7 pregnancy month

Contents

Key facts about 7 months pregnant
Symptoms, signs and sensations
Photo life
Child development at 7 months of pregnancy
Examinations at 7 months of pregnancy
Do’s and Don’ts for Expectant Mothers
Popular questions and answers

From week 25, the expectant mother marks the beginning of the home stretch. We will find out what is remarkable about the 7th month of pregnancy and which doctors you need to visit

At the 7th month of pregnancy, it will no longer be possible to hide the growing belly from prying eyes. And a woman increasingly imagines a meeting with a child. This month is exciting, important and special. Together with obstetrician-gynecologist Rimma Bakhchurina we will tell you what awaits a woman at the 7th month of pregnancy, how her body changes and what should be avoided during this period.

Key facts about 7 months pregnant

Readiness for childbirth	At 7 months of pregnancy, premature birth can occur, during which a viable baby is born. Therefore, the body of a woman begins to prepare in advance. Colostrum appears, the pelvis expands, the discharge intensifies.
Heart rate	If at earlier dates the heart rate was about 170, then by the 7th month the frequency of contractions decreases to 140 and remains at this level for a long time. This is due to the fact that the heart has already been formed, now the priority is the formation of its contractile function.
Sleep and wakefulness	The child begins to form cycles of sleep and wakefulness. They do not depend on day and night, and sometimes the baby can interfere with mom’s sleep.
brain development	At the 7th month of pregnancy, convolutions appear in the child, the hemispheres are clearly separated from each other, and the nervous system becomes more and more perfect. That is why the fetus already responds to touch, voices and music.
final position	By the beginning of the third trimester, the baby is already large enough and there is not enough space in the uterine cavity to change position frequently. Therefore, by 30-34 weeks, the child takes the final position, with which he will go into labor.

Symptoms, signs and sensations

The 7th month of pregnancy is significantly different from the previous ones. The gait changes, it is difficult to get out of bed, and tying shoelaces is already considered a feat. What other symptoms can be observed at 7 months of pregnancy.

What kind of discharge can be at 7 months pregnant

Normal vaginal discharge at 7 months of pregnancy is clear, odorless, liquid. Their number may be slightly more than during the period when the woman was not pregnant. This is because the glandular cells in the vagina secrete enough mucus to protect the fetus from infection (1).

If the mucus has acquired an unusual shade or associated unpleasant symptoms, you should consult a doctor. For example, curdled discharge may appear, which is accompanied by itching. These are signs of thrush, which is common during pregnancy.

Colostrum

By 30 weeks, many women have colostrum. This indicates that the mammary glands are beginning to prepare for the formation of lactation. Colostrum is usually excreted in small amounts as a yellow or whitish liquid.

Heartburn

Heartburn has several causes. An enlarged uterus increases intra-abdominal pressure, because of this, the esophageal sphincter cannot close tightly. In addition, there is a “side” effect of progesterone (a hormone that inhibits the contractile activity of the uterus): it relaxes smooth muscles, including the esophageal sphincter (1). All this contributes to the reverse reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus.

Backache

Back pain at 7 months of pregnancy may appear already during the second trimester (especially if there are hernias, scoliosis and other diseases of the musculoskeletal system).

The appearance of pain by the beginning of the third trimester is associated with an increase in the abdomen and a shift in the center of gravity. Increased load on the spine, especially in those who are often in an upright position, leads to muscle tension and the development of pain. You can start wearing a special bandage for pregnant women, which will alleviate unpleasant symptoms.

Pain and tension in the abdomen

Such sensations are associated with training bouts. The pains are periodic, do not increase, are not accompanied by any secretions and pass on their own. It is also possible to increase the tone of the uterus during stressful situations.

Varicose veins

An enlarged uterus negatively affects nearby vessels, compresses the veins of the small pelvis. Because of this, venous outflow from the lower extremities worsens. There may also be an expansion of the veins of the perineum, which also causes discomfort. For the same reason, at the 7th month of pregnancy, hemorrhoids often become aggravated.

Photo life

The belly at 7 months of pregnancy is already quite large. By his appearance, it is easy for others to guess that a woman is expecting a child. The uterus at this time is above the navel, so the main volume is in the waist.

Child development at 7 months of pregnancy

The main organs and systems of the fetus have been formed by this time, but continue to improve: the structure becomes more complicated, new functionality appears.

25 Week

The structure of the brain becomes more complex. Nerve connections are formed. The hemispheres of the brain begin to separate and a furrow forms in the middle. In the lungs, surfactant begins to form – a substance that is necessary for the opening of the lungs at birth.

