Where does the baby develop during pregnancy? Pregnancy day after day, week after week. How the embryo develops. Young mother feels

Embryo. The developing human body in the period before birth.

Human intrauterine development normally lasts 280 days. During this time, from two cells fused together, a new, completely unique person is formed, capable of living separately from the mother’s body.

The science that studies the development of the embryo is called embryology. Knowledge of how the human embryo develops is very important for doctors, especially those who work in obstetrics and pediatrics. Ideas about the normal course of embryo development processes help to accurately and timely detect the occurrence of pathologies in developing embryos, look for the causes of infertility and solutions to this problem, create contraceptives, and implement measures that will prevent serious pathologies of fetuses and newborns.

Periods of human development during pregnancy

Human development during intrauterine life (or embryogenesis) goes through several stages.

• The union of parental germ cells that serves to form a zygote.
• Division of the resulting zygote to form a blastocyst.
• Development of germ layers and the start of the formation of all organs (gastrulation).
• Development of various organs and tissues (histo- and organogenesis).
• Systemogenesis (formation of organ systems).

In another way, human intrauterine life is divided into three very important periods: fertilization with the formation of one cell (zygote), embryonic and fetal periods.

The embryonic period begins from the second week after fertilization until the end of the eighth week of embryo development (before the end of the tenth week of obstetric pregnancy).

The beginning of the ninth week of human intrauterine development (eleventh week of obstetric period) marks the beginning of the fetal period (fetal period). From this moment on, the developing person is no longer called an embryo, he is called a fetus.

Fertilization is a complex union (fusion) of two reproductive parent cells. The process involves one egg and approximately 300 million sperm, of which only one will be the “winner”. As a result of this process, the diploid set of chromosomes (that is, 46 chromosomes) is restored. At the moment the parent cells unite, the sex of the developing person is determined. A new cell is formed ─ zygote.

Fertilization in humans occurs in the fallopian tube, in its ampullary part. There are several stages of fertilization:

• Interaction of germ cells at some distance and their approach.

During this phase of fertilization, the egg releases substances that attract sperm. They become capable of fertilization under the influence of a special secretion produced in the female genital tract.

• The germ cells come into contact and the egg is activated.

It rotates, and the acrosomal reaction starts. The result of this is an increase in the permeability of the sperm membrane.

• Penetration of the male reproductive cell (sperm) under the membrane of the mother cell, fusion of the parent cells.

After this, a fertilization membrane is formed on the surface of the fertilized egg, which prevents the penetration of other sperm.

Embryo implantation day

On the 7th day after conception, the embryo implants into the endometrium. This process is called implantation, it is very complex. The duration of embryo implantation is slightly less than two days (about 40 hours). Then the actual embryonic period of development begins.

A woman may not yet know about her pregnancy, but her body is already developing new life. Many women have suspicions about their pregnancy when menstruation does not arrive on time. The expectant mother sees only two lines on the pregnancy test display, and the embryo already has its first heartbeats.

This indicates the special importance of the embryonic period of development. The woman’s body and the unborn child are very sensitive to environmental fluctuations, the effects of infections, radiation, toxins and drugs during this period.

Knowledge of how an embryo develops day by day and week by week during its intrauterine life helps to understand the timing of the formation of certain organs, the mechanism of formation of congenital malformations of embryos, which can even lead to spontaneous termination of pregnancy. Based on the information obtained, critical (dangerous) periods concerning the development of the human embryo and fetus were identified. The period from 3 to 8 weeks of embryonic life is designated critical in human ontogenesis.

Fetal period of human development

The fetal period in human ontogenesis starts from the ninth week of embryo development, starting from the moment of fertilization. The obstetric gestational age is two weeks longer than the actual period of embryo development. The fertile period ends with the birth of a person. Then comes the newborn period.

Starting from the 11th week of obstetric pregnancy, the developing person is called a fetus. It is almost completely formed, all organs are formed and active tissue differentiation is underway. The fetus is connected to the mother's body through the formed placenta.

Although the formation of all organs has already been completed by this period of fetal development, several critical moments of the fetal period differ. Thus, from the 15th to the 20th week of pregnancy, the brain grows rapidly. And from 20 to 24 weeks of gestation, the functional systems of the body develop, and the genitourinary apparatus differentiates.

The study of the complex mechanisms of how the human embryo develops after conception continues to this day. The science of embryology describes how an embryo develops day by day in the first week of its life. Embryology further describes how the embryo develops week by week after fertilization (first trimester).

Starting from the second trimester of pregnancy, the description of embryo development by week corresponds to the obstetric period of pregnancy. This means that the gestational age is not counted from the moment of expected fertilization, but from the first day of the last menstruation, which is approximately 2 weeks longer than the embryonic period of development.

Changes in embryo development by day are of particular importance in the first week of embryo development after fertilization. What characterizes the development of an embryo day by day at the very beginning of its intrauterine life?

1-2 days

After the nuclei of the parent cells unite, a zygote is formed. It begins to divide by mitosis into cells called blastomeres. At first the zygote divides slowly, then faster.

Blastomers are formed of two types: “dark” and “light”. “Light” cells line up in one layer around the “dark” ones, from which the trophoblast is formed. It is the link between the embryo and the mother’s body and provides it with nutrition. From the “dark” blastomeres, the embryoblast begins its formation ─ the precursor of the body of the human embryo, as well as its extra-embryonic organs.

3-4 day

After the formation of the zygote, a dense cluster of blastomeres forms a morula. On days 3-4, a blastocyst is formed - a vesicle with a cavity. Within three days, the blastocyst moves through the fallopian tube directly into the uterine cavity. At this time, embryo- and trophoblast cells continue their differentiation. The size of the embryo at this stage is up to 0.2 mm.

5-6 day

The blastocyst remains free in the uterus for two days. The trophoblast cells of the blastocyst provide the embryo with nutrients from the breakdown products of the mother's tissues. Embryoblast cells are located in a nodule at one of the poles of the blastocyst, which is attached to the trophoblast from the inside. The embryo is preparing to attach to the wall of the uterus.

Day 7

On the 7th day after conception, the embryo is implanted into the mucous membrane of the uterine cavity, that is, it is introduced into it. Embryo implantation occurs in two stages:

1. Attachment of the embryo to the endometrium.
2. Direct implantation of the fertilized egg into the uterine mucosa.

Trophoblast has the ability to secrete enzymes that promote the attachment of the embryo to the inner layer of the uterus. After this, the fertilization membrane is destroyed.

From the second week, the actual embryonic period of development begins. It continues until the end of the eighth week of development (until the end of the tenth week of obstetric pregnancy). The human embryo does not stop developing even for a second. For convenience and ease of understanding, this period of human development is divided into weeks. How does an embryo develop week by week during pregnancy?

Embryo development at 2 weeks

The amniotic sac is formed from some of the blastocyst cells. This occurs by day 8 of embryo development. By the 11th day, the chorion is formed. This villous membrane of the embryo is the precursor of the placenta. Up to 12 days, the process of implantation of the embryo, which began several days earlier, continues, and the process of gastrulation begins.

Gastrulation continues from day 13. This is a very complex process in which the tissues of the embryo grow and differentiate, resulting in the formation of germ layers: ecto-, meso-, and endoderm. From some of the cells of the blastocyst, the primary streak is formed, from which the head process of the embryo is formed. The embryonic notochord (future spinal column) begins to develop from it.

Vessels and blood cells begin to form in the embryo (hematopoiesis). In addition, there is a growth of blood vessels in the chorion area. The formation of the first blood cells occurs in the yolk sac. At this stage, the embryo is connected by a stalk to the placenta, which has begun its formation.

After 15 days from the day of conception, the embryo reaches a size of 0.4 mm. It forms a notochord, a perichordal plate. The embryo itself has a three-layer structure.

The embryo at 17-19 days of development has a length of about 1-1.5 mm. It is shaped like a pear with a widened head end. The thickening of the ectoderm forms the neural plate, and from it the neural groove. Fabrics nervous system The embryo begins its development from the neural groove. Blood vessels and cells develop further.

At the age of 19-21 days, the human embryo stretches. The cephalic end of the embryo at this stage is wider than the caudal end. Mesoderm compactions are detected. Secondary chorionic villi are being formed. In addition to hematopoietic cells, endothelial cells are identified in the yolk sac; they will subsequently become the internal lining of arteries and veins.

By the end of the 3rd week of embryo development, the heart is formed. It looks like two tubes, separate for now. A bud is formed, but it is soon reduced.

Embryo development at 4 weeks

The size of the embryo at the beginning of the 4th week of its development varies from 1.5 to 2.5 mm, but towards the end of this week it reaches 5 mm in length. The embryo at this stage is shaped like the letter “C”. First, a neural groove is formed, which then closes into the neural tube. In the head part of the embryo there are already nerve cells, the rudiments of ears and eyes.

The previously separated tubes, which were the predecessors of the heart, are closed. The first heartbeats can be registered, blood flow begins in different areas embryo body. In the middle of the 4th week of intrauterine life, septa and valves are formed in the fetal heart.

The epithelial tissue of the digestive tube gives rise to the digestive organs (liver, pancreas), and the trachea, esophagus and lungs begin to form from the epithelial tissue of the pharyngeal intestine.

By the end of the 4th week, the embryo is curved in a semicircle and is located in the amniotic sac. The rudiments of the arms are formed, the anlages of the legs are noted. Skin epithelium is being formed. Bones and muscles begin to form.

The head part of the neural tube is differentiated and three brain vesicles are formed. An auditory vesicle is formed, and the lens of the eye is formed. You can detect the primary oral cavity (bay) and the rudiment of the tongue. The thyroid gland is forming, the respiratory and digestive organs are actively developing, and primary kidneys are being formed.

The umbilical cord is formed; it connects the vessels of the placenta and the liver, which at this time is located in the head part of the embryo.

The size of the embryo at the 5th week from the day of fertilization is 5-7 mm. It is arched and has a noticeable cervical curve. The arms lengthen, the formation of the hands and innervation of the upper extremities begins.

There is intensive growth of the heart and brain, which is divided into parts: front, rear and middle. The spinal cord is differentiated, the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland actively develops and grows, and the lens of the eye improves.

The esophagus becomes clearly visible, which gradually separates from the trachea. On both sides of it are the lungs. The heart has four chambers and its valves form. The permanent kidney and bladder are being formed.

Embryo development at 6 weeks

At week 6, the embryo measures between 7 and 13 mm in length. In the first days of the 6th week, the embryo develops a primary face and the outer ear is formed. The embryo's eyelids close and the nasal pits are identified. The fetal brain enlarges and the formation of spinal nodes occurs. The deepening of the oral cavity grows towards the intestinal tube. The digestive tube increases in length, and growth of the esophagus is noted. The kidneys develop progressively. Segments are identified in the arms of the embryo. The feet and their innervation begin to form. Throughout the week, the embryo develops rapidly, the face and sensory organs change noticeably.

An embryo at 6 weeks is distinguished by the fact that its back gradually straightens and ossification of the skeleton is initiated. The muscles of the face and lower jaw appear. The auricles are identified and the pituitary gland is formed. Pigment forms in the eyes and the eyelids grow together. The formation of the rudiments of teeth and olfactory bulbs is underway. An embryo at 6 weeks has well-formed arms, although the hands are not yet fully developed.

