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The gestation period begins with the fusion of the egg and the sperm. This combination creates a zygote, the first cell of a new organism. Pregnancy lasts 9 months, which can be divided into 3 phases, i.e. three trimesters. The fetus that develops in the mother’s belly goes through different stages of development in each trimester. What is worth knowing about the development of the fetus in the mother’s womb?
The fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy
The first trimester of pregnancy lasts from week 1 to week 13, which is the first three months of pregnancy. During this time, the fetus develops the fastest, which is also felt by the expectant mother. In the first stage of pregnancy, nausea, vomiting, general weakness, sleepiness and breast tenderness appear most frequently. At the end of the third week of pregnancy, the embryo resembles mulberry fruit in its appearance and size, therefore it is called morula during this period. About 3 weeks after conception, the heart of the embryo begins to work. A placenta forms around the fetus and the body of the future toddler begins to take shape. The beginnings of the head, eyes, ears, nose, hands and feet appear. During this period, the visual organ of the future baby develops, including the pigment of the iris. In the first trimester of pregnancy, the fingers show fingerprints, nails and hair roots. The first trimester is also the period when the baby’s gonadal sex develops. At the end of the first trimester, the fetus measures approximately 6-8 centimeters and weighs between 13 and 20 g.
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The fetus in the second trimester of pregnancy
The second trimester of pregnancy begins at week 14 and ends at week 27 of pregnancy. This period is much calmer, especially for the expectant mother, as the fetus continues to develop intensively. During this period, you can feel the baby’s first movements as it moves through the amniotic fluid. The fetus develops the front part of the cerebral cortex in which a sensory and motor map of the body is formed. In the second trimester of pregnancy, the fetus is already well developed taste buds, which can cost the amniotic fluid. During this period, the baby performs test breathing movements, sucks his fingers and may also experience hiccups. The second trimester of pregnancy is the time when a toddler develops a sense of hearing. Therefore, it is important not to stay in noisy places during this period and try to select sounds that may be pleasant for your baby. Around the twentieth week of pregnancy, if parents want it, during an ultrasound scan, it is possible to find out the sex of the baby. At the end of the second trimester of pregnancy, the fetus measures approximately 21 centimeters. Its weight, however, varies between 630 and 650 g. The fetal heart rate is much higher than that of an adult human being, as it ranges from 120 to 160 beats per minute.
The fetus in the third trimester of pregnancy
The third trimester of pregnancy lasts from the 28th to the 40th week of pregnancy, which is until the time of delivery. In the last stage of fetal development, furrows and ganglia are formed, the amount of adipose tissue increases, the fetus makes many movements and mimic changes are also noticeable. During this period, all internal organs are already developed and the fetal nap disappears from the body of the fetus. In the third trimester of pregnancy, the baby begins to prepare for birth and changing position often causes abdominal pain or pressure on the diaphragm, causing shortness of breath and breathing problems in the future mother. Two weeks before it is born, the baby stops growing in the womb. Just before delivery, the baby is about 50 centimeters in size and the average weight is between 3 and 3,5 kg. The baby is born between 38 and 42 weeks of pregnancy, which is approximately 9 months after conception.