My Baby's Development
By this week, all of your baby's vital organs have been formed and they are starting to work together.
As external changes (such as the disappearance of the tail takes place and the separation of fingers and toes), the internal developments are taking place too. Tooth buds form inside the mouth. If you're having a boy, his testes begins to produce the male hormone testosterone.
Congenital abnormalities are unlikely to develop after week 10. It shows the end of the embryonic period. Generally, the embryo now has a distinctly human appearance. Starting next week, your baby will officially be considered as a fetus.
My Body
Your first prenatal visit is a milestone. At the doctor's office, you'll go through a series of tests and checks (including urine test, weight and blood pressure checks). You might also have an external abdominal examination to check the size and position of your baby. During this first prenatal visit, your health care provider will thoroughly examine you (including an internal examination and a breast exam). Your health care provider will also ask many questions about your medical history and any family health problems. This is to determine if your baby is at risk for genetic diseases. Any other thing your health care provider will check? Your baby's heartbeat! Using a Doppler stethoscope, you will get to hear them for the first time.
When you leave your first appointment, your health care provider will probably send you for a blood test to determine your blood type and Rh factor and also to find out whether you are immunized against varicella, measles, mumps and rubella (German measles).
Monday, August 27, 2007
Monday, August 20, 2007
Week 9
My Baby's Development
The tail at the bottom of your baby's spinal cord has shrunk and disappeared by this week. In contrast, your baby's head has been growing. It's quite large as compared to the rest of the body and it curves onto the chest. By this week, your baby measures about 0.6 to 0.7 inches (16 to 18mm) from crown to rump and weighs around 0.1 ounces (3g). The tip of the nose has developed and can be seen in profile. The flaps of skin over the eyes begin to shape into eyelids, which will become more noticeable in the next few weeks.
The digestive system continues developing, the anus is forming and the intestines are growing longer. In addition, the internal reproductive features (such as testes and ovaries) start to form by this week.
By this week, your baby is making some first movements as muscles are developed. If you had an ultrasound now, those movements might even be visible. But you won't be able to feel the movements for several more weeks.
My Body
In preparation for your first prenatal visit, take your time to familiarize with your family's health history and to review your medical records.
Have you had any chronic illnesses, allergies or surgeries? Are you currently taking any prescription medicine? Do you know of any genetic disorders that run in your family? Has your menstrual cycle been regular? Have you had any past pregnancies? Do you smoke or drink alcohol? What are your exercise habits?
These are the information that your health care provider will want from you. So, get these information ready when you go.
The tail at the bottom of your baby's spinal cord has shrunk and disappeared by this week. In contrast, your baby's head has been growing. It's quite large as compared to the rest of the body and it curves onto the chest. By this week, your baby measures about 0.6 to 0.7 inches (16 to 18mm) from crown to rump and weighs around 0.1 ounces (3g). The tip of the nose has developed and can be seen in profile. The flaps of skin over the eyes begin to shape into eyelids, which will become more noticeable in the next few weeks.
The digestive system continues developing, the anus is forming and the intestines are growing longer. In addition, the internal reproductive features (such as testes and ovaries) start to form by this week.
By this week, your baby is making some first movements as muscles are developed. If you had an ultrasound now, those movements might even be visible. But you won't be able to feel the movements for several more weeks.
My Body
In preparation for your first prenatal visit, take your time to familiarize with your family's health history and to review your medical records.
Have you had any chronic illnesses, allergies or surgeries? Are you currently taking any prescription medicine? Do you know of any genetic disorders that run in your family? Has your menstrual cycle been regular? Have you had any past pregnancies? Do you smoke or drink alcohol? What are your exercise habits?
These are the information that your health care provider will want from you. So, get these information ready when you go.
Labels:
Week-by-Week Foetal Development
Monday, August 13, 2007
Week 8
My Baby's Development
Marveling over a baby's tiny fingers and toes is one of the joys of the first day of life. Those fingers and toes are just beginning to form by this week. The arms can even flex at the elbows and wrists. The eyes are becoming more obvious because they begin to develop pigment (color) in the retina (back of the eye). The intestines are getting longer and there isn’t enough room for them in the baby’s abdomen. So, they protrude into the umbilical cord until week 12.