The development of the respiratory organs is in full swing. The heart has 4 chambers, the pulmonary artery separates from the aorta. The diaphragm is forming. The embryo's intestine is directed into the umbilical cord, which is called a physiological hernia of the embryo. The liver and pancreas develop. The gonads are populated by germ cells, which are still primary. The development of the genital organs begins. The kidneys produce the first urine.

Embryo development at 7 weeks

The size of the embryo at the 7th week of intrauterine life ranges from 17 to 28 mm. Its shape resembles an arc. The formation of the tissues of the skull and face is underway. The lower jaw is well visualized, but the upper jaw is not yet clearly defined. Fingers are forming on the hands, segments are visible on the feet, and the development of the feet is underway.

The two hemispheres of the brain are clearly distinguished, and the development of the hindbrain begins. In the abdominal cavity, the mesentery is clearly visible, in which arteries, veins, nerves, and lymphatic vessels are identified. There is an elongation of the ureters, which are directed from the kidneys to the developing bladder.

At 8 weeks of development, the embryo is approximately 25 to 40 mm. By the beginning of the 8th week, the embryo's head straightens. He has well-developed eyes, which are still located on the sides of his head. The ears are low and the nostrils are formed. Convolutions are noticeable in the hemispheres of the brain. The structures of the inner ear are being formed.

The skeleton is actively developing, the back is lengthening, and skeletal muscles are developing. Arms bent at the elbows cross over the stomach. The places of large joints are indicated on the legs, the toes are distinguished, although there are still membranes between them.

At 8 weeks after fertilization, the embryo begins to make its first movements, which are still involuntary. In the heart, a septum develops between the atria. By the end of the 8th week, the critical period of heart formation is completed.

The tongue is almost formed, taste buds and teeth are developing. The bones of the hard palate fuse. The intestine that previously exited into the umbilical cord returns to the abdominal cavity. The genital organs, both external and internal, are actively developing. The sex of the child becomes discernible. The anal membrane is perforated. Tail degeneration occurs.

With the introduction of ultrasound diagnostics (ultrasound) into medical practice, future parents have the opportunity to look at their child long before his birth. According to pregnancy management protocols, the first ultrasound is performed at an obstetric gestational age of 10-14 weeks (8-12 weeks of embryonic development). This study coincides with the collection of venous blood from expectant mother for tests.

All these activities are called screening during pregnancy.

To view the embryo on an ultrasound scan before this period, there must be indications. For example, suspicion of an ectopic pregnancy, preparation for termination of pregnancy, the appearance of some pathological symptoms in a woman, suspicion of a frozen pregnancy.

Some people do an ultrasound of the embryo just out of curiosity, but such a risk is not justified. Currently, there is not enough information about how safe ultrasound of the embryo is and how many times it can be done during the period of gestation.

What does an embryo look like on an ultrasound?

At 3-4 weeks of embryonic development, the embryo is still too small to clearly see body parts or emerging developmental defects. At this time, the expectant mother will see only a bright spot and the first heartbeats on the monitor. But we can say with confidence whether the embryo is located in the uterus.

By the end of the 7th week, an ultrasound scan of the embryo can distinguish the head, torso, limbs, and formed umbilical cord. The embryo itself has a characteristic curved shape.

By the end of the 8th week of embryonic development, according to ultrasound data, you can already obtain a lot of information about the embryo and see some developmental defects, if any. For the mother, parts of the embryo’s body, some organs, and active heartbeats become visible on the ultrasound monitor screen.

To perform a high-quality ultrasound of the embryo, transvaginal (through the vagina) and transabdominal (through the anterior abdominal wall) scans are used.

Is it possible to take a photo of the embryo?

More than 50 years ago, people first saw an embryo in a photo. These unique photographs, reflecting human development at different stages of pregnancy, starting from the moment of fertilization, were taken by photographer from Sweden Lennart Nilsson. To capture the embryo in a photo, he used modern photographic equipment, a light guide and a cystoscope. Thanks to him, the whole world saw such a mysterious intrauterine life of a person. These photos of embryos are still very popular, they play a big role in the fight against abortion in early pregnancy at the request of women.

Modern parents can see their child during an ultrasound examination. Ultrasound equipment allows you to take a photo of the embryo, obtaining a two-dimensional or three-dimensional image.

There are a huge number of infertile marriages in our country. There are more than 15% of them. In total, there are officially more than 5 million married couples in Russia whose marriage has been declared infertile. Moreover, both female and male infertility is increasing. More than 2.5 million couples require assisted reproductive technologies.

The basis of assisted reproductive technologies is the classical method of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer (ET) into the uterus.

What is IVF (in vitro fertilization)?

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a method of artificial fertilization of eggs taken from women with male sperm, which is previously centrifuged and processed in a nutrient medium. Oocytes (eggs) are also cultured on nutrient media. Subsequently, the resulting embryos are implanted into the uterus.

In most cases, in vitro fertilization uses the germ cells of the spouses. Donation of eggs (oocytes) and embryos is used when it is impossible to obtain a woman’s own reproductive organs or when they are inferior. Sperm donation is used at the request of a woman in the absence of a spouse, as well as in the case of a spouse who has sperm that are not capable of fertilization.

There are the following types of IVF:

• IVF itself and transfer of the resulting embryos.

Fertilization of the egg occurs with sperm outside female body, then the embryo is implanted into the uterus.

• ICSI (from ICSI - IntraCytoplasmic Sperm Injection) is an auxiliary IVF method.

A special feature is that an IVF embryo is formed as a result of the fusion of an egg and a sperm, which was introduced under the shell of the mother cell using a special microneedle. The method is used for various qualitative and quantitative pathologies of male germ cells.

There are situations when, after several unsuccessful IVF attempts, it is possible to achieve pregnancy only by using the ICSI method.

In addition, surrogacy is highlighted, in which an embryo after IVF develops in the uterus of a volunteer woman. After birth, the child is passed on to its genetic parents.

Indications for IVF

The following indications for in vitro fertilization are distinguished:

• Infertility in a woman, which is caused by obstruction or absence of the fallopian tubes.
• Inability to conceive, the cause of which has not been established.
• Infertility that cannot be treated, or that is easier to overcome with IVF than with other methods.
• Infertility caused by immunological problems (detection of antisperm antibodies).
• Male infertility, which requires the use of the ICSI method.
• Some diseases of the female reproductive system (endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome).

Contraindications to IVF

The list of contraindications for IVF and embryo transfer is very wide:

• Various deformations of the uterine cavity, in which the attachment of embryos is impossible.
• Neoplasms of any location in the body (even if it happened in the past).
• Tumors of the uterus that are benign; tumors of the uterine appendages.
• Inflammatory processes at any localization.
• Other diseases of internal organs that prevent pregnancy.
• Some mental disorders.

On preparatory stage Before IVF, spouses undergo numerous examinations and undergo various tests in order to identify indications and contraindications for the procedure. Couples whose spouses are over 35 years old must consult a geneticist.

Once the couple is prepared for the IVF procedure, they will have to go through the following stages:

• Stimulation of superovulation in women with hormonal drugs. This is necessary for the maturation of several eggs at once. As the menstrual cycle progresses, the process of follicle maturation and the condition of the inner layer of the uterus (endometrium) are monitored. There are different schemes for stimulating superovulation; the choice is made individually.
• Obtaining female germ cells by puncture of ovarian follicles.
• Receiving your spouse's sperm.
• Fertilization of eggs with sperm or introduction of sperm into the cytoplasm of eggs.
• Transferring embryos into the uterus and monitoring the effectiveness of the process. If necessary, maintenance hormonal therapy is prescribed.
• Diagnosis of pregnancy.

How to obtain biological material for IVF?

The biological material for obtaining an embryo is eggs and sperm.

• Egg retrieval

This procedure is done under general anesthesia in sterile conditions. When receiving biological material, a woman lays down in the usual gynecological chair. The egg retrieval process is controlled by ultrasound. The cells are collected by puncturing the ovarian follicles with a special needle inserted through the vagina. If it is not possible to obtain eggs this way, then the eggs are collected using laparoscopy.

• Sperm collection

The sperm is collected on the same day as the eggs. You can obtain sperm through masturbation or withdrawal (using a condom without lubricant or spermicide). If a man has ejaculatory disorders, sperm are obtained by puncture of the epididymis.

After the collection procedure, the germ cells are sent to the embryology laboratory, where they are cleaned of impurities. Sometimes the in vitro fertilization procedure is carried out immediately (no later than 6 hours after receiving the material). In other cases, biological material is frozen. Freezing has virtually no effect on the viability of germ cells, but it allows you to save time during subsequent IVF attempts if the first ones are unsuccessful.

For fertilization, germ cells are placed in special containers with nutrient media. The containers are placed in an incubator, the conditions in which are close to natural. After a few hours, the sex cells fuse together. If this does not happen, then the sperm is injected artificially into the cytoplasm of the egg.

After the procedure, the fertilized eggs are monitored. Those that divide well can be used for IVF. Excess fertilized eggs can be frozen (cryopreservation) and used for repeated IVF attempts (if necessary).

An embryo after natural conception is no different from an embryo after IVF in its structure, physiology and stages of further development. However, the germ cells used for IVF are often defective compared to those during natural conception. Including for this reason, after IVF there is a higher risk of congenital pathologies and chromosomal abnormalities in the unborn child. Some signs of these problems can be noted in the embryo by ultrasound or by the results of preimplantation diagnostics.

Why is preimplantation diagnostics of embryos needed?

Preimplantation diagnostics of embryos during IVF is carried out in order to obtain information about whether the unborn child has serious genetic pathologies. This is done before it is time for the embryos to be implanted.

The use of this method of examining human embryos has led to a reduction in the number of spontaneous abortions to 13% after pregnancy as a result of IVF in those couples where one of the parents is a carrier of genes that cause chromosomal abnormalities in comparison with couples who have similar problems, but who did not use preimplantation diagnostic services.

Identifying chromosomal abnormalities in embryos before transferring them into the uterus not only makes it possible to obtain healthy offspring, but also reduces the number of IVF attempts and reduces the risk of spontaneous abortion.

How many embryos are transferred into the uterus during IVF?

There are recommendations according to which you should not implant more than four embryos into the uterus. Firstly, multiple pregnancies are fraught with complications. Secondly, the reduction of excess embryos is also not a harmless procedure. In our country, as a rule, two embryos are transplanted into the uterus.

On the day when the embryo is transferred into the uterus, its development period reaches approximately 3-5 days. The stage of embryo development at this stage is blastocyst. Studies have been conducted indicating that it is at the blastocyst stage that the embryo in the uterus takes root best. The embryo already has a trophoblast, which is needed for implantation.

Less often, embryo transfer is carried out on the third or second day of embryonic life, or 7-8 days after fertilization. The decision is made individually in each specific case. The timing of embryo transfer depends on how many eggs were fertilized and how many of them continued their further division.

The size of the embryo on the day of transfer to the uterus

On the 4th day of its existence, the embryo measures about 0.14 mm, on the 6th day ─ 0.2 mm, by the end of 1 week of life ─ approximately 0.3 mm.

How is an embryo transferred into the uterus?

