By Sally Robertson, BSc
Week 21
By the 21st week of pregnancy, the baby weighs concerning 400 grams and is poised to obtain a lot more weight. At this stage, the baby weighs a lot more compared to the placenta (which had previously weighed a lot more compared to the baby).
From this point onwards, the placenta will certainly go on to grow throughout the pregnancy, even though not once the baby grows.
The baby comes to be a lot more energetic and additionally develops a sleep–wake pattern that could be various to the mother’s. As soon as the mother is attempting to sleep, the baby could be wide awake and make lots of movements.
The lungs are not yet fully functional however the baby begins to method breathing movements. In the meantime, every one of the oxygen the baby requires is offered by the placenta and will certainly go on to be until birth.
Week 22
At 22 weeks, the baby is for good covered in a great hair called lanugo, which assists protect the baby’s delicate skin. The lanugo assists to hold a greasy film called the vernix caseosa in place, which coats the baby’s physique to protect it from the abrasions and hardenings that can easily occur on exposure to amniotic fluid.
By this phase the baby measures about 190mm in length and weighs concerning 1 pound or 460 grams.
Medical accurate 3d illustration of a fetus week 22. Image Copyright: Sebastian Kaulitzki / Shutterstock
Week 23
By the 23rd week of pregnancy, the baby’s skin is a lot more translucent compared to it has actually previously been and has actually started to transform a pinkish red color. The skin is wrinkled however will certainly begin to fill out as the baby stores a lot more fat.
The baby’s lungs are producing in preparation for the initial breath of air and the physique and head are now proportional to each other.
The baby begins to produce rapid eye movements. In male babies, the testes now descend from the abdomen and baby girls now have actually their womb and ovaries in place, along along with an egg supply.
With quite intensive medical attention, some babies could survive being born at this stage.
Week 24
At twenty-four weeks in to pregnancy, the baby measures about 210mm and weighs concerning 630 grams. The skin is still quite translucent, along with the vasculature clearly visible. The baby has actually a normal sleep–wake pattern and hair is present on the head.
A baby born this early does have actually a small possibility of survival, even though the majority do not survive since their lungs and various other significant organs are also under-developed.
The intensive medical care offered nowadays in baby units has actually led to an increased lifelihood of babies surviving As soon as they are born throughout this week.
However, there is a significantly increased risk that babies born this premature could produce a disability.
The mother’s body
Between the 21st and 24th week of pregnancy, the womb will certainly enlarge a lot more swiftly and the mother will certainly start to look obviously pregnant. The mother’s cravings could increase, however she must attempt to sustain a well balanced, sensible diet. Some mothers produce extend marks about this stage, which appear on the thighs, breast and abdomen.
Pregnant woman along with visible uterus and fetus week 24. Image Copyright: Sebastian Kaulitzki / Shutterstock
They are initially red in color then fade and eventually come to be grey/silver. Small quantities of dairy could additionally begin to leak from the breasts. various other common complications contain piles, backache and heartburn.
Reviewed by Yolanda Smith, BPharm