Growth	34-36 see
The weight	650-750 g

26 Week

The brain and nervous system at the final stage of development. Memory is being formed. The kid remembers his mother’s voice and can already distinguish it from others.

Growth	35-37 cm
The weight	800 g

27 Week

The formation of nerve connections in the optic nerve is completed and vision is improved. Now the baby sees not only a black and white picture, but also colored blurry spots (2).

Growth	35-37 see
The weight	900 g

28 Week

The subcutaneous tissue becomes larger. A fat layer is growing, which is necessary in the future for heat transfer. The formation of muscle and bone tissue continues, bone tissue is strengthened. In the brain, the number of convolutions increases, the hemispheres become clearly expressed.

Growth	36-38 see
The weight	1100-1400 (2)

Examinations at 7 months of pregnancy

A visit to the gynecologist at a period of 7 months of pregnancy is necessary every three weeks, and with high risks of complications, every two weeks. At each appointment, weight, fundal height (FH), waist circumference, blood pressure in both arms, and fetal heart rate are measured (3).

Blood test for infections

In the third trimester, the expectant mother needs to donate blood to determine infections (HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, syphilis). This is necessary to prevent infection outside the womb. It is recommended to donate blood before the 36th week of pregnancy. If positive results are found, contact an infectious disease specialist.

Microscopic examination of secretions

Gonococcus, trichomonas and yeast fungi are microorganisms that should not be in the discharge from the genital tract. If characteristic symptoms are present, such as itching, burning, an unpleasant smell and an atypical color, it may be necessary to be tested for sexually transmitted infections (genital mycoplasma, chlamydia) (3).

Anti-rhesus antibodies

If a woman has a negative Rh factor, and the father of the child is positive, then the expectant mother is recommended to be tested for anti-Rh antibodies three times during pregnancy. For the first time – at registration, then in the second trimester and at 28 weeks.

Normally, anti-Rh antibodies should be absent, but may appear when the blood of the mother and the Rh-positive child come into contact (3).

General blood and urine tests

General analyzes are carried out at least once a trimester. This is necessary for a general assessment of the state of the organism of the expectant mother.

Biochemical analysis of blood

Includes: total protein, urea, creatinine, bilirubin and its fractions, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (ACT) and glucose (3).

Study of carbohydrate metabolism

At 24-26 weeks, the concentration of glucose in the blood, glycated hemoglobin is estimated (shows the sugar level for three months). With elevated rates, consultation with an endocrinologist is necessary.

Oral glucose tolerance test

Held from 24 to 28 weeks. Glucose tolerance test detects gestational diabetes mellitus. This is the name of the increase in the concentration of glucose in the blood during pregnancy, after childbirth, the indicators may return to normal.

Determination of protein in urine

After 22 weeks, it is carried out at each visit to the gynecologist. The detection of protein in the urine during pregnancy in small amounts (up to 0,04 g / l) may be a variant of the norm. But a massive loss of protein by the body may indicate serious kidney disease (pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis), impaired water-salt metabolism, and the development of multiple organ failure syndrome (preeclampsia) (3).

US

The third ultrasound at 30-34 weeks helps to identify possible problems during pregnancy: fetal malformations, umbilical cord entanglement, placenta previa, delayed child development. Additionally, ultrasound dopplerography of the uteroplacental blood flow can be performed.

Do’s and Don’ts for Expectant Mothers

From the 30th week, sick leave for pregnancy and childbirth begins, and with multiple pregnancies already from 28 weeks. Therefore, the 7th month is considered the beginning of the finish line for working women. But do not forget about some important rules.

Weight gain

Weight gain must be adequate: excessive or insufficient weight gain increases the risk of complications. Obesity is at risk for:

development of gestational diabetes,
spontaneous miscarriage,
increase blood pressure.

Underweight (body mass index less than 20) increases the risk of fetal growth retardation.

Physical activity

At the 7th month of pregnancy, the belly is quite large and creates some difficulties for women. During this period, it is necessary to minimize active physical activity and give preference to classes to prepare for childbirth, breathing exercises, and hiking. It is worth giving up activities where there is a chance of injuring the stomach, such as tennis or scuba diving. Recommended daily moderate physical activity lasting 20-30 minutes.

Sexual life

In the absence of contraindications, sexual life has a positive effect on a woman’s health. If there are signs of a violation of the microflora of the vagina, then it is necessary to give up sex until complete recovery.

Air travel

Flying by plane during a normal pregnancy is not contraindicated. It is important to follow some rules (3):

prevention of thromboembolic complications. When traveling, it is worth wearing compression stockings; during the flight it is enough to drink and periodically walk on the plane;
proper use of seat belts (reduce the risk of fetal death in the event of an accident by 2-3 times).