During the transfer of embryos to the uterus, the expectant mother is on a gynecological chair. The procedure requires the same sterility as for any other operation.

First, you need to insert gynecological speculum into the vagina. A thin, flexible catheter is then inserted into the uterus through the cervical canal, through which the embryos are transferred.

How does a woman feel during embryo transfer?

Women preparing for in vitro fertilization want to know in advance what they will experience during embryo transfer.

During the embryo transfer procedure, the woman is conscious. The sensations during embryo transfer are comparable to those during a routine gynecological examination (insertion of speculum). Some describe the sensations during embryo transfer as mild discomfort.

To avoid unpleasant sensations during embryo transfer, a woman is advised to relax, tune in to a good outcome of the procedure, and do not need to strain her abdominal muscles.

Upon completion of the procedure, you need to rest and lie down for a couple of hours. After IVF, you can return home from the clinic the same day. It is advisable that the woman have accompanying persons. At home you need to relax and not worry.

The embryo transfer procedure performed does not guarantee that pregnancy will occur. Whether the IVF process was effective can be judged after the embryo implantation is completed.

Embryo attachment after IVF usually occurs 7-10 days after the day of ovulation (2-3 days immediately after IVF).

On the day of implantation of the embryo into the endometrium, slight bloody discharge from the vagina may appear. They are due to the fact that implantation of embryos leads to damage to the mucous layer of the uterus.

During the days of expected embryo implantation, some women describe some symptoms: slight pain in the lower abdomen, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, metallic taste in the mouth, slight increase in temperature. Whether these symptoms are related specifically to embryo implantation is unknown.

In order for the day of embryo implantation to be successful, a woman must adhere to some rules: eat rationally, limit exercise, do not lift heavy objects, refrain from taking a bath, wear loose clothes. Compliance with medical recommendations on diet, rest and physical activity allows you to achieve good results on the day of embryo implantation.

A reliable sign that embryo implantation has been successful will be an increase in the level of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the mother’s bloodstream.

Embryo reduction after IVF

Typically, IVF involves the development of several embryos. Two embryos are usually transferred into the uterus. If it turns out that more than three embryos are developing in the uterus, then an operation to reduce embryos from the uterus (removal of excess ones) is indicated. This forced measure is necessary for a normal pregnancy with twins or triplets.

The method of embryo reduction during IVF is based on good reasons, it is constantly being improved, allowing the couple to get healthy offspring. This is explained by the fact that carrying three or more fetuses in the uterus threatens miscarriage and the birth of very premature children.

Removal of excess embryos was initially performed through the cervix. The underlying fertilized egg was removed in the first trimester of pregnancy. However, this method of removing a human embryo turned out to be very traumatic and many complications followed.

Currently, other methods of embryo reduction after IVF are used: transvaginal (through the posterior vaginal fornix) and transabdominal (through the anterior abdominal wall). The intervention is carried out under the control of special equipment. The principle of the procedure is that a long needle is inserted into the uterine cavity, its tip is brought to the chest of the embryo that needs to be reduced. Then, using a needle, the organs of the embryo's chest are destroyed until the heart stops.

Features of pregnancy after IVF

The course of pregnancy after in vitro fertilization has its own characteristics.

• High risk of miscarriage in the early stages of embryo development (25-30% of all pregnancies after IVF), non-developing pregnancy.
• Increased risk of developing infectious and inflammatory diseases during pregnancy.
• Many pregnancies after IVF are multiple. This creates an increased burden on a woman’s body while carrying a baby. In this regard, chronic diseases may worsen more often, gestosis may occur, placental insufficiency and metabolic disorders may occur.
• Some women experience isthmic-cervical insufficiency (weakness of the cervix). There is a higher risk of having premature and low birth weight babies.
• Birth of children with congenital malformations and chromosomal abnormalities. This may be due to “inferior” reproductive cells of the parents.

After IVF, the birth of children is possible both through the natural birth canal and by caesarean section. Considering the high risk of multiple pregnancies and the presence of various concomitant pathologies in the mother, cesarean section after IVF is performed for most women. Other factors that may influence the choice of method of delivery are: the age of the mother, the duration of the period of infertility, gestosis during pregnancy, and the condition of the fetus. Be sure to take into account whether the woman has given birth before and how the children were born.

The process of childbirth or cesarean section in itself after in vitro fertilization is no different from that of conceiving an embryo naturally.

Complications of IVF

Like any intervention in the human body, IVF has its complications:

• Sometimes allergies occur to medications that are used to stimulate the ovaries.
• After IVF, various inflammatory processes and bleeding may occur.
• The risk of multiple pregnancy is high.
• The occurrence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, in which the ovaries increase in size and cysts form in them. This condition is accompanied by various vascular and electrolyte disorders, problems in the blood coagulation system, hormonal imbalance and other serious pathologies.
• Sometimes the development of the embryo after IVF occurs outside the uterine cavity (the frequency of ectopic pregnancies varies from 3 to 5%).

Efficiency of IVF

The effectiveness of in vitro fertilization varies depending on different countries. Not all pregnancies that occur after implantation of embryos into the uterus develop successfully and end in childbirth. Many pregnancies are terminated in the first trimester. On average, only every fourth woman gives birth to a baby after IVF.

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

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 one woman came to a sage and asked for advice on how to raise a child. "When he was born?" - asked the old man. “Yesterday,” the mother answered. “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 a person’s age is counted from the first day of his existence in the womb.

There is no more complex, extraordinary, but also responsible stage in a person’s life. 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 life systems are formed - respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive, nervous, etc. The mother’s womb is the environment for the unborn child, and favorable conditions of 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, a woman is the future of the people.”

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

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

2) fetal, or fetal, is the period lasting from the beginning of the ninth week of pregnancy until the moment of birth.

Every woman who decides to have 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 embryo begins to form all its main organs and systems - organogenesis (i.e., the birth of organs). Now the embryo is extremely sensitive to the effects of unfavorable factors, which can lead to major developmental defects. 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 formed on the 18-19th day of embryo development. Cells that are destined to become " building material"for the nervous system, are characterized by higher rates 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 “launch” the processes of formation and development of other structures of the body. By the 28th day, the nervous system the embryonic system is already a neural tube, in which an expanded anterior end (the future brain) is clearly visible, exceeding in size the rest of the part (the future spinal cord).

In the fourth week, the spinal cord is clearly visible, and its main parts are outlined within the brain. Nerve cells begin to establish connections with each other, resulting in the formation of nerves that connect the periphery of the body to 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 increased complexity of connections with the periphery is observed in the period from the sixth to the seventh week. The seventh week is characterized by the formation of one of the main structures of the brain - the cerebral cortex, which in the future will face the difficult task of ensuring higher mental functions of a person.

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 show due attention to their future baby. His intellectual development begins precisely at this stage, as a result of the formation of the nervous system and brain. But the final development of such a young formation will require 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, and lips. At the same time, rapid changes occur in the child's brain. At the eleventh week, both hemispheres of the brain are already working, and 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 its birth, the unborn child has already formed all the brain cells with which he will live.

During the second month of the life of a new organism, events of great importance occur, which are expressed in the fact that the embryo acquires the features of a human being. Any disturbance in the process of formation of the body of a future person can lead to severe developmental defects. 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 amniotic sac 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, your unborn baby's entire central nervous system is fully formed, which means that he now feels pain in the same way as you. At the same time, the baby is sensitive to any change in the mother’s mood. It should be noted that nature has maximally protected future offspring from many troubles.

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

The development of the human body is characterized by the fact that it is different from the embryos of other vertebrate animals - the rudiments of the mind are already noticeable in the embryo. This purely human path of development is manifested in the specific development of the brain, hands and language, i.e. those organs with whose work our human activity is associated. Interestingly, tongue formation occurs already in a four-week embryo. By the tenth week, the developed muscles of the tongue receive “signals” from the brain. At the same time, research shows that during this period other structures of the oral cavity are not yet developed. The hand begins to work in the sixth or seventh week of the embryo’s life, 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, are reminiscent of the movements of an astronaut in space - swimming, bending, turning over, tumbling. The liquid environment allows him not only to move, but also, no less valuable, to exercise his muscles. This is very useful for the physical development of the child, as well as for the mental one, because the baby’s motor abilities 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 devotes to its exercises. In the uterus, the fetus lies in the cavity of the amniotic sac, 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: irritation of the fetal palm causes clenching 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 intrauterine development. Already in the next month of pregnancy, the first sucking and swallowing movements of the fetus are observed. Fine developing fetus During the day, he swallows about 450 ml of amniotic fluid, which serves as an important component of nutrition 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 its preference for mother’s milk.

The baby's gustatory and olfactory systems, even in the womb, are tuned to perceive and distinguish 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 lactation process 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 completely unique qualities. In addition to the fact that it has a laxative effect on the newborn’s intestines, which creates favorable conditions for the baby to transition to the normal digestive process, 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 weeks of his life. The composition of colostrum is very close to the composition of amniotic fluid. A familiar taste helps the baby “recognize” its mother after birth, which contributes to their strong bond, which apparently begins during pregnancy.

Research by French scientists has 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 weak red light breaking 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. Individual particles of light - photons - penetrate through 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 special role belongs to the placenta, which becomes a powerful source of light in the red spectrum. The more powerful this flow, which permeates 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 rays of light. In the first 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 take a walk around the sun-drenched apartment.

According to the observations of French doctors, in children whose first half of gestation occurred in the 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 and swallow. And the sooner the fetus begins to drink amniotic fluid, the better it will later take the mother’s breast and develop faster.

If in the last 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. Typically, children with thin mothers are more energetic, active, and they begin to walk and talk earlier. Therefore, it is advisable for overweight women to spend more time in the air and take short sunbathing. It is better to do this before eleven in the morning and after four in the afternoon.

For the sake of health and full physical and mental development of children, their birth should be planned within the time frame of the parents’ age established by nature. Practice provides a lot of evidence of the difficulty 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 nutrition from the mother will most likely cause some tension in the functioning of her body. In addition, a young mother is unlikely to receive the full amount of care 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, primiparous women face a large number 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 in pregnant women over 35 years of age. Women at this age are at risk of premature birth and severe pain in the pelvic organs before and during childbirth. Firstborns of older mothers are more likely to be born low birth weight, Down syndrome, developmentally delayed, or premature.

U modern women There is a desire to first arrange your life, build a career, find yourself in the professional field. They are in no hurry to have a child before the age of 30. Modern businesswomen are completely immersed in their work and have a fairly busy schedule.

According to statistics, all larger number Women are faced with the problem of infertility and the birth of defective, developmentally delayed children due to the presence of too many androgens - male sex hormones - in their blood. Possible reason Increased levels of androgens in the blood are a constant stress for working women, and yet every year there are more and more of them.

For a woman the most optimal time birth of a child - 19-28 years old. There should also not be a large gap between the appearance of the first and subsequent children; two to three years is best.

As you get older, genetic counseling becomes more important. Genetic counseling may, in some circumstances, help you and your partner accept correct solution about conceiving a child. 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 possible complications, there is no guarantee that you will be able to avoid them. You will just know what can await you in one case or another.

