survive.

The second month

All the interior organs formed in the first four weeks keep on growing during the second month.  A small hollow (impression) along with the chord grows. That process becomes the origins of the nerve system. At the beginning of the second month a small tubercles are noticeable at the forward part of the fetus: this is the brain.

In the 5th week top and lowest finiteness are clearly visible. Definitely, they don’t look like legs and hands. They appear as convexity along with the fetus.

There is a small excrescence on the spot of future belly shows the growth of the hearth which is larger in cooperation with the embryo.

A little lower there is the umbilical cord and baby feeds trough it.
At the beginning of the 6th week the embryo grows up to 6-7 mm. At this moment all the spinal vertebras has already formed and count 40. The head is bended forward and take normal position in the 9th week.
The interesting fact is that at 1.5 month period the face outlines are visible.

Two small saliencies appear positioned far from each other on the place of future eyes. Ears appear like dimples. The nose and mouth still in the formation process and look like aperture or opening.

In the eight week the length of the embryo is 12-14 mm. The head is still ahead but not as far as before. Started at this time it grows faster and soon become 1/3 part of the embryo.
During this week the legs and hands grows fast. The peculiarity is that they have the same length and speed of development.

Small enlargements appear at the ends of the finiteness. These are the hands and the feet. 5 small consolidations then form as a base for the future figures.
At the end of the 8th week hands and feet start to bend: so later elbows and knees from on those spots. The hands are pressed to the body and the legs are pulled to the belly.
During the 7-8 weeks the formation of the face continues. Now it more alike the human face. Big eyes, which look like that because of absence of eyelids, come closer. Big forehead and mount gradually become proportional.
At the end of the second month the digestive system finishes its formation. The belly takes its position, intestines extend and change. The cloacae so on has more then one openings for the intestines and urine system.

The brain now has more than three convexity and sufficient number of bends. In this phase the quantity of these bends match with the same as human has. Consequently the formation of the neural system is about to finish.
In the eight week the heart of the embryo become four-chamber and keeps on to shorten. But the blood circulatory system has not finally finished yet.

That process ends just before the birth. During this time large veins divide into small ones and cover the entire body.
One of the significant events is the formation of the muscle system during this time, which starts to function in the next month. That enables the baby to do his/her first motions. The skeleton ossification starts in the second month and finishes long after the birth. Then the baby grows on the extend of his/her own bones.
The sex organs grow fast at this time but it is still hard to distinguish the sex. It is possible to do at the beginning of the next month by a special examination. So at the end of the second month embryo has 2.5 cm length and 10 gram weight. All the interior organs are done with formation and continuing further development.
Obviously the first two months are the most important ones. The mother should prevent any kind of impact and save the baby. So the further progress of the pregnancy and health conditions of the baby depends on this period.
It is worth to pay attention on the fact that the placenta hasn’t formed yet, consequently the embryo isn’t protected. It takes everything whatever the mother provides. That is way cigarettes and alcohols are very dangerous in this time.

