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Fetal Chart from Baby My Baby

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(crown to rump measurements)

Gestational Age	Length (inches)	Weight (oz/lb)	Length (cm)	Mass (g)
8 weeks	0. 63	0.04 oz	1.6	1
9 weeks	.9	0.07 oz	2.3	2
10 weeks	1.22	0.14 oz	3.1	4
11 weeks	1.61	0.25 oz	4.1	7
12 weeks	2.13	0.49 oz	5.4	14
13 weeks	2.19	0.81 oz	7.4	23
14 weeks	3.42	1.52 oz	8.7	43
15 weeks	3.98	2.47 oz	10.1	70
16 weeks	4.57	3.53 oz	11.6	100
17 weeks	5.12	4.94 oz	13	140
18 weeks	5.59	6.70 oz	14.2	190
19 weeks	6.02	8.47 oz	15.3	240
20 weeks	6.46	10. 58 oz	16.4	300
21 weeks	10.51	12.70 oz	26.7	360
22 weeks	10.94	15.17 oz	27.8	430
23 weeks	11.38	1.10 lb	28.9	501
24 weeks	11.81	1.32 lb	30	600
25 weeks	13.62	1.46 lb	34.6	660
26 weeks	14.02	1.68 lb	35.6	760
27 weeks	14.41	1.93 lb	36.6	875
28 weeks	14.80	2.22 lb	37.6	1005
29 weeks	15.2	2.54 lb	38.6	1153
30 weeks	15.71	2.91 lb	39.9	1319
31 weeks	16.18	3.31 lb	41.1	1502
32 weeks	16. 19	3.75 lb	42.4	1702
33 weeks	17.20	4.23 lb	43.7	1918
34 weeks	17.72	4.73 lb	45	2146
35 weeks	18.19	5.25 lb	46.2	2383
36 weeks	18.66	5.78 lb	47.4	2622
37 weeks	19.13	6.30 lb	48.6	2859
38 weeks	19.61	6.80 lb	49.8	3083
39 weeks	19.96	7.25 lb	50.7	3288
40 weeks	20.16	7.63 lb	51.2	3462
41 weeks	20.35	7.93 lb	51.7	3597
42 weeks	20.28	8.12 lb	51.5	3685
43 weeks	20.20	8.19 lb	51.3	3717

English

21-24 weeks of pregnancy

21st week of pregnancy

Development of the baby

At 21 weeks the baby is about 25 cm tall and the fetus weighs 300-400 g. lack of subcutaneous fat, the body is still very thin, and the head seems unnaturally large. At this time, the formation of eyelashes and eyebrows takes place, the baby learns to blink, and his skin gradually acquires a flesh color, thickens, constrictions appear on it.

At the 21st week, the muscles and skeleton of the fetus are actively developing. The child constantly moves, carefully bends and unbends the limbs, due to its small size it can do somersaults, turns, change the position of its body several times a day, lie transversely in the uterus, turn up or down with its head.

At this stage, the baby hears well, not only distinguishes sharp sounds, but reacts to music, so the expectant mother can listen to classics or favorite songs, contribute to the development of the child. The development of the digestive system continues, taste buds are formed. The fetus is able to distinguish the taste of amniotic fluid.

Pregnant woman

Pregnant woman at 21 weeks feels normal. The expectant mother clearly feels the movements of the fetus; very often, the periods of sleep and activity of the child and the woman do not coincide, so pregnant women do not get enough sleep during this period, they wake up at night due to the intensive movements of the baby. Painful sensations at this time are quite rare, since the child does not have sufficient physical strength, and his movements do not differ in intensity.

A pregnant woman may put on weight as the baby grows, its muscle and fat mass increases. Expectant mothers eat with pleasure. Their appetite increases significantly, morning sickness and general malaise disappear.

At this time, the baby's skeleton is formed, for the development of which calcium is needed. Pregnant women should monitor their health, take calcium supplements as prescribed by a doctor, since if it is lacking, problems with teeth are possible. Calcium is washed out of the tissues, the teeth begin to hurt and crumble. It is important not only to consume vitamins, but also to carefully balance the diet, add calcium-rich cottage cheese, sour cream and other dairy products to the daily menu. The consumption of fish, cereals and legumes, vegetables will help to fill the calcium deficiency.

22nd week of pregnancy

Development of the child

The body length of the fetus reaches 28-30 cm and its weight is approximately 500 g. The child more and more resembles a newborn, his head no longer looks so big, the length of the limbs increases. The kid no longer keeps his legs constantly bent, he periodically straightens them. Intensively increases the volume and mass of the child's brain.

The baby is in constant motion, he can move his fingers and toes, move his head to the right and left. The child knows how to suck his thumb, he tilts his head forward and accurately puts his finger in his mouth. Such actions indicate an increase in sensitivity and development of the vestibular apparatus, improved coordination; the child already feels the position of his own body in space.

The baby's brain at this time contains a complete set of neurons, the number of which does not change throughout a person's life. With age, only the re-formation of connections between cells and the improvement of the work of the human brain takes place.

Pregnant woman

At 22 weeks, the uterus of a pregnant woman is located 2 cm above the navel. The abdomen is not yet very large, but the internal organs are already beginning to shrink due to the accelerated growth of the uterus. A woman may experience some discomfort, pain between the lower ribs. In order not to suffer from pain, you must constantly monitor your posture, choose a comfortable chair with a solid back for work. Special exercises, periodic changes in body position, turns and inclinations will help to solve the problem. It is necessary to avoid sedentary work, take short breaks and fully relax.