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

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

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

The special requirements placed on a mother’s life during a period that is extremely important for her and her unborn child are related to ensuring sufficient and nutritious nutrition and eliminating junk food from the pregnant woman’s diet. The birth of a normal baby depends on this. The average weight of newborns is about 3.2 kg. Often children are born, although on time, but with a lower weight - 2.3-2.5 kg. Children with low birth weight are significantly delayed in physical and mental development. This may be a consequence of maternal malnutrition during pregnancy, evidence of inadequate nutrition.

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

According to research, certain dietary disturbances during pregnancy affect the structural and functional development of the unborn child’s brain. In such children, the electrical reactions of the brain are changed, the orientation reflex is impaired - the most important behavioral reaction that underlies the formation of the movements and actions of other people around them.

So, during pregnancy, it is important for the expectant mother to eat right. If your diet is poor, it may affect your baby'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 life of a child’s body, energy is needed, which you give him with food: to create reserves of proteins (protein), fats, carbohydrates. Pregnancy is not a 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 early dates During pregnancy, the fertilized 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 have a harmful effect on 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). You should eat 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 the increase in the weight of the fetus and uterus, the size of the placenta, mammary glands, blood mass, etc. increase.

Products containing complete proteins include milk, curdled milk, 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 compared to carbohydrates and proteins. Fats participate in plastic processes, influence the functions of the central nervous system, endocrine glands, reduce heat transfer and soften the impact of external temperature fluctuations on the body. Your diet should contain up to 40% fats of vegetable origin: sunflower, olive, cottonseed oil, etc. For animal fats, use butter and ghee, refrain from lamb and beef lard, 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 and others 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 winter and early spring months In consultation with your doctor, take vitamin supplements. Today one of the most effective is the Materna complex. We also recommend “Pregnavit” and “Vitrum Prenatal”, among 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 consumption, especially in the second half of pregnancy, despite the fact that you are “craving salty foods.” Your body also needs to obtain sufficient amounts of minerals (calcium, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, etc.) and trace elements (iron, cobalt, iodine, etc.), which are contained in sufficient quantities in your food.

Gymnastics designed specifically for pregnant women will also 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 conduct aerobics lessons with them. Water aerobics, gymnastics and swimming will allow you to remain fit and slim throughout the nine months of pregnancy, strengthen your chest and abdominal muscles, and simply lift your spirits! Swimming is the optimal physical activity for the body of pregnant women.

You can also practice at home with your unborn baby. But even before it is conceived, you should Special attention do special exercises that strengthen the muscles of the abdomen, perineum, and pelvic floor. Strong and trained muscles ensure optimal placement of the fetus in the uterus and contribute to a favorable course of labor.

The upcoming birth will require a lot of physical stress from you. A special set of exercises will increase the body’s performance and defenses to perform physical activity 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, it is necessary to strengthen the muscles of the feet, as the center of gravity of the body shifts. Rotation exercises are useful to increase the flexibility of the spine and pelvic joints.

The ability to control your breathing will be needed during childbirth. Already at the end of pregnancy, perform breathing exercises. To do this, you need to alternate between deep inhalation holds and subsequent relaxation of the body. Most exercises in late pregnancy are performed with a stick or sitting on a chair.

Do all exercises at a slow pace, repeat each exercise 3-5 times. After them, you should not feel physical fatigue, your pulse should remain within normal limits (60-80 beats per minute).

We must not forget about the intrauterine psychological comfort of the unborn baby. The formation of emotional behavior in 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. Nowadays there are many music recordings for relaxation, be it the sounds of the forest or the sea surf. This kind of music has a very beneficial effect on a 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 the unborn child. Sound vibrations heal the body, act like a massage, and affect the baby’s intellectual abilities.

Some smells also have a beneficial effect on the unborn 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 relieving stress. 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 areas of the central lymphatic ducts (armpits and groin).

The world in which the baby will appear, he begins to study in the womb. Embryos begin to hear as early as the fifteenth to twentieth week of intrauterine life. The future baby has a good sense of what is happening around the mother and 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. The unborn baby perfectly feels the mother's emotions. Mother and child share a strong bond with each other. And this connection will never be as strong as during the months of pregnancy.

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

A person begins to prepare himself to understand and reproduce 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 down even before birth. And the character of this code will undoubtedly be reflected in the words of love spoken in a native voice.

It is very useful for your unborn child to listen to foreign speech from your mother and from those people who surround her. The fact is that a newborn child feels how different different languages ​​sound. When he is born, he feels if his mother suddenly starts speaking a foreign language. He reacts not so much to new words as to the general pattern of speech: stress, emphasis, 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 his native language, after a month of life, the baby loses his keen hearing for someone else’s speech.

It has been established that the formation of emotional behavior in adult organisms is largely determined by the former conditions of intrauterine development. For a pregnant woman there should be peace, 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 does not yet distinguish between words, but he will accurately determine their emotional connotation.

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

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 to this particular poem, distinguishes it from others (which manifests itself in a change in the rhythm of sucking the pacifier).

Even in the womb, the child records in his memory the language spoken by those around him. 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 study foreign language- the language his mother spoke during pregnancy - he will learn it with amazing ease.

The influence of bad habits of the expectant mother on the formation of the child’s intelligence.

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

IN last years The smoking “epidemic” has spread to girls and even pregnant women. Drinking alcohol and smoking tobacco are dangerous to the health of an unborn baby. Nicotine and alcohol easily penetrate the fetus through the placenta and cause irreparable harm to its body. The consequences of smoking can be immediate: low birth weight and a “difficult”, loud child. May not be detected immediately: slow development, low level of intellectual data.

Smoking nicotine can cause the development of “tobacco syndrome” in the fetus and cause spasm of the uterine arteries, which supply the baby’s place (placenta) with all the products necessary for life. As a result, blood flow in the placenta is disrupted and placental insufficiency develops, so the fetus does not receive the required amount of oxygen and nutritional products. Tobacco smoke contains carbon monoxide, which, penetrating through the placenta into the blood of the fetus, firmly combines with hemoglobin and prevents the delivery of oxygen to tissues. As a result, the fetus develops oxygen starvation.

Part tobacco smoke In addition to nicotine and carbon monoxide, there are other volatile toxic compounds. Therefore, passive smoking, i.e. 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 easily dissolve in water and fats. Low molecular mass ensures its unhindered passage through all tissue barriers of the body, which protect it from many damaging substances. Alcohol suppresses the process of maturation of germ cells, which damages their most important structure - the genetic apparatus, and the offspring are born with developmental defects. The female reproductive system damaged by alcohol causes 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 lasting. 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 structures that determine mental activity.

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

In many countries of the world, there have long been customs prohibiting newlyweds from drinking 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 unborn children. This was clear to our ancestors without genetics. In ancient India, all women were strictly forbidden to drink wine. Violators of this custom had the notorious bottle burned on their foreheads with hot metal.

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

Damage caused by alcohol causes inevitable deviations and developmental defects of the child from the very beginning of his biological existence. The consequences of alcohol consumption by future fathers can be tragic: underdevelopment of the child’s brain, mental retardation, dementia, even idiocy.

Alcohol can harm expectant mothers long before conception. Not to mention that a woman with his “help” can completely deprive herself of happy motherhood. Alcohol quickly damages a woman’s body, and the younger she is, the faster this happens. The menstrual cycle is disrupted - 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 sperm, ill health of the 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 consumption. A sperm poisoned by alcohol merged with an egg poisoned by the same poison - here it is, drunken conception. The result is distorted formation of the embryo, defective fetal development, dead, deformed or sick child.

In addition to alcohol, tobacco and disease, there are other factors that negatively affect the full development of the unborn child. These may include vibration, noise, radiant heat, ionizing radiation, dust, pesticides, various chemical compounds - paints, varnishes, cleaning solutions, gasoline fumes, lead compounds, mercury, etc. The fetus in the womb of the mother often suffers from even minor exposure unfavorable factors that do not have a noticeable effect on the health of a pregnant woman.

The use of strong nitro paints and varnishes during apartment renovation, the use of pesticides to kill domestic insects, and other household chemicals during pregnancy can, if handled and stored incorrectly, have very adverse consequences for the health of the unborn child.

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 child’s “environment,” influence the development of his psyche and intellect, form the main traits 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 benefit or cause irreparable harm.

Future parents can properly organize their own activities to develop their child’s intelligence. For the expectant mother, moderate work 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 and 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. If you have sleep disturbances, you can take a sleeping pill on the advice of your doctor. The room should be well ventilated before going to bed.

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

The expectant mother breathes for two (the baby receives oxygen from her blood through the placenta via the umbilical cord). 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, a component of the red blood cell, decreases. the main task hemoglobin - transports 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 progresses, while the mass of red blood cells increases by only 18%. A normal pregnancy means that the hemoglobin level drops by about 15% compared to normal. If before pregnancy your hemoglobin level was
130, then during pregnancy 110 is normal. If the indicator is less than one 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 normal viscosity, then such rapid blood circulation 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 unnecessary 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 condition of your blood is outside the normal range, 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 supplements impairs the absorption of iron. Walk outdoors more often, do gymnastics and breathing exercises.

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

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

Many women, as soon as they become pregnant, begin to check their health. 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 child, find out from your doctors your level of physical development, your state of health, and check for diseases that you may not be aware of. First of all, see a therapist, he will refer you to other specialists if necessary.

Diseases of the teeth and nasopharynx can cause a lot of anxiety for the mother and harm the fetus. Such silent diseases as toxoplasmosis, rubella, helminthic diseases have the most severe effect on the unborn child. You should also ask whether you have received all necessary vaccinations against infectious diseases.

Most of the pathogens affecting the mother are too large to cross the placenta into the blood of the fetus and infect it. The exceptions are the pathogens of chickenpox, hepatitis, polio and smallpox. There are a significant number of diseases, including rubella, syphilis and diabetes, that particularly affect a child's intellectual development. Such serious illnesses should under no circumstances accompany the onset of pregnancy. Treating a pregnant woman with any infection is not an easy task. After all, the use of certain medications 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 completely restored.

Rubella, a viral infection, can manifest itself weakly in an adult or go unnoticed altogether (in women, rubella can manifest itself only as a runny nose, a slight cough, or a mild rash on the body for 1-3 days), but in the fetus it causes serious complications. The most severe consequences for the baby are caused by infection in the first three months of intrauterine development, when there is increased sensitivity and susceptibility of the fetus to all influences. The consequences are very terrible: disease or insufficient development of the heart, smaller (relative to normal) head sizes, delays in general development, hearing and vision defects, and even death. Everyone should be vaccinated against rubella - both children and adult women who are not immune, but the latter should first make sure that they are not pregnant.

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

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

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

The risk of complications during pregnancy can be reduced by constantly monitoring your blood sugar. Most complications associated with diabetes appear during the thirteenth week of pregnancy. Doctors recommend especially closely monitoring the development of the disease for at least two to three months before conception. You will need to test your blood sugar levels several times a day 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, which occurred latently in women for a long period, have a particularly harmful effect on the fetus, 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, itchy skin, frequent urination, fatigue, weight loss, etc. Prediabetic conditions, which occur latently 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. The woman is at risk of kidney failure, hypertensive crisis and headache. Blood flow to the placenta will decrease, which can lead to delays in fetal development, and the baby may be born with less than normal weight.