Dreaming of a son or daughter to play ball with? The beginnings of the buds that develop into your baby's genitals have made their appearance, although they've not yet developed enough to reveal whether your baby is a boy or a girl.
My Body
Pregnancy symptoms such as a missed period, nausea, extreme fatigue or tight clothes due to the swelling of your uterus have probably prompted you to wonder whether you're pregnant. Once you have confirm your pregnancy from a home pregnancy test, blood or urine test at the doctor's office, you should schedule your first prenatal visit. Your pregnancy may be monitored by one of several health care professionals, including an obstetrician, nurse practitioner, midwife or family doctor. If your pregnancy is considered high risk (such as aging older than 35, had a history of multiple miscarriages or pregnancy complications), your doctor may want to see you as early as possible and more often during your pregnancy.
Prenatal care is extremely important for a healthy and safe delivery of your baby. So, make sure you put a top priority for your prenatal appointments.
Marveling over a baby's tiny fingers and toes is one of the joys of the first day of life. Those fingers and toes are just beginning to form by this week. The arms can even flex at the elbows and wrists. The eyes are becoming more obvious because they begin to develop pigment (color) in the retina (back of the eye). The intestines are getting longer and there isn’t enough room for them in the baby’s abdomen. So, they protrude into the umbilical cord until week 12.
Dreaming of a son or daughter to play ball with? The beginnings of the buds that develop into your baby's genitals have made their appearance, although they've not yet developed enough to reveal whether your baby is a boy or a girl.
My Body
Pregnancy symptoms such as a missed period, nausea, extreme fatigue or tight clothes due to the swelling of your uterus have probably prompted you to wonder whether you're pregnant. Once you have confirm your pregnancy from a home pregnancy test, blood or urine test at the doctor's office, you should schedule your first prenatal visit. Your pregnancy may be monitored by one of several health care professionals, including an obstetrician, nurse practitioner, midwife or family doctor. If your pregnancy is considered high risk (such as aging older than 35, had a history of multiple miscarriages or pregnancy complications), your doctor may want to see you as early as possible and more often during your pregnancy.
Prenatal care is extremely important for a healthy and safe delivery of your baby. So, make sure you put a top priority for your prenatal appointments.
Labels:
Week-by-Week Foetal Development
Thursday, August 09, 2007
A Summary of Foetal Development in the 3 Trimesters
First Trimester
0-4 Weeks
Once the fertilized egg embeds itself into the lining of the uterus, the cells begins to divide rapidly. The formation of the foetus’s body parts commences. The embryo (the egg) can be seen with the naked eye by the 4th week. The head and tail emerges together with an attached yolk sac which provides food for the embryo until the placenta is fully developed.
5-8 Weeks
The embryo is about 2mm long by the 5th week. The heart can now be seen beating and circulating blood via an ultrasound scan. The head is almost taking its final shape: the spinal cord and the brain are growing swiftly. Towards the end of this month, the embryo will grown to the size of an one-dollar coin and the first minute movements of the spine become evident.
9-12 Weeks
By the 11th week, the foetus (as it is called now) resembles a small human being and is about 5.5cm long. The foetus’s muscles have begun to develop. Its movements are gradually becoming stronger. It is also starting to respond to mother’s strong body movements. By the end of this month, it is about 7.5cm long and weighs around 14g, including that all the major organs are completely formed.
Second Trimester
13-16 Weeks
The role of nourishing the foetus is now taken over by the fully developed placenta. The foetus is now 16cm long. It is covered in a fine downy hair (lanugo) and has fingernails and toenails. The foetus, placenta and waters fill up the whole of the uterus. The foetus starts to swallow and pass urine. It begins to experience the food that mother eat.
17-20 Weeks
The mother starts to feel her baby squirming inside as the foetus stretches and exercises its limbs. It is now 25cm in length and weighs 340g. The foetus’s eyes are still tightly closed whilst its hair has started to grow and its teeth are starting to form. By the end of this month, the foetus will be half of its length at birth.
21-24 Weeks
The foetus now has clear-cut periods of sleep and wake. Besides the mother’s heartbeat and blood circulation, sudden loud noises and music or other sounds can be heard by the foetus and it begins to react to these external sounds. If the foetus were to be delivered prematurely, special care is needed if it is to have a chance of survival. By the end of this month, it is approximately 33cm long. It can now open its eyes and as its eyesight improves, it is aware of light changes outside the womb.
