Intrauterine development of the child: periods and stages with photos. Intrauterine development of the child by months

The human life cycle is a series of victories and defeats, joys and sorrows. And one of the most important achievements is the birth of a child. This is the moment when a person overwhelmed with happy emotions begins to feel significant and necessary. Children are the flowers of life, which bring their own part into the arranged life of their parents and make them relive the memories of their childhood.

The baby's life begins from the moment of conception, and, of course, it is very important for future parents to monitor how the intrauterine development of the child takes place. The entire pregnancy consists of 40 weeks and is divided into 3 stages.

Stages of development

The stages of intrauterine development of a child in obstetric practice are commonly called trimesters. This is a kind of division of the entire pregnancy into three identical periods, according to which the vital activity of the fetus is assessed, tests and ultrasound are prescribed, and the anthropometric data of a pregnant woman is measured. The appearance of any physiological and psycho-emotional changes in the body of the expectant mother is characteristic of a certain trimester, and if they are not pathological, they are considered the norm.

I trimester

It begins at 1 week and ends at 13. This stage is considered the most dangerous, since it is at this time that the fetal egg is attached to the uterine wall, if this does not happen, pregnancy does not occur. Also at this time, the beginnings of future organs and tissues begin to form, so it is very important during this period to monitor your diet, rest in time and be outdoors more often. At this stage, a woman may be overtaken by such an unpleasant symptom as toxicosis. There is nothing wrong with this, unless it is very pronounced and protracted, in which case it is best to consult a doctor. Some women in the first trimester may experience the following changes:

• Impaired taste perception of food;
• Frequent mood changes;
• The appearance of drowsiness and headaches.

All this is often associated with a change in the hormonal background and the beginning of the preparation of the body for bearing and giving birth to a child.

Second trimester

It begins at 14 weeks and ends at 26. This trimester is characterized as the most peaceful and pleasant period of pregnancy. The intrauterine development of the child continues, and at the same time new sensations appear – this, of course, is the baby's stirring, which the expectant mother begins to clearly feel. In primiparous women, this happens at the age of 18-24 weeks, and in repeat births it can be noticed starting from 13, because they have already given birth before and know what it is.

Third trimester

It starts at 27 weeks and ends with childbirth. The safest intrauterine period of a child's development, but at the same time very restless. The child is almost formed and in case of premature birth is ready for independent existence. A pregnant woman begins to have a feeling of anxiety and fear, the frequent movements of the baby are more distinct and at some moments you can even notice how the stomach is "shaking". There are such unpleasant symptoms as heartburn and shortness of breath due to the pressure of the enlarged uterus on the stomach and diaphragm.

Periods of intrauterine development

The physiological process of child development is usually divided into 3 periods:

1. Embryonic (up to 8 weeks) is the most critical. During this period, a responsible event takes place for the whole body of a woman – the birth of three leaves, which in the future are differentiated in 3 different directions: the outer leaf is the future placenta and fetal membrane, the middle one gives rise to the skeleton, skin and muscles, and the inner one is the basis for future internal organs.
2. Fetal (from 9 weeks before birth) – during this period, the future baby is called a fetus and the risk of losing a child is significantly reduced. By the end of the 3rd month of pregnancy, the laying of organs and tissues ends, but at the same time their enhanced development occurs. The growth of the head slows down and is gradually compared with the trunk, after which the body begins to grow faster than the head. The face begins to acquire human features, and the sex of the child can be determined by the grown-up genitals. In the fetal period, the intrauterine development of the child continues until birth, the photo below shows this perfectly.

Ultrasound during pregnancy

Currently, ultrasound examination is necessary to assess Fetal vital activity and detection of congenital malformations. In total, for the entire period of pregnancy, this procedure must be performed 3-4 times. The first time is at 12 weeks, the second time is 21-24, the third time is at 32 weeks. During this procedure, it is evaluated:

• Intrauterine development of the child;
• Compliance with the term of pregnancy;
• Weight and height of the baby;
• His position in the uterine cavity;
• The presence of birth defects;
• whether there is an umbilical cord entanglement;
• The condition of the placenta and amniotic fluid, as well as their number.

Intrauterine development of the child by months

1 month. In the first month of pregnancy, there are no special changes in the woman's body. During this period, the fertilization of the egg by the sperm occurs and the formation of a zygote, which will actively divide and be directed into the uterine cavity.

2 month. The intrauterine development of a child in the second month is characterized by the fact that the baby already has legs and arms, and fingers on them. All internal systems develop and the heart begins to beat with a frequency of 140-150 beats per minute. The weight of the fetus is 4-5 g, and the height is 2.4-3 cm.

3 months. This month ends the 1st trimester of pregnancy. The child's development continues, and at the same time the vocal cords, tongue, hair and nails begin to form. The first rudiments of teeth appear in the oral cavity. The digestive and circulatory systems begin their work.

4 months. During this period, the baby becomes larger. All his organs and systems are actively working, and the child himself already knows how to bend and unbend his limbs, push with his legs. Of the special changes, one can note the development of the cerebral cortex, auricles and the appearance of an individual pattern on the tips of small fingers, also the baby becomes sensitive to external sounds.

5 month. All systems and organs continue to improve If we talk about the intrauterine development of a child by months, then the fifth month is perhaps the most memorable for a pregnant woman for the first time. At this time, she can feel the movement of the fetus and feel the baby inside her. The lungs are still underdeveloped, so you should better monitor your health to avoid premature birth.

6 month. This month of pregnancy carries a lot of changes in the development of the fetus. By this time, he had learned to open and close his eyes, on which cilia appeared, and eyebrows appeared on top. The genitals are formed, and individual features are traced on the face. The baby weighs 750g at this time, and the height is approximately 30 cm.

7 month. During this period, the brain and lungs develop rapidly. Subcutaneous fat is becoming more and more, so the skin is smoothed and there are fewer wrinkles on it. The baby's height this month is 33 cm, and the weight is about 1-1.2 kg.

8 month. During this period, the child significantly gains weight and increases in height. His skin is covered with thick hair, and the fat layer has become even more. The baby begins to react violently to all external stimuli.

9 month. The final stage of the entire pregnancy. By this time, the child is fully formed and ready for independent existence. Lanugo (fluff) completely disappeared on his skin, and she herself became smooth and pink.

Tips for pregnant women

During all periods of intrauterine development of the child, you should adhere to a few rules and tips:

• Review your diet and, if necessary, add vitamin-rich foods to it.
• Don't overwork yourself, sleep and rest are important for the full development of the child.
• At the beginning of pregnancy, folic acid should be taken, naturally, under the supervision of a doctor. Do not use other drugs without prescription.
• If there are bad habits (alcohol, smoking), then you should give them up, because they do not have a positive impact, rather the opposite.
• To walk in the fresh air more often, but in no case to overcool.
• Sexual life with a partner can be continued if there are no contraindications.
• To purchase prenatal and postpartum bandage, it will be very useful.
• Clothes should be worn loose, not embarrassing anywhere, shoes should be on low heels.

Pregnancy – this is a very important period in the life of a woman and her significant other, so it's worth remembering every moment of this wonderful time and just enjoying it.