During the entire nine months of bearing a child, you need to monitor your blood pressure if it was elevated before pregnancy. Some blood pressure medications are safe for pregnant women, but some are not. The course of pregnancy may be adversely affected by reducing the dosage of medications or stopping them.

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, develop so-called late toxicosis.

Serious hormonal changes occur in the body of the expectant mother. The placenta produces the hormone progesterone, and under its influence the smooth muscles of the intestines, bladder and ureters relax. You may have a tendency to constipation, and the outflow of urine from the kidneys will slow down (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 source of chronic infection can negatively affect your baby's health. Expectant mothers, as a rule, have a weakened immune system, so pathogenic microbes (fungi, mycoplasmas, trichomonas) are activated and enter the kidneys through the bloodstream. Be especially careful if, even before pregnancy, the salt content in the urine was increased or abnormalities 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 well, although sometimes there are attacks of weakness, headaches, and aches in the lower back. But, as a rule, they don’t pay attention to this, they blame it all on fatigue. Consult a doctor; a specialist, depending on the form of pyelonephritis, will determine the degree of risk for you and the child.

Do not self-medicate under any circumstances! Even if you are being 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 suffer from any chronic disease or need to take medications on an ongoing basis. At the time of conception and in the early stages of pregnancy, it is better not to take medications or undergo any treatment. The laying of all organs and tissues of the child occurs during the first thirteen weeks of pregnancy, so protect your baby from the harmful effects of medications and examinations.

We recommend to parents and specialists the best site on the Runet with free educational games and exercises for children - games-for-kids.ru. By regularly studying with your preschooler using the methods proposed here, you can easily prepare your child for school. On this site you will find games and exercises for the development of thinking, speech, memory, attention, learning to read and count. Be sure to visit the special section of the website “Preparing for Game School”. Here are examples of some tasks for your reference:

Pregnancy is a physiological process in which a new organism develops in the uterus, resulting from fertilization. Pregnancy lasts on average 40 weeks (10 obstetric months).

In the intrauterine development of a child, two periods are distinguished:

1. Embryonic(up to 8 weeks of pregnancy inclusive). At this time, the embryo is called an embryo and acquires characteristic human features;
2. Fetal(from 9 weeks until birth). At this time, the embryo is called a fetus.

The growth of a child, the formation of its organs and systems occurs naturally during various periods of intrauterine development, which is subject to the genetic code embedded in the germ cells and fixed in the process of human evolution.

Embryo development in the first obstetric month (1-4 weeks)

First week (days 1-7)

Pregnancy begins from the moment fertilization- fusion of a mature male cell (sperm) and a female egg. This process usually occurs in the ampullary section of the fallopian tube. After a few hours, the fertilized egg begins to divide exponentially and descends through the fallopian tube into the uterine cavity (this journey takes up to five days).

As a result of division turns out to be a multicellular organism, which is similar to a blackberry (in Latin “morus”), which is why the embryo at this stage is called Morula. Approximately on the 7th day, the morula penetrates the uterine wall (implantation). The villi of the outer cells of the embryo connect with the blood vessels of the uterus, and subsequently the placenta is formed from them. Other outer morula cells give rise to the development of the umbilical cord and membranes. After some time, the internal cells will develop various fabrics and fetal organs.

Information At the time of implantation, a woman may have slight bleeding from the genital tract. Such discharge is physiological and does not require treatment.

Second week (8-14 days)

The outer morula cells grow tightly into the lining of the uterus. In the embryo the formation of the umbilical cord and placenta begins, and neural tube, from which the fetal nervous system subsequently develops.

Third week (15-21 days)

The third week of pregnancy is a difficult and important period. At that time important organs and systems begin to form fetus: the rudiments of the respiratory, digestive, circulatory, nervous and excretory systems appear. At the site where the fetal head will soon appear, a wide plate is formed, which will give rise to the brain. On day 21, the baby's heart begins to beat.

Fourth week (22-28 days)

this week laying of fetal organs continues. The rudiments of the intestines, liver, kidneys and lungs are already present. The heart begins to work more intensely and pumps more and more blood through the circulatory system.

From the beginning of the fourth week in the embryo body folds appear, and appears vertebral primordium(chord).

Completed by day 25 neural tube formation.

By the end of the week (approximately 27-28 days) the muscular system and spine are formed, which divides the embryo into two symmetrical halves, both the upper and lower limbs.

During this period it begins formation of pits on the head, which will later become the eyes of the fetus.

Development of the embryo in the second obstetric month (5-8 weeks)

Fifth week (29-35 days)

During this period the embryo weighs about 0.4 grams, length 1.5-2.5 mm.

The formation of the following organs and systems begins:

1. Digestive system: liver and pancreas;
2. Respiratory system: larynx, trachea, lungs;
3. Circulatory system;
4. Reproductive system: precursors of germ cells are formed;
5. Sense organs: the formation of the eyes and inner ear continues;
6. Nervous system: the formation of parts of the brain begins.

At that time a faint umbilical cord appears. The formation of limbs continues, the first rudiments of nails appear.

On the face the upper lip and nasal cavities are formed.

Sixth week (36-42 days)

Length embryo during this period is about 4-5 mm.

Starts in the sixth week formation of the placenta. At this stage, it is just beginning to function; blood circulation between it and the embryo has not yet been formed.

Ongoing formation of the brain and its parts. At the sixth week, when performing an encephalogram, it is already possible to record signals from the fetal brain.

Begins formation of facial muscles. The fetal eyes are already more pronounced and uncovered by eyelids that are just beginning to form.

During this period they begin upper limbs change: they lengthen and the rudiments of hands and fingers appear. The lower limbs still remain in their infancy.

Changes in important organs occur:

1. Heart. The division into chambers is completed: ventricles and atria;
2. Urinary system. Primary kidneys have formed, the development of the ureters begins;
3. Digestive system. The formation of sections of the gastrointestinal tract begins: the stomach, small and large intestines. The liver and pancreas had practically completed their development by this period;

Seventh week (43-49 days)

The seventh week is significant in that it is finally The formation of the umbilical cord is completed and uteroplacental circulation is established. Now the breathing and nutrition of the fetus will be carried out due to blood circulation through the vessels of the umbilical cord and placenta.

The embryo is still bent in an arched manner; there is a small tail on the pelvic part of the body. The size of the head is at least half of the embryo. The length from the crown to the sacrum increases by the end of the week up to 13-15 mm.

Ongoing upper limb development. The fingers are visible quite clearly, but their separation from each other has not yet occurred. The child begins to perform spontaneous movements with his hands in response to stimuli.

Fine eyes are formed, already covered with eyelids, which protect them from drying out. The child can open his mouth.

The formation of the nasal fold and nose occurs, two paired elevations are formed on the sides of the head, from which they will begin to develop ears.

Intensive continues development of the brain and its parts.

Eighth week (50-56 days)

The body of the embryo begins to straighten, length from the crown to the coccyx is 15 mm at the beginning of the week and 20-21 mm on day 56.

Ongoing formation of important organs and systems: digestive system, heart, lungs, brain, urinary system, reproductive system (boys develop testicles). The hearing organs are developing.

By the end of the eighth week the child's face becomes familiar to the person: the eyes are well defined, covered with eyelids, the nose, the ears, the formation of the lips is ending.

Intensive growth of the head, upper and lower horses is noted In particular, ossification of the long bones of the arms and legs and the skull develops. The fingers are clearly visible; there is no skin membrane between them.

Additionally At eight weeks the embryonic period of development ends and the fetal period begins. From this time on, the embryo is called a fetus.

Fetal development in the third obstetric month (9-12 weeks)

Ninth week (57-63 days)

At the beginning of the ninth week coccygeal-parietal size fetus is about 22 mm, by the end of the week - 31 mm.

Happening improvement of blood vessels of the placenta, which improves uteroplacental blood flow.

The development of the musculoskeletal system continues. The process of ossification begins, the joints of the toes and hands are formed. The fetus begins to make active movements and can clench its fingers. The head is lowered, the chin is pressed tightly to the chest.

Changes occur in the cardiovascular system. The heart beats up to 150 times per minute and pumps blood through its blood vessels. The composition of blood is still very different from the blood of an adult: it consists only of red blood cells.

Ongoing further growth and development of the brain, cerebellar structures are formed.

The organs of the endocrine system are intensively developing, in particular, the adrenal glands, which produce important hormones.

Improves cartilage tissue: auricles, laryngeal cartilages, vocal cords are being formed.

Tenth week (64-70 days)

By the end of the tenth week fruit length from the coccyx to the crown is 35-40 mm.

Buttocks begin to develop, the previously existing tail disappears. The fetus is in the uterus in a fairly free position in a semi-bent state.

Nervous system development continues. Now the fetus performs not only chaotic movements, but also reflex ones in response to a stimulus. When accidentally touching the walls of the uterus, the child makes movements in response: turns his head, bends or straightens his arms and legs, and pushes to the side. The size of the fetus is still very small, and the woman cannot yet feel these movements.

The sucking reflex is formed, the child begins reflex movements with his lips.

The development of the diaphragm is completed, which will take an active part in breathing.

Eleventh week (71-77 days)

By the end of this week coccygeal-parietal size the fetus increases to 4-5 cm.

The fetal body remains disproportionate: small body, large head, long arms and short legs, bent at all joints and pressed to the stomach.

The placenta has already reached sufficient development and copes with its functions: ensures the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the fetus and removes carbon dioxide and metabolic products.

Further formation of the fetal eyes occurs: At this time, the iris develops, which will later determine the color of the eyes. The eyes are well developed, half-closed or wide open.

Twelfth week (78-84 days)

Coccygeal-parietal size fetus is 50-60 mm.

Goes clearly development of the genital organs according to the female or male type.

Happening further improvement of the digestive system. The intestines are elongated and arranged in loops, like those of an adult. Its periodic contractions begin - peristalsis. The fetus begins to make swallowing movements, swallowing amniotic fluid.

The development and improvement of the fetal nervous system continues. The brain is small in size, but exactly replicates all the structures of the adult brain. The cerebral hemispheres and other sections are well developed. Reflex movements are improved: the fetus can clench and unclench its fingers into a fist, grabs thumb and actively sucks it.

In fetal blood Not only red blood cells are already present, but the production of white blood cells - leukocytes - also begins.

At this time the child single respiratory movements begin to be recorded. Before birth, the fetus cannot breathe, its lungs do not function, but it makes rhythmic movements of the chest, imitating breathing.

By the end of the week the fetus eyebrows and eyelashes appear, the neck is clearly visible.

Fetal development in the fourth obstetric month (13-16 weeks)

Week 13 (85-91 days)

Coccygeal-parietal size by the end of the week is 70-75 mm. The proportions of the body begin to change: the upper and lower limbs and torso lengthen, the size of the head is no longer so large in relation to the body.

Improvement of the digestive and nervous systems continues. The embryos of baby teeth begin to appear under the upper and lower jaws.

The face is fully formed, the ears, nose and eyes are clearly visible (the eyelids are completely closed).

Week 14 (92-98 days)

Coccygeal-parietal size by the end of the fourteenth week it increases up to 8-9 cm. Body proportions continue to change to more familiar ones. The face has a well-defined forehead, nose, cheeks and chin. The first hair appears on the head (very thin and colorless). The surface of the body is covered with vellus hairs, which retain skin lubrication and thereby perform protective functions.

