FETAL DEVELOPMENT AND YOU

FETAL DEVELOPMENT AND YOU

DURING PREGNANCY

You’ve just found out that you are pregnant. Questions fill your mind…what is my due date, will it be a girl or a boy, am I really ready for this, should I breastfeed, what Dr. shall I use?….. the list is endless. But the most important question should be, and often it is, “How can I care for myself during my pregnancy to promote the development of a healthy newborn?” The egg and the sperm have joined….the journey towards a mature and healthy infant has begun….and you are the vessel that is carrying it there. That is one very important trip that you and your unborn child are embarking on.

The journey is normally approximately 40 weeks long, starting from the first day of your last menstrual cycle. Most obstetricians and health care providers separate these weeks into three trimesters, each containing roughly 1/3 of the 40 weeks. In these 40 weeks “the single cell that carries the genetic blueprint for the baby’s ENTIRE physical makeup” 1 becomes a fully formed human being.

The first trimester is critical to the development of your unborn child and therefore, it is a critical time for you to take especially good care of yourself. By the end of this time (at approximately 13 weeks) all major organs and the nervous system have developed, bones, teeth (20 buds) and genitals begin to form, your baby’s hair has even started to grow and his little fingers, toes and nails are starting to appear. The placenta, your fetus’ lifeline for nutrition, has also developed. 2 The average 13 week old fetus will grow to nearly 3 inches long and can weigh up to an ounce. 3 Her heart is beating and with the help of ultrasonic devices, by the end of the first trimester, you should be able to hear the heartbeat at your doctor’s appointments.

Speaking of doctors, the sooner you see one the better! Schedule your first doctor’s appointment as early as possible. Although pregnancy and birth are normal processes, there are risks involved and it is important for a health care provider to monitor both your health and your baby’s development throughout your pregnancy.

Because so much of your baby’s development is happening during this first trimester, it is essential for you to do all that you can as soon as possible, to promote good health for you and your unborn child.

Your body’s most immediate response to pregnancy may very well be fatigue. You can sleep all night long and still feel the need for a nap. Go with it…listen to your body and give it what it needs… REST! Since so much of your energy and so many of your

1

Planning Your Pregnancy and Birth, pg. 41

2

Ibid. pg. 45

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hormones are going into the development of your placenta and your fetus 4 it is necessary for you to frequently refuel your body with rest and nourishment.

Make sure that your eating habits are healthy, containing fruits, vegetables, fiber, carbohydrates and plenty of protein. Your doctor may also recommend vitamins. You are after all, “eating for two” and what you eat goes directly to your unborn child through your bloodstream, filtered by the placenta and then through the umbilical cord to your fetus. Now is NOT the time to watch your waistline, unless by doctor’s orders. And by the end of this trimester, your waistline should be disappearing anyway!

If you drink or smoke, STOP! Although a few drinks early in pregnancy are not

normally considered dangerous, consistent and continuous alcohol use is, and can lead to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, a pattern of major physical, mental and behavioral problems often seen in babies exposed to alcohol during pregnancy. 5 The more you drink, the more and the greater the risks to your unborn child. It’s as simple as that.

Smoking greatly compromises the health of your unborn child, and often is manifested as a low birth weight infant. Even second hand smoke has been shown to be detrimental. 6 Let the oxygen that you and your fetus need, flow freely through the air that you breathe, and not be constricted in any way by smoke inhalation.

The second part of the fetal journey towards birth, the second trimester, is usually the easiest and most comfortable. But don’t let that fool you. Your baby is still in need of your commitment to good health for his continuing development.

During this trimester you will be gaining weight rapidly, as will your baby. Your baby is quickly developing into a recognizable little boy or girl, with eyebrows, eyelashes and fingernails growing, and organs that are continuing to develop and beginning to function.

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The brain is forming and continues to develop throughout the 20th and the 40th weeks. 8 Your unborn child can open and close his eyes and has identifiable fingerprints. 9 By the end of this trimester (around 27 weeks) he may weigh close to two pounds and be nearly 14.5 inches long. 10 Fetuses of this age have even been observed sucking their thumbs in utero! You may also feel your fetus hiccupping as his digestive system matures. And is he ever getting strong! The kicks and stretches that at first felt like little butterfly wings fluttering in your belly, can now feel more like jabs and pushes that resist the confines of your uterus.

4

What to Expect When You’re Expecting, pg. 94

5

Planning Your Pregnancy, pg. 102

6

What to Expect When You’re Expecting, pgs. 56 & 57

7

Planning Your Pregnancy, pg.46

8

Low Birth Weight Project. pg.4

9

Fetal Development, pg. 1

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What can you do now to continue the healthy development of your baby? Of course you still need to maintain a healthy lifestyle, but taking care of the two of you now can be a little more fun, and a lot more interactive. You will probably feel the first kicks during the middle weeks of this trimester. At first they are just little rumbles in your stomach, sometimes even mistaken for gas bubbles. But they become more frequent and stronger week by week. Rub your stomach when your baby is moving. Massage that little arm or leg stretching inside you with all of the tender loving care that you will bring to her once she is born. She can feel your touch and she may even respond. She can also hear your voice….. so talk to her, sing to her, read to her. Play music for her, too. Let her know that you are doing the best that you can to assure her safe arrival.