25-28 Weeks
The mother will be able to feel the foetus more: its hiccups or its kicks when it’s getting much stronger. It can be felt by placing a hand on the mother’s belly. The foetus is swathed in a fatty substance (vernix) which protects its skin from the amniotic fluid. It is now about 37cm long.
Third Trimester
29-32 Weeks
The foetus is now fully developed. It is ready to take its first breath as its lungs starts to mature. It could be sucking its thumb now. The foetus is now approximately 38cm and weighs about 1.6kg.
33-36 Weeks
The foetus is now passing urine, swallowing fluid and blinking its eyes. To regulate its body temperature better after birth, it still needs to put on more weight. As it now fills up the whole womb and is unable to twist and turn more freely, its position in the uterus is final. As it stretches its limbs, you can now tell whether the protrusion on the mother’s belly is a hand or foot.
37-40 Weeks
Except perhaps for the shoulders, the lanugo has usually vanished by now. The foetus is tucked snugly into a ball, looking pink and round. The baby is ready to emerge from the womb once its head descends into the mother’s pelvis (engages). When this happens, the mother may be able to breath more easily.
0-4 Weeks
Once the fertilized egg embeds itself into the lining of the uterus, the cells begins to divide rapidly. The formation of the foetus’s body parts commences. The embryo (the egg) can be seen with the naked eye by the 4th week. The head and tail emerges together with an attached yolk sac which provides food for the embryo until the placenta is fully developed.
5-8 Weeks
The embryo is about 2mm long by the 5th week. The heart can now be seen beating and circulating blood via an ultrasound scan. The head is almost taking its final shape: the spinal cord and the brain are growing swiftly. Towards the end of this month, the embryo will grown to the size of an one-dollar coin and the first minute movements of the spine become evident.
9-12 Weeks
By the 11th week, the foetus (as it is called now) resembles a small human being and is about 5.5cm long. The foetus’s muscles have begun to develop. Its movements are gradually becoming stronger. It is also starting to respond to mother’s strong body movements. By the end of this month, it is about 7.5cm long and weighs around 14g, including that all the major organs are completely formed.
Second Trimester
13-16 Weeks
The role of nourishing the foetus is now taken over by the fully developed placenta. The foetus is now 16cm long. It is covered in a fine downy hair (lanugo) and has fingernails and toenails. The foetus, placenta and waters fill up the whole of the uterus. The foetus starts to swallow and pass urine. It begins to experience the food that mother eat.
17-20 Weeks
The mother starts to feel her baby squirming inside as the foetus stretches and exercises its limbs. It is now 25cm in length and weighs 340g. The foetus’s eyes are still tightly closed whilst its hair has started to grow and its teeth are starting to form. By the end of this month, the foetus will be half of its length at birth.
21-24 Weeks
The foetus now has clear-cut periods of sleep and wake. Besides the mother’s heartbeat and blood circulation, sudden loud noises and music or other sounds can be heard by the foetus and it begins to react to these external sounds. If the foetus were to be delivered prematurely, special care is needed if it is to have a chance of survival. By the end of this month, it is approximately 33cm long. It can now open its eyes and as its eyesight improves, it is aware of light changes outside the womb.
25-28 Weeks
The mother will be able to feel the foetus more: its hiccups or its kicks when it’s getting much stronger. It can be felt by placing a hand on the mother’s belly. The foetus is swathed in a fatty substance (vernix) which protects its skin from the amniotic fluid. It is now about 37cm long.
Third Trimester
29-32 Weeks
The foetus is now fully developed. It is ready to take its first breath as its lungs starts to mature. It could be sucking its thumb now. The foetus is now approximately 38cm and weighs about 1.6kg.
33-36 Weeks
The foetus is now passing urine, swallowing fluid and blinking its eyes. To regulate its body temperature better after birth, it still needs to put on more weight. As it now fills up the whole womb and is unable to twist and turn more freely, its position in the uterus is final. As it stretches its limbs, you can now tell whether the protrusion on the mother’s belly is a hand or foot.
37-40 Weeks
Except perhaps for the shoulders, the lanugo has usually vanished by now. The foetus is tucked snugly into a ball, looking pink and round. The baby is ready to emerge from the womb once its head descends into the mother’s pelvis (engages). When this happens, the mother may be able to breath more easily.