The musculoskeletal system of the fetus is improved. Bones become stronger. Intensifying physical activity: the fetus can turn over, bend, and make swimming movements.

Development of the kidneys, bladder and ureters is complete. The kidneys begin to secrete urine, which mixes with the amniotic fluid.

: pancreatic cells begin to work, producing insulin, and pituitary cells.

Changes in the genital organs appear. In boys, the prostate gland forms; in girls, the ovaries migrate into the pelvic cavity. At the fourteenth week, with a good sensitive ultrasound machine, it is already possible to determine the sex of the child.

Fifteenth week (99-105 days)

Coccygeal-parietal size of the fetus is about 10 cm, fruit weight – 70-75 grams. The head still remains quite large, but the growth of the arms, legs and torso begins to outstrip it.

The circulatory system is improved. In the fourth month, a child’s blood type and Rh factor can already be determined. Blood vessels (veins, arteries, capillaries) grow in length and their walls become stronger.

The production of original feces (meconium) begins. This is due to the ingestion of amniotic fluid, which enters the stomach, then into the intestines and fills it.

Fully formed fingers and toes, an individual design appears on them.

Sixteenth week (106-112 days)

The weight of the fetus increases to 100 grams, the coccygeal-parietal size - up to 12 cm.

By the end of the sixteenth week, the fetus is already fully formed, he has all the organs and systems. The kidneys are actively working, a small amount of urine is released into the amniotic fluid every hour.

The skin of the fetus is very thin, subcutaneous fatty tissue is practically absent, so blood vessels are visible through the skin. The skin appears bright red, covered with vellus hairs and grease. Eyebrows and eyelashes are well defined. Nails are formed, but they only cover the edge of the nail phalanx.

Facial muscles are formed, and the fetus begins to “grimace”: frowning of the eyebrows and a semblance of a smile are observed.

Fetal development in the fifth obstetric month (17-20 weeks)

Seventeenth week (days 113-119)

The weight of the fetus is 120-150 grams, the coccygeal-parietal size is 14-15 cm.

The skin remains very thin, but subcutaneous fatty tissue begins to develop under it. The development of baby teeth continues, which are covered with dentin. The embryos of permanent teeth begin to form under them.

There is a reaction to sound stimuli. From this week we can say for sure that the child began to hear. When strong sharp sounds appear, the fetus begins to actively move.

Fetal position changes. The head is raised and is in an almost vertical position. The arms are bent at the elbow joints, the fingers are clenched into a fist almost all the time. Periodically, the child begins to suck his thumb.

The heartbeat becomes clear. From now on, the doctor can listen to him using a stethoscope.

Eighteenth week (120-126 days)

The child's weight is about 200 grams, length - up to 20 cm.

The formation of sleep and wakefulness begins. Most of the time the fetus sleeps, movements stop during this time.

At this time, the woman may already begin to feel the baby moving, especially with repeated pregnancies. The first movements are felt as gentle jolts. A woman may feel more active movements when she is nervous or stressed, which affects the emotional state of the child. At this stage, the norm is about ten episodes of fetal movement per day.

Nineteenth week (127-133 days)

The child’s weight increases to 250-300 grams, body length – to 22-23 cm. The proportions of the body change: the head lags behind the body in growth, the arms and legs begin to lengthen.

Movements become more frequent and noticeable. They can be felt not only by the woman herself, but also by other people by placing their hand on their stomach. Primigravidas at this time can only begin to feel movements.

The endocrine system is improved: the pancreas, pituitary gland, adrenal glands, gonads, thyroid and parathyroid glands are actively functioning.

Blood composition has changed: In addition to erythrocytes and leukocytes, the blood contains monocytes and lymphocytes. The spleen begins to take part in hematopoiesis.

Twentieth week (134-140 days)

Body length increases to 23-25 ​​cm, weight – up to 340 grams.

The fetal skin is still thin, covered with protective lubricant and vellus hairs, which can persist until childbirth. Subcutaneous fatty tissue develops intensively.

Well formed eyes, at twenty weeks the blink reflex begins to appear.

Improved movement coordination: The child confidently brings his finger to his mouth and begins to suck it. Facial expressions are pronounced: the fetus may close its eyes, smile, or frown.

This week all women are already feeling movements., regardless of the number of pregnancies. Movement activity varies throughout the day. When stimuli appear (loud sounds, stuffy rooms), the child begins to move very violently and actively.

Fetal development in the sixth obstetric month (21-24 weeks)

Twenty-first week (days 141-147)

Body weight grows to 380 grams, fetal length – up to 27 cm.

The layer of subcutaneous tissue increases. The skin of the fetus is wrinkled, with many folds.

Fetal movements become more active and tangible. The fetus moves freely in the uterine cavity: it lies head down or buttocks, across the uterus. Can pull on the umbilical cord, push off the walls of the uterus with hands and feet.

Changes in sleep and wakefulness patterns. Now the fetus spends less time sleeping (16-20 hours).

Twenty-second week (148-154 days)

At week 22, the size of the fetus increases to 28 cm, weight - up to 450-500 grams. The size of the head becomes proportional to the body and limbs. The legs are bent almost all the time.

The fetal spine is fully formed: It has all the vertebrae, ligaments and joints. The process of strengthening bones continues.

Improves the fetal nervous system: The brain already contains all the nerve cells (neurons) and has a mass of about 100 grams. The child begins to take an interest in his body: he feels his face, arms, legs, tilts his head, brings his fingers to his mouth.

Heart size increases significantly, the functionality of the cardiovascular system is improved.

Twenty-third week (155-161 days)

The length of the fetal body is 28-30 cm, weight is about 500 grams. Pigment begins to be synthesized in the skin, resulting in the skin becoming bright red. The subcutaneous fatty tissue is still quite thin, as a result the child looks very thin and wrinkled. The lubricant covers the entire skin and is more abundant in the folds of the body (elbow, axillary, inguinal, etc. folds).

Development of internal genital organs continues: in boys - the scrotum, in girls - the ovaries.

Respiratory frequency increases up to 50-60 times per minute.

The swallowing reflex is still well developed: the child constantly swallows amniotic fluid with particles of protective skin lubricant. The liquid part of the amniotic fluid is absorbed into the blood, leaving a thick green-black substance (meconium) in the intestines. Normally, the bowel should not have a bowel movement until the baby is born. Sometimes swallowing water causes hiccups in the fetus; a woman can feel it in the form of rhythmic movements for several minutes.

Twenty-fourth week (162-168 days)

By the end of this week, the weight of the fetus increases to 600 grams, body length to 30-32 cm.

The movements are becoming stronger and clearer. The fetus takes up almost all the space in the uterus, but can still change position and turn over. Muscles grow rapidly.

By the end of the sixth month the child has good developed organs feelings. Vision begins to function. If a bright light hits a woman’s belly, the fetus begins to turn away and closes her eyelids tightly. Hearing is well developed. The fetus determines pleasant and unpleasant sounds for itself and reacts to them differently. When hearing pleasant sounds, the child behaves calmly, his movements become calm and measured. When unpleasant sounds occur, it begins to freeze or, conversely, moves very actively.

An emotional connection is established between mother and child. If a woman experiences negative emotions (fear, anxiety, melancholy), the child begins to experience similar feelings.

Fetal development in the seventh obstetric month (25-28 weeks)

Twenty-fifth week (169-175 days)

The length of the fetus is 30-34 cm, body weight increases to 650-700 grams. The skin becomes elastic, the number and severity of folds decreases due to the accumulation of subcutaneous fatty tissue. The skin remains thin with a large number of capillaries, giving it a red color.

The face has a familiar appearance to a person: eyes, eyelids, eyebrows, eyelashes, cheeks, ears are well defined. The cartilage of the ears remains thin and soft, their bends and curls are not fully formed.

Bone marrow develops intensively, which takes on the main role in hematopoiesis. The strengthening of the fetal bones continues.

Important processes occur in lung maturation: small elements of lung tissue (alveoli) are formed. Before the baby is born, they are without air and resemble deflated balloons, which straighten out only after the first cry of the newborn. From week 25, the alveoli begin to produce a special substance (surfactant) necessary to maintain their shape.

Twenty-sixth week (176-182 days)

The length of the fruit is about 35 cm, the weight increases to 750-760 grams. The growth of muscle tissue and subcutaneous fat continues. Bones are strengthened and permanent teeth continue to develop.

The formation of the genital organs continues. In boys, the testicles begin to descend into the scrotum (the process lasts 3-4 weeks). In girls, the formation of the external genitalia and vagina is completed.

Improved sense organs. The child develops a sense of smell (smell).

Twenty-seventh week (183-189 days)

Weight increases to 850 grams, body length - up to 37 cm.

The organs of the endocrine system are actively functioning, in particular the pancreas, pituitary gland and thyroid gland.

The fruit is quite active, makes freely various movements inside the uterus.

From the twenty-seventh week in the child individual metabolism begins to form.

Twenty-eighth week (190-196 days)

The child’s weight increases to 950 grams, body length – 38 cm.

By this age the fetus becomes practically viable. In the absence of organ pathology, a child with good care and treatment can survive.

Subcutaneous fat continues to accumulate. The skin is still red in color, the vellus hair begins to gradually fall out, remaining only on the back and shoulders. Eyebrows, eyelashes, and hair on the head become darker. The child begins to open his eyes frequently. The cartilage of the nose and ears remains soft. The nails do not yet reach the edge of the nail phalanx.

This week starts more one of the cerebral hemispheres is actively functioning. If the right hemisphere becomes active, then the child becomes left-handed; if the left hemisphere becomes active, then right-handedness develops.

Fetal development in the eighth month (29-32 weeks)

Twenty-ninth week (197-203 days)

The weight of the fetus is about 1200 grams, the height increases to 39 cm.

The baby has already grown enough and takes up almost all the space in the uterus. Movements become less chaotic. The movements manifest themselves in the form of periodic kicks with the legs and arms. The fetus begins to take a definite position in the uterus: head or buttocks down.

All organ systems continue to improve. The kidneys already secrete up to 500 ml of urine per day. The load on the cardiovascular system increases. The blood circulation of the fetus is still significantly different from the blood circulation of the newborn.

Thirtieth week (204-210 days)

Body weight increases to 1300-1350 grams, height remains approximately the same - about 38-39 cm.

Subcutaneous fat tissue constantly accumulates, skin folds straighten out. The child adapts to the lack of space and takes a certain position: curls up, arms and legs crossed. The skin still has a bright color, the amount of grease and vellus hair decreases.

Alveolar development and surfactant production continues. The lungs prepare for the birth of the baby and the start of breathing.

Brain development continues brain, the number of convolutions and the area of ​​the cortex increases.

Thirty-first week (211-217 days)

The child's weight is about 1500-1700 grams, height increases to 40 cm.

Your child's sleep and wake patterns change. Sleep still takes a long time, during which time there is no motor activity of the fetus. While awake, the child actively moves and pushes.

Fully formed eyes. During sleep, the child closes his eyes, while awake, the eyes are open, and the child blinks periodically. All children have the same iris color ( blue color), then after birth it begins to change. The fetus reacts to bright light by constricting or dilating the pupil.

Brain size increases. Now its volume is about 25% of the volume of the adult brain.

