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On the way out: how does a child know that it is time for him to be born
Indeed, some babies are born at 38 weeks, others at 41. And what influences this process?
As doctors say, the most important factor is the genetically programmed period of intrauterine development of the fetus. Mother nature is responsible for this. A full-term pregnancy is considered to be from the 37th to the 40th week, when the child completes the formation of all vital systems of the body: cardiovascular, respiratory and others, without which he cannot survive outside his mother’s tummy.
“Hormonal changes in a woman’s body speak of the approach of childbirth at the biochemical level. The content of estrogens in the blood increases, the concentration of progesterone decreases. At the same time, the adrenal glands of the fetus actively produce cortisol, which is involved in the maturation of liver enzymes. Under the influence of cortisol, the gastrointestinal tract is also prepared for the transition to a different type of nutrition. The maturation of the lung tissue is intensifying, which will further ensure the child’s breathing ”.
Preparatory work
The level of estrogen produced by the placenta directly depends on the functional state of the fetus. As soon as the unborn baby reaches physiological maturity, the activity of estrogen in the mother’s blood increases. However, their activity in itself does not mean that labor starts any minute. Contractions will not start because of this – estrogens only prepare the woman’s body for the development of labor. Thanks to them, the cervix becomes softer, more elastic, pliable.
After the preparation of the cervix has been completed, under the influence of cortisol, which is produced by the child, the fetal membranes intensively produce special active substances – prostaglandins. And these are the most powerful stimulants of uterine contraction.
At the same time, signs of aging appear in the placenta, which leads to regular contractions. The maturation of the child and the necrosis of the placenta go synchronously: since the fetus is capable of living outside the womb, and the pregnancy is full-term, the process of childbirth starts.
The physiological symptoms of the imminent birth of a baby are called:
lowering of the abdomen – the child is preparing to go out;
decrease in the activity of the crumbs and the weight of the pregnant woman;
pulling pains and rare contractions (duration – from 2 to 14 days).
Hands, feet, head
The most correct and least traumatic presentation of the fetus for childbirth is the head presentation. There are also pelvic and transverse. For eight months, the baby has repeatedly changed position. It finally takes a comfortable place for itself at 35 weeks, when its size increases. It happens that the child turns over later, but in this period this does not happen often.
Nevertheless, doctors recommend doing a set of exercises that can help: knee-elbow position (10-15 minutes) several times a day; rolls on the back from side to side (10 minutes to lie on each); sleep on the side where the baby’s arms and legs are probed; “bicycle”.
However, whether the baby will somersault or not depends only on him, if we are talking about an uncomplicated pregnancy (cord entanglement, oligohydramnios or polyhydramnios, etc.). In any case, it will be psychologically easier for a woman to think that she did everything to change his position.
“Premature birth can begin at any time, and no one is immune from this,” notes Anna Romanovna. – Prevention of premature birth does not exist. Adverse factors that can cause them include stress, bad habits, fetal hypoxia, infections, changes in the composition of amniotic fluid, rupture of membranes, detachment of the membranes, physical activity, mechanical irritation of the cervix and others. “
The doctor explains: if there is a threat of premature birth (abdominal pain, bloody discharge, opening of the cervical canal), a woman is not shown to have sex. And, on the contrary, if the pregnancy is well-groomed, and the birth canal is not ready, it will be more useful to harass your husband. The seminal fluid contains the same prostaglandins that accelerate the maturation of the cervix.