Labels:
Week-by-Week Foetal Development
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Trimesters of a Pregnancy
Trimesters
A pregnancy is divided into 3 trimesters:
First trimester is from week 1 to the end of week 12.
Second trimester is from week 13 to the end of week 28.
Third trimester is from week 29 to the end of the pregnancy.
As a first-time mom, I ever wonder what goes on in my uterus (womb) from the time of conception to the time of my baby’s birth. As a result, I found the Week-by-Week Foetal Development from www.kidshealth.com. Below is a peek of the foetal development. So, check back every week of your pregnancy to see how your baby is developing and to find out what changes you can expect in your own body, too!
A pregnancy is divided into 3 trimesters:
First trimester is from week 1 to the end of week 12.
Second trimester is from week 13 to the end of week 28.
Third trimester is from week 29 to the end of the pregnancy.
As a first-time mom, I ever wonder what goes on in my uterus (womb) from the time of conception to the time of my baby’s birth. As a result, I found the Week-by-Week Foetal Development from www.kidshealth.com. Below is a peek of the foetal development. So, check back every week of your pregnancy to see how your baby is developing and to find out what changes you can expect in your own body, too!
Labels:
Week-by-Week Foetal Development
Monday, August 06, 2007
Week 7
My Baby's Development
Your baby is constantly adapting to life inside the uterus. The umbilical cord has formed by this week. It will become your baby’s connection to you throughout your pregnancy, providing oxygen and nourishment for your baby and disposing of your baby's wastes. In addition, your baby's digestive tract and lungs will continue to form.
Parents are waiting impatiently to see their baby's face on his or her birth day? You have a long way to go until then. But in the meantime, your baby's face is taking shape. The mouth, nostrils, ears and eyes are some of the facial features. They will become more defined by this week. The arm bud that developed just last week has a hand on the end of it, which looks like a tiny paddle.
My Body
Pregnancy causes many changes in your cervix. By this week your body have developed a mucous plug, which forms in the opening of the cervical canal and seals off the uterus for protection. Eventually you'll lose this plug as your cervix dilates in preparation for labor.
Your baby is constantly adapting to life inside the uterus. The umbilical cord has formed by this week. It will become your baby’s connection to you throughout your pregnancy, providing oxygen and nourishment for your baby and disposing of your baby's wastes. In addition, your baby's digestive tract and lungs will continue to form.
Parents are waiting impatiently to see their baby's face on his or her birth day? You have a long way to go until then. But in the meantime, your baby's face is taking shape. The mouth, nostrils, ears and eyes are some of the facial features. They will become more defined by this week. The arm bud that developed just last week has a hand on the end of it, which looks like a tiny paddle.
My Body
Pregnancy causes many changes in your cervix. By this week your body have developed a mucous plug, which forms in the opening of the cervical canal and seals off the uterus for protection. Eventually you'll lose this plug as your cervix dilates in preparation for labor.
Labels:
Week-by-Week Foetal Development
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Expected Delivery Date (EDD)
Due Dates
After I noticed of my pregnancy, the first question I'll ask is "When will I due?"
At my first prenatal visit, my health care provider helps me to determine an expected delivery date (EDD). My EDD will be 40 weeks from the first day of my last menstrual period (LMP). If I deliver on the EDD, my baby is actually only 38 weeks old. This is because the egg didn't become fertilized until about 2 weeks after the start of my LMP.
It's important to remember that the EDD is only an estimate. Most babies are born between 38 and 42 weeks from the first day of their mom’s LMP and only a small percentage of women actually deliver on their EDD.
After I noticed of my pregnancy, the first question I'll ask is "When will I due?"
At my first prenatal visit, my health care provider helps me to determine an expected delivery date (EDD). My EDD will be 40 weeks from the first day of my last menstrual period (LMP). If I deliver on the EDD, my baby is actually only 38 weeks old. This is because the egg didn't become fertilized until about 2 weeks after the start of my LMP.
It's important to remember that the EDD is only an estimate. Most babies are born between 38 and 42 weeks from the first day of their mom’s LMP and only a small percentage of women actually deliver on their EDD.
Labels:
Week-by-Week Foetal Development
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