Thirty-second week (218-224 days)

The child's height is about 42 cm, weight - 1700-1800 grams.

Accumulation of subcutaneous fat continues, due to which the skin becomes lighter, there are practically no folds left on it.

Internal organs are improved: organs of the endocrine system intensively secrete hormones, surfactant accumulates in the lungs.

The fetus produces a special hormone, which promotes the formation of estrogen in the mother’s body, as a result, the mammary glands begin to prepare for milk production.

Fetal development in the ninth month (33-36 weeks)

Thirty-third week (225-231 days)

The weight of the fetus increases to 1900-2000 grams, the height is about 43-44 cm.

Skin becomes increasingly lighter and smoother, the layer of fatty tissue increases. The vellus hair is increasingly wiped off, and the layer of protective lubricant, on the contrary, increases. Nails grow to the edge of the nail phalanx.

The baby becomes increasingly cramped in the uterine cavity, so his movements become more rare, but strong. The position of the fetus is fixed (head or buttocks down), the likelihood that the child will turn over after this period is extremely small.

The functioning of internal organs is becoming more and more improved: the mass of the heart increases, the formation of the alveoli is almost complete, the tone of the blood vessels increases, the brain is fully formed.

Thirty-fourth week (232-238 days)

The child's weight ranges from 2000 to 2500 grams, height is about 44-45 cm.

The baby now occupies a stable position in the uterus. The bones of the skull are soft and mobile thanks to the fontanelles, which can close only a few months after birth.

Head hair grows rapidly and take on a certain color. However, hair color may change after childbirth.

Intensive strengthening of bones is noted, in connection with this, the fetus begins to take calcium from the mother’s body (the woman may notice the appearance of cramps at this time).

The child constantly swallows amniotic fluid, thereby stimulating the gastrointestinal tract and the functioning of the kidneys, which produce at least 600 ml of clear urine per day.

Thirty-fifth week (239-245 days)

Every day the child gains 25-35 grams. Weight during this period can vary greatly and by the end of the week it is 2200-2700 grams. Height increases to 46 cm.

All internal organs of the child continue to improve, preparing the body for the upcoming extrauterine existence.

Fatty tissue is intensively deposited, the child becomes more well-fed. The amount of vellus hair is greatly reduced. The nails have already reached the tips of the nail phalanges.

A sufficient amount of meconium has already accumulated in the fetal intestines, which normally should go away 6-7 hours after birth.

Thirty-sixth week (246-252 days)

The weight of a child varies greatly and can range from 2000 to 3000 grams, height - within 46-48 cm

The fetus already has well-developed subcutaneous fatty tissue, skin color becomes lighter, wrinkles and folds disappear completely.

The baby occupies a certain position in the uterus: more often he lies upside down (less often, with his legs or buttocks, in some cases, transversely), his head is bent, his chin is pressed to his chest, his arms and legs are pressed to his body.

Skull bones, unlike other bones, remain soft, with cracks (fontanelles), which will allow the baby's head to be more pliable when passing through the birth canal.

All organs and systems are fully developed for the existence of a child outside the womb.

Fetal development in the tenth obstetric month

Thirty-seventh week (254-259 days)

The child's height increases to 48-49 cm, weight can fluctuate significantly. The skin has become lighter and thicker, the fat layer increases every day by 14-15 grams per day.

Cartilages of the nose and ears become denser and more elastic.

Fully lungs are formed and mature, the alveoli contain the necessary amount of surfactant for the newborn to breathe.

The digestive system has matured: Contractions occur in the stomach and intestines to push food through (peristalsis).

Thirty-eighth week (260-266 days)

A child's weight and height vary greatly.

The fetus is fully mature and ready to be born. Externally, the child looks like a full-term newborn. The skin is light, the fatty tissue is sufficiently developed, and vellus hair is practically absent.

Thirty-ninth week (267-273 days)

Typically two weeks before birth the fruit begins to descend, pressing against the pelvic bones. The child has already reached full maturity. The placenta begins to gradually age and its metabolic processes deteriorate.

The weight of the fetus increases significantly (30-35 grams per day). The proportions of the body change completely: the chest and shoulder girdle are well developed, the belly is round, and the limbs are long.

Well developed sense organs: the child catches all sounds, sees bright colors, can focus his vision, and taste buds are developed.

Fortieth week (274-280 days)

All indicators of fetal development correspond to new to the awaited one. The baby is completely ready for birth. The weight can vary significantly: from 250 to 4000 and above grams.

The uterus begins to periodically contract(), which is manifested by aching pain in the lower abdomen. The cervix opens slightly, and the fetal head is pressed closer to the pelvic cavity.

The skull bones are still soft and pliable, which allows the baby’s head to change shape and pass the birth canal more easily.

Fetal development by week of pregnancy - Video

Pregnancy is a unique physiological process that allows parent cells to unite and form a new organism. Fetal development by week of pregnancy - most interesting event, which many mothers like to remember. Every day and week of pregnancy entails tremendous changes in the fetus and unforgettable impressions on the mother. From this article, expectant mothers will learn a lot of useful and interesting information: when the baby begins to lead an active lifestyle, hear her voice. It is no less interesting to know about changes in the weight of the fetus when the long-awaited ultrasound takes place to determine the sex of the baby.

Intrauterine development of the fetus is divided into two stages:

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

There is a real due date, which is counted from the moment of fertilization, and an obstetric one, which takes into account the first day of the last menstruation. Their difference is 14 days.

An exciting journey through the weeks of pregnancy

First

Happened an important event– fertilization. The zygote begins its formation. With every day and even hour, the number of embryonic cells increases through fragmentation 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 attaches to the wall of the uterus. This process is called implantation, it is critical moment for embryo development. The mother's body is rebuilt, producing hormones to protect the embryo. There may be pink or brown discharge.

In the same week, the cells of the fertilized egg group:

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

Third

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

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

Fourth

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, and limbs are born. Extraembryonic organs are formed: the yolk sac, which provides nutrition to the embryo, and the chorion, the future placenta.

Fifth

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

• 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 an ultrasound, you can see inaccurate facial features, slits for the mouth, and recesses for the eyes and nose.

Sixth

The heart, lungs and bronchial tree are improved. Facial features continue to emerge, and 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 add to the family album the first photograph of the child's intrauterine development. 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 rapid development of the brain, the middle layer of the adrenal glands, and lymph nodes.

Eighth

The formation of vital organs and tissues is nearing completion. The size of the embryo is only 4 mm, but it already looks like a properly formed organism with protruding fingers, joints, ears, 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 this is imperceptible to the expectant mother.

Ninth

The embryo enters 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, lymph nodes, mammary glands, and genitals continue to develop over the weeks.

Enormous changes occur: the tiny creature moves its head, swims in the uterus, reacts to the mother’s movements and hears sounds, grabs the umbilical cord, and puts a finger in its mouth. The urinary system begins to work, the sense of smell develops, which will help the newborn 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, ossification of the skull and skeleton occurs, the membranes between the fingers disappear. The liver begins to secrete bile, the intestines contract.

Eleventh

The baby's weight is 8 grams, body length is 5 cm. The formation of blood vessels is nearing completion, the heart is working correctly, the placenta becomes denser and creates excellent protection for the emerging organism. The head is still large, but its transformations occur every day; the liver occupies 10% of the entire body.

Twelfth

The first trimester is at its final stage. The tiny creature has increased significantly and weighs about 9 cm. The rudiments of baby teeth are formed. The digestive system, bones and muscles continue their transformations. The little man is able to smile, sleeps little and has his own taste preferences. The immune system becomes stronger. The belly of the expectant mother is rounded.

Thirteenth

The baby's weight reaches 15-25 grams, height is 10 cm, the heart beats 150 times per minute, and 30 liters of blood are pumped. The cerebral cortex becomes more complex, and the sweat glands come to work. The fetus ingests nutrients and spits out liquid, exercising the lungs. The mouth gap 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 and removes waste.

Fourteenth

The intrauterine baby is becoming more and more active. Her weight is 35-45 grams, her height is 11 cm. The skeleton is being formed, the diaphragm is preparing for the first cry, the child has a Rh factor and blood type. The thyroid gland develops, the body prepares to digest proteins and begin to store fat. The intestines produce the first stool, which consists of bile.

The eyes have taken their allotted place, the facial features have taken on correct form. The uterus becomes heavier, its weight is 250 grams.

Fifteenth

The size of the fruit resembles an orange, weighs 70 grams, and height is 13 cm. Most of the body is covered with hair fluff, which retains heat. When the child gains a sufficient amount of fatty tissue, heat exchange will be involved in the process, and then the excess hairs will fall off.

The nails are already formed and lines are being drawn at the fingertips. The child grimaces, the sucking reflex is well developed. The genitals continue to form.

Sixteenth

The baby's height is 14 cm. All components appeared in the blood. The neck is aligned, the liver takes on the function of digestion. The formation of permanent teeth is underway, replacing baby 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 brain development.

Seventeenth

The man’s height is already more than 15 cm, his weight exceeds the weight of the placenta. The neck has become stronger, and the head now 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.

Emotional and mental development is underway, so a pregnant woman is strictly forbidden to experience stress, worry, or be nervous.

Eighteenth

The child's inner ear is formed, the retina of the eye gains sensitivity, the blink reflex appears, but the eyelids are still drooping, and the rudiments of molars are being formed. The baby is responding better to voices, so you don’t need to be shy about talking to your tummy.

Nineteenth

The fruit can be compared to a small zucchini. The length reaches 16-17 cm, and the weight is 300 g. The skin is protected by vernix lubrication from amniotic fluid. A leap in development occurs, movements become obvious and correct. The head rotates and maintains its position for a long time. The baby reacts well to factors from the outside world and responds to them with strong blows.

Twentieth

The tiny creature has already reached 20 cm. It begins to show its dissatisfaction with the mother’s incorrect postures or loud sounds, and can distinguish the time of day.

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

Twenty-one

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. Boys develop testicles, and girls develop a 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.

Premature birth at 22 weeks can occur successfully, because modern equipment is available to care for such babies.

Twenty-third

The baby’s weight increases, and the uterus also grows, creating discomfort for the mother. There is a wrinkled appearance of the skin, and fatty tissues grow. Arms and legs lengthen, nails and hair grow.

The boys' genitals move down to the right place. It’s impossible to believe, but such a small creature is capable of dreaming. The number of movements reaches 10 times a day.

Twenty-four

The height of the little man is 30 cm, he may already be hiccupping due to improper ingestion of amniotic fluid or hypoxia, you need to notify the gynecologist about this.

The child often changes position. He no longer has enough space in the placenta and begins to push and push more persistently.

Twenty-fifth

The future family member has a body length of 33 cm and weighs 700 grams. The skin gains density and color. The lungs are training, preparing for the first breath, the brain begins to work with the adrenal glands. Muscles appear.

Weakness and dizziness in the mother mean signs of anemia, you need to see a doctor.

Twenty-sixth

Weight reaches 750 grams, height 35-36 cm. Little creature acquires individual characteristics. The jolts become painful for the mother, and close people can trace the baby’s movements.

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

Twenty-seventh

The weight of the baby increases to one kilogram. The endocrine system begins to produce new functions, the amount of subcutaneous fat approaches normal. The substance that promotes the full expansion of the lungs has been completely developed.