Your energy will probably return to something closer to normal now, as will your appetite. If early in your pregnancy you had morning sickness, most often that is gone by now. Take advantage of your renewed energy and get some exercise. Go for

it…moderate exercise is a great way to stay physically healthy and emotionally sound. Your unborn child may also be affected by your emotions and feelings during

pregnancy.11 Prenatal hormones can sure make your emotional stability feel like a ride on a roller coaster. However, try to keep those hormones at bay. You cannot always be in control of circumstances in your life, but you can learn to be in control of your reactions. Practice this while pregnant. You may very well be paving the way for your child’s future emotional well being. And it certainly will come in handy when your little one knocks the pop can off the coffee table and onto the living room rug!

Keep your bladder empty. Many pregnant women develop urinary tract infections, which, if left untreated, can develop into more serious kidney problems. Keeping your bladder as empty as possible may help avoid this problem. The good health of your fetus is dependent on your good health.

Towards the end of the second trimester you might consider enrolling in prenatal classes, classes that can help you manage your labor and delivery, and prepare you and your baby for the healthiest birth possible. There are several local prenatal class options listed at the end of this article.

You can also start preparing for the care of your newborn. Read….watch videos….talk with friends, relatives, and mothers whom you know and respect….talk with your doctor, nurses and your home visitor, if you have one. Educate yourself on the benefits of breastfeeding. Learn all that you can about it so that you can at least give it a try. The value of breastfeeding is no longer arguable. In 2005 The American Academy of Pediatrics published a statement declaring human milk to be the preferred food for all newborns and recommending exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months, and continued breastfeeding until 12 months. 12 They also stated that human milk is

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Jessica Haws The Aware Unborn and Newborn Child

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nutritionally superior to formulas.13 If you have a boy, you will need to decide whether to have him circumcised or not. Reading the latest information on that can help you make that decision. Immunizations are recommended for all children. Educate yourself about them, too.

There is a wealth of information available. It’s easier to search for it now, because you’ll have very little time once your baby is born. As you begin to make parenting decisions for your child, its good to review lots of information from different sources. Some recommended resources at this end of this article.

The third trimester…..The fetal journey is now nearly over and your unborn child is about to be born. It’s exciting, however, it is not unusual to feel some apprehension along with the excitement. That is only normal.

Your baby is in the fattening up stage, gaining up to a 1/2 pound a week in the final weeks of pregnancy. 14 You may not gain as rapidly this month, but he certainly will. His bones will harden, except for his head, which needs to stay soft and flexible for passage through the birth canal. 15 The average baby at maturity weighs from six to eight pounds. 16 During the last months in utero, your baby will acquire antibodies from you, thus providing immunity against diseases that might other wise put him at risk. 17 His lungs still need time to mature and rapid brain growth continues.

Of course there is still plenty that you can do to be the healthy vehicle that is carrying your child to a healthy birth. Rest, eat well, and get ready. Talk with your doctor about your birth plan. Ask about his/her normal medical procedures and what decisions you need to make. There are many options during the birth process and it is easier to discuss them with your doctor before you are in labor than while you are in labor. Get the essential layette items needed to care for your baby including clothing, bedding, diapers, etc. Take that prenatal/birth class. Not only are they informative, but they may also pave the way to many great friendships and playgroups. Take a tour of the hospital, and ask them if you can pre-register for admission. Know the signs of labor… be packed and ready to go.

Although there are no guarantees for a perfect birth, you are in charge of doing the best that you can to help that happen. This article gives only a brief overview of what you can do. Expand on this…. do all that you can do…. be all that you can be. Then you know that you have done your best and have paved the way for a smooth sail into the

mother/child relationship.

13

Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, pg. 9

14

Pregnancy Basics, pg.9

15

Planning Your Pregnancy, pg. 46

16

www.bebycenter.com/fetaldevelopment

17

SOME RESOURCES THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST TO YOU

LOCAL PRENATAL CLASSES:

Aspen Valley Hospital- 970-925-1120 or check their website www.avhaspen.org Valley View Hospital-970-945-6535 or check their website www.vvh.org

RECOMMEMDED READING:

A Child is Born (video also available), Lennart Nilsson

Planning Your Pregnancy and Birth, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, La Leche League International What to Expect When You’re Expecting, Arlene Eisenberg Murkoff & Sandee Eisenberg Hathaway.R.N.

WEBSITES:

www.babycenter.org: Lots of ads but on this website you will find a pregnancy calendar that will allow you to track your fetus’s development week-by-week, personalized by your due date or the date of your last menstrual cycle.

www.lalecheleague.org The source for breast-feeding advice

Check the helpful links section on Family Visitor Programs website.

REFERENCES

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Planning Your

Pregnancy and Birth, 3rd Edition, (Washington, D.C.: American ACOG, 2000) Low Birth Weight Project, Having a Health Baby, (Denver, Colorado:

Colorado Department of Health)

Flanagan, Geraldine Lux The First Nine Months of Life, Session 1,

Supplement 1, Fetal Development, (Life Cycle Books, Niagara Falls, N.Y., 1992)

Haws, Jessica, The Aware Unborn and Newborn Child in International Doula, Vol. 14, Issue 2 (2006), p.18

La Leche League, Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, 7th Revised Edition, (Schaumburg, Illinois: La Leche League International, 2004) Murkoff, Arlen Eisenberg & Hathaway, Sandee Eisenberg, R.N.What to

Expect When You’re Expecting, (New York, N.Y., Workman Publishing,1988 Pregnancy Basics, Volume 4, No. 1 (New York, N.Y.: Time Publishing Ventures, 1998) Website: Fetal Development: How Your Baby Grows,