The first month

A very hard process happens at the first 36 hours right after impregnation in the ovule: it breaks in 2 parts and those break down into 4 parts during the next 24 hours. So through this way at the end of the seventh day they become 16. It looks like a currant from its appearance. Yet it doesn’t change its size (it’s no bigger than in the early days and has 0.25 mm size) as it doesn’t get any feeding and moves through vaginal channels. As soon as the ovule gets to the womb and sticks to its back wall – it starts to grow quickly. With the help of special tools we can notice that the cells of the ovule become more hard and firm. This is the beginning of the embryo development.  And with the help of ultrasound we also can notice a poor pulsation; this is the first sign of blood circulation and hearth-vein system.
The continuous increasing space between fetus and trophoblast (the outer layer of cells of the embryo of placental mammals, which is attached to the uterus wall and absorbs nourishment from the uterine fluids) fills with fluid.
So as the necessary conditions for t he further development already exists next step is to follow for the development of the embryo. The liquid substance around the fetus is to protect the baby from the surrounding of the interior organs of the mother. First of all it is the stable temperature, second the baby is safe from the hits or harms and third it spends all its potential energy on self development.
At the beginning of the 10th day fetus strictly sticks to the wall of the womb.
After that the normal environment for feeding exists. So at the outer cover (trophoblast) some small fringes come out and penetrate into the womb. From that moment the exterior cover is called chorion and the fetus itself called embryo of chorion. This will go up to 8th week, and later chorion become fetus, and we name fetus till the birth.
Most of the people think that the baby starts to develop faster at the late period of pregnancy then in the first days. But this opinion is not correct as during the early period the fetus gain weight and size, which is quite obvious.
As a matter of fact the fastest growth of the baby fetus happens in the first months, especially within first three weeks when the embryo increase its size 100 times. Besides that its goes through the hardest phase of development. From the 10-15th days in the center of fetus ovule the embryo kidney continuously changes its shape from ball shape to oval one.
Over here all cells start to divide into 3 layers: the lowest (endoderm), the middle layer (mesoblast or mesoderm) and the upper layer (ectoderm)
The first one gives the start of the interior organ (hearth, lungs, kidneys and liver).The cells of this layer are built the way that if some get thick some keep the original size. The cell of the second layer turns into interior organs and bone system. That is how cardiovascular system, kidney, muscles and the skeleton appear. The third layer (external layer) cells are necessary for development of the spinal cord and cerebrum, skin and nails.
So on the 16th day the division of the cell into layers finishes and the embryo grows faster. With the help of ultra sound monitoring it is visible that the fetus formed along like convex strip — or span. So this is the basic for the development of the spinal cord and all bone system. At the same a little tube is visible – this is intestines. A little notch near the spine is the neural system.
By the 20th day two veins became a small heart tube, which is the base of the hearth. It started to beat a few days ago. And through this way the fetus develops blood circulation system.
By the 22nd day the embryo grows 1 billion times at once and keeps on growing. Since then it takes an arciform shape.
One of the ends of the fetus a little bit ticker than the other one.
The head and the brain will grow continuously right here. At the end of the second month it is the half part of the embryo. The other end of the fetus is quite thinner and even looks like a small tail. The male and female sexual cells start to develop here, which can be identified by the 15th week by a special examination.

By the 30th day embryo grows up to 4.5 mm. It has sprouts of cardiovascular, digestive and neural system. Chord is well noticeable on the spinal interstice and the heart beats 170-200 beats per minute.
The development and division of the cells of the embryo run this way. This is very complex process which is identical to every one as a rule.

This process is conducted by special kind of cells base on chord surround. They produce special type of substance that helps the cells to develop in appropriate way alongside with continuous changing the shapes and forming new organs. As a part of this process the cells more and more differ from each other by their shape and functions.

The first quarter

The first quarter or the first 13-14 weeks are considered as the most important ones for the growing of the baby, as all the interior organs develop during this time.

During the first 7 days right after impregnation the cells start to divide (mitosis process). Even though if everything runs without pathology, it doesn’t mean that the pregnancy begins as of the implantation of the embryo hasn’t finished yet. That’s why the first 7-9 days are so much important.
If the embryo doesn’t attach firmly to the womb more or less that is quiet dangerous for the pregnancy. The growth of the baby will run well but there is high risk of miscarry for a long time.

Another abnormality is implantation of cells (ovule) in the channels of the womb. In this case they don’t get enough feeding as there are not sufficient veins. Except that this kind of pregnancy has potential life risk for the woman.
Aftermaths the most difficult period is the 2-8 weeks. If there are a couple of diversities from a normal line of development of the embryo then self miscarriage occurs. The 11-13 weeks require the most attention for the health as this is the beginning of a new phase of baby growing. Now we can notice a couple of serious problems during the first quarter which is more or less baby’s issue.  During this particular period a very unique events happen that helps the Mother Nature to control the entire birth process in order to insure having a healthy baby. But in most cases, if the mother doesn’t misuse drugs and abuse an alcohol, the pregnancy process normally goes fine.
First of all it is connected with the proper choose of chromosome in the ovule.