Twenty-eighth

The baby already weighs more than one kilogram and is 38 cm tall. His skin becomes smooth because adipose tissue increases.

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 vernix lubrication and fluff on the body are reduced. The child receives a sufficient amount of antibodies from the parent’s blood.

Thirtieth

This is the period when the future family member is growing rapidly, thermoregulation is developed, the liver accumulates iron, and the eyes open completely. The child assumes a position for a favorable birth.

Thirty-one

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

In boys, the testicles “reach” the scrotum, in girls the clitoris appears.

Thirty-second

The baby is growing, but his skull is still soft, his internal organs are fully functioning. The body produces immunoglobulins, which reproduce the baby’s protection from bacteria and microbes 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-four

The baby 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 fruit weighs about 3 kg, the 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 will immediately begin their work. A 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 improved.

Thirty-eighth

The 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. The little person perfectly senses sounds and light, the sucking reflex is developed.

Fortieth

The family is waiting for a new addition, and it will happen soon. The weight of “little happiness” is 3.5 – 4 kg, height – 51-54 cm.

The stomach drops significantly. The mucus plug and amniotic fluid recede, and contractions begin. After a certain time, the long-awaited baby will be born. Specialists are assessing his condition and monitoring his health for several days.

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

Film about the development of the fetus in the womb

Reading time: 11 minutes.

The stages of a child's development in the mother's womb are called trimesters, each of which is marked by intense transformations in the fetal body and its structure. The duration of a trimester is from 90 days. During this time, the child manages to reach a new level of development. Let's look at the development of a child in the womb and their key features week by week.

Development of a child in the womb using the example of a mannequin

Child development in the first trimester

The first trimester of pregnancy begins from the moment of conception and lasts on average until the 15th week.

1 Week. The body is preparing for future motherhood. The body actively creates conditions for the most comfortable conception, and a little later, the development of the child in the womb. In the next two weeks, the body will need to form a prototype of the future child.

The structure of the genital organs and conception of a child

Tips: if possible, stop taking medications, except for those prescribed by the doctor, and gradually accustom yourself to healthy image life - with regular walks, moderate physical activity, proper nutrition.

Smoking, alcohol and coffee must be stopped from this period. Additionally, to prevent the development of fetal defects, pregnant women are recommended to regularly drink folic acid.

First week after conception

Week 2. Changes in the woman’s reproductive organs become more obvious; a slight nagging pain may appear in the lower abdomen. The hormonal background begins to change under the influence of the developing corpus luteum. The egg is still preparing for fertilization.

Tips: The period from the end of the second week to the beginning of the third is ideal for subsequent conception.

Phases of the menstrual cycle favorable for conception

In order to increase the likelihood of pregnancy, it is best to take a short break from sexual activity a few days before ovulation - this will allow sperm to accumulate.

Week 3. During this period, conception itself occurs. The changes affecting the body of the expectant mother become even more obvious.

Tips: for the safety of the child, by these weeks it is best to minimize contact with aggressive chemicals, sources of electromagnetic influence. Avoid X-ray examination of the abdominal organs.

Week 4. During this period, implantation occurs. The woman also stops menstruating. The child’s body does not yet have a clear outline and rather resembles a disk of three layers of tissue, from which the skin, skeleton, internal organs, etc. will subsequently develop.

5 weeks – photo and ultrasound

Tips: During this period, it is extremely important to protect yourself from overheating. An increase in temperature can have an extremely negative impact on the health of the unborn child.

Week 5. The development of the embryo occurs intensively, due to which the child develops the outlines of the body, clearly visible limbs, and a prominent head. The foundations of the future nervous system are laid.

Tips: for better development of the child’s nervous system, the mother is recommended to take folic acid.

Folic acid reduces the risk of miscarriage

Also, during this period, pregnant women need more than ever healthy sleep and rest - due to ongoing hormonal changes, she may begin to experience symptoms such as increased fatigue and irritability.

Week 6. The child’s brain is improving; it begins to gradually coordinate the work of the heart and skeletal muscles. Blood cells begin to form in the liver. The child already has the rudiments of most internal organs. The placenta grows, providing the baby with the nutrients necessary for growth and development.

Tips: during this period, dizziness and toxicosis may intensify. To prevent unpleasant symptoms from bothering a woman so much, it is recommended to always have some saltine crackers and water or juice with her (this will relieve nausea).

Week 7. The child’s facial features become more distinguishable - his ears, jaws, and eyelids are already clearly visible, giving the child the opportunity to independently open and close his eyes. The child makes movements that are not yet perceptible to the mother, but quite noticeable. The child’s heart is already divided into 4 chambers, and the largest blood vessels are formed.

Week 7 – beginning of body formation

Tips: for the full development of the child, a woman is recommended to eat foods rich in B vitamins. You can cope with toxicosis by eating often and in small portions.

Week 8. Internal organs the child is functioning quite actively - his heart is beating, his stomach and kidneys are actively working. The brain effectively organizes the activity of organ systems; the level of development of the nervous system already gives the child the opportunity to respond to external conditions with the help of facial expressions. The skeleton is improving - fingers and joints become clearly visible. The Rh factor of the child becomes clear.

Tips: you need to protect yourself from increased stress – both mental and physical. In order to better control the course of pregnancy, it is also advisable to find a doctor who will accompany the woman until the birth and give her valuable instructions.

Week 9. This week is characterized by intensive development of the brain, especially the cerebellum, which is responsible for the coordination of movements. The child’s eyes are already well formed, but are covered with a membrane that does not allow them to see what is happening around them. The limbs are strengthened. The fingers are already quite distinguishable, but are connected to each other by a membrane.

Week 9 – fingers appear

Tips: starting this week, you need to choose underwear that provides the body with proper support. It is best to reduce the load on the abdominal muscles. To avoid weakening of the veins, you can take medications containing vitamins C and P.

Week 10 During this period, the child’s reproductive system is most actively formed. The remaining vital organs are already quite well developed.

Week 10 – the body is fully formed

Tips: during this period, the mother needs foods rich in calcium - this will protect bones and teeth from destruction.

Week 11 At this time, the brain develops most actively and intensively: due to this, the child’s head is significantly larger than the body. The intestines and kidneys begin to work.

11th week – baby starts to move

Tips: At this time, it is advisable to start saving money for the upcoming maternity leave. This will avoid many problems in the future.

Special care needs to be taken of the skin - it may become drier and begin to require more intense hydration.

Foods rich in calcium contribute to the proper development of the baby's skeleton

Week 12. The child is already quite energetic - he actively interacts with the world around him and reacts to external stimuli - light, sound (for example, he can close his eyes with his palm, or cover his ears with his hands). A fairly good level of development of the cerebellum and vestibular apparatus allows him to navigate well in space. Movements become more varied: the child can already make simple movements with his fingers and turn his head.

Week 13 – the brain is actively developing

Tips: If possible, it is necessary to avoid food poisoning, as well as conditions that provoke a state of hypoxia (intense physical activity, hiking, etc.).

15th week – baby on ultrasound

Child development in the second trimester

When highlighting time intervals in development, we note that the stages of development of a small child in the womb of his mother are quite difficult to distinguish by weeks or months. However, from about 16 weeks, the second trimester of pregnancy begins, which has its own distinctive features.

16 weeks – photo

Week 16 The child develops sucking and swallowing reflexes. His eyelashes and eyebrows are already clearly visible, he is learning to smile. The placenta, connecting mother and child, is already functioning quite actively. Height is already 16-18 centimeters, weight is at least 150 g.

Tips: undergo an examination for possible malformations of the child (a blood test for alpha protein, hCG hormone and unconjugated estriol is recommended). For improvement general condition body, you can go swimming.

Week 20 – baby’s first portrait

Week 20 The baby's heartbeat can already be clearly heard with a stethoscope. Nails form on the fingers. Thanks to good development musculoskeletal system the child can already actively move inside the uterus and the woman can already feel his movements inside her. The child's reactions to light or sound become more varied.

Swimming is very beneficial for pregnant women

Tips: It is very important to protect your back from unnecessary stress. Yoga, massage, and physical therapy can help get rid of unpleasant sensations.

21 weeks - mother already feels fetal movements

Week 24. The child’s lungs are actively developing, and the sweat and sebaceous glands begin to work. the skin has a slightly reddish tint; Amniotic fluid protects it from mechanical damage. The child’s behavior also takes on new features - he can get angry and express his dissatisfaction, he can cry. Periods of wakefulness alternate with periods of sleep, and during the latter the child begins to dream.

Supportive underwear will help you avoid stretch marks

Tips: Due to the weakening of collagen fibers in the skin on the abdomen and chest, stretch marks may form. In order to avoid this, you need to use a special intensive moisturizing cream.

Child development in the third trimester

The development of a child in the womb of his mother in the third trimester is different in that almost all vital organs are formed and in the future they will actively develop.

Week 28. All the child’s senses are already quite well developed. He begins to breathe on his own, the skin thickens. Weight is approaching one kilogram. He begins to distinguish people's voices and distinguishes his mother's voice among them.

Week 28 – baby is fully formed

If we consider the development of a child in the womb by months, by this time the fetus reaches 7 months. If during this period the mother goes into labor, he can survive thanks to the efforts of doctors and his own resources that provide his life support.

Tips: During this period you need to visit the doctor more often than before. In particular, to the number necessary analyzes include blood iron levels and glucose tolerance.

A premature baby can be born weighing up to 1 kg

If both partners have positive Rh factors, another test will be required - for antibodies.

Week 32. Due to the fact that the mother’s body actively transfers immunoglobulins to the child, he begins to develop immunity, which in the future can protect him from many health problems. Thanks to the already well-formed layer of subcutaneous fat, the child’s body takes on new shapes. The amniotic fluid that surrounds the baby is renewed every three hours.

Gymnastics for pregnant women - preparation for childbirth

Tips: due to the fact that the child often rests his feet on the ribs, a woman may experience pain in the sternum. You can avoid this by trying to keep your back straight when walking and sitting.

Week 34 The child's lungs open up and he can breathe on his own. With a height of 40 centimeters, his weight remains about 1700 - 2000 grams, and he continues to gain weight and this dynamics can be clearly seen week by week. Because of this, he is already cramped in the uterus and he often takes the most comfortable position for childbirth - head down.

Tips: During this period, so-called Braxton-Hicks contractions become quite common, which are often confused with prenatal ones. In order to clearly distinguish them from each other, it is necessary to regularly consult a doctor.

The difference between false and true contractions

If your water breaks, call a doctor immediately!

38 week. The child’s liver intensively accumulates iron, which in the future will actively contribute to hematopoietic function. He is growing quickly, gaining at least 14 grams per day. The position of the child is determined finally. Development in the womb is coming to an end logical conclusion and the mother focuses on bringing the child into the world. He is ready for birth and there are only a few days left until delivery.

Week 38 – baby is preparing for birth

Tips: you need to pay attention to the warning signs of labor – pain in the sciatic nerve and contractions.

Newborn baby – umbilical cord cutting

Knowing the features that govern the development of a child in the womb week by week and at each stage, you can prepare for each period of pregnancy, providing yourself and the child with everything necessary. And at the same time - create for him optimal conditions for healthy growth and development.