The bottom of the uterus can press on the stomach, so a common problem at this time is a feeling of heaviness after eating and heartburn. The position of the stomach in pregnant women changes to a more horizontal one, the muscle relaxes, which closes the transition from the esophagus to the stomach, as a result of which the contents of the stomach fall back into the esophagus, irritate it, the woman feels a burning sensation and an unpleasant aftertaste. The reason for such changes is not only the pressure of the uterus on the stomach, but also a change in the hormonal background of a woman, an increase in the content of progesterone in the body. To get rid of heartburn, you need to chew food thoroughly, eat often, but in small portions. Do not eat before going to bed, as the food will not have time to be digested. If the symptoms worsen, it is necessary to consult a doctor who will prescribe the necessary medications and help the expectant mother balance her diet.

23rd week of pregnancy

Child development

The 23rd week is an intensive formation of the respiratory system. The fetus begins to gradually make respiratory movements. If earlier the respiratory movements were periodic, now their duration can reach up to 40 minutes. In a minute, the child takes up to 50-60 breaths. The development of the respiratory system does not stop at this time, a kind of breathing exercises continue until childbirth, the baby improves skills and prepares to breathe air.

When breathing in the womb, the baby swallows a small amount of amniotic fluid and then pushes it out. In this case, the epithelium is washed. When amniotic fluid is swallowed, part of it is absorbed by the blood vessels, and the original feces, that is, meconium, are formed from the remnants.

If the baby is very active and swallows water very intensively, diaphragm irritation and contractions, also called "fetal hiccups", may occur. These rhythmic movements are not abnormal; such hiccups pass in a few minutes, does not pose a threat to the expectant mother and child. If the contractions do not stop within a few hours, you should go to the hospital, as a more serious problem, including hypoxia, can be the cause of hiccups.

The 23rd week is an important stage in the intrauterine development of a person. It is at this time that the formation and improvement of the main components of the circulatory and immune systems, including the liver, lymph nodes, spleen and bone marrow, continue. At this time, the thymus gland (or thymus) develops, which plays an important role in the functioning of the human endocrine system. It is in the thymus that lymphocytes mature. After a kind of "training" in the thymus, the cells enter the bloodstream and can resist infection, neutralize foreign cells in the body.

During pregnancy, the fetal immune system goes through several stages of formation and cannot provide full protection against diseases. The baby is protected by maternal antibodies, while its own immune system learns to recognize potential threats, remember bacteria and viruses, and defend itself against their harmful effects.

Pregnant woman

At 23 weeks' gestation, the uterus rises even higher and is located at a height of 4 cm from the woman's navel. The volume of the uterus increases significantly not only due to the growth of the child, but also due to an increase in the mass and volume of amniotic fluid and the placenta. At this time, the weight gain of a pregnant woman of 5-7 kg is optimal. The expectant mother should carefully monitor the daily diet, do not overeat, since excessive weight gain can pose a threat not only to her health, but also to the baby.

Intensive growth of the uterus causes a shift in the center of gravity. A woman becomes awkward, may feel discomfort in the joints and pain in the spine while walking or sitting for a long time. At this time, the doctor may recommend that a pregnant woman wear special supportive underwear made from natural materials or a bandage.

24th week of pregnancy

Child development

At 24 weeks of gestation, the baby continues to grow rapidly, it weighs already 600 g, and its height is approximately 33 cm. The fetus occupies the entire uterine cavity, so its movements become less impulsive, but more distinct; sharp movements are replaced by smaller ones. The baby can still radically change the position of his body, but prefers to sort out the umbilical cord, play with it, bend and unbend the arms and legs. The amount of muscle mass, namely the muscle fibers of the child, increases sharply. At this time, this indicator reaches its maximum. At later stages of pregnancy, the muscle mass of the fetus increases due to an increase in the volume of each muscle fiber.

This week the child's senses are being improved. He knows how to distinguish tastes, hears perfectly and orients himself in space, the baby's skin has a high sensitivity. The fetal brain continues to develop, connections with the senses are formed, so the child's behavior is characterized by a high degree of complexity. Studies have shown that the child reacts to external stimuli: if a bright light hits his mother's stomach, he turns his head away, closes his eyes or covers his face with his hands. A woman should be calm and peaceful, because her fear, excitement is transmitted to the child, he begins to move intensively or freezes abruptly. The baby may react to harsh sounds, noise, or other stimuli.

Pregnant woman

The weight of the pregnant woman continues to increase, the increase this week is about 500 g. The belly grows, the uterus not only increases in size, but also stretches. A woman may notice pain in the abdomen, but they do not differ in intensity and do not last long.

Rapid weight gain can cause edema. The growing uterus compresses large veins, which, in turn, significantly complicates the outflow of lymph; a woman's ankles and feet, hands swell, in the evening the problem worsens. A pregnant woman should fully rest, lie more, while raising her legs with a roller or placing an additional pillow in order to improve the outflow of venous blood and eliminate the risk of varicose veins. It is important to purchase comfortable shoes, abandon the "boats" on the stiletto heels and provide the feet with the necessary comfort. Wearing compression tights and stockings will help to significantly reduce the risk of developing varicose veins and the appearance of edema. When choosing the degree of compression and models, it is necessary to take into account the opinion of a phlebologist or gynecologist.

what is happening, the development of pregnancy and fetus

Week by week
21st - 24th weeks of pregnancy
Elena Gevorkova
Obstetrician-gynecologist, Moscow

21st week

BABY

The growth of the fetus from crown to heels this week is about 25 cm, and the weight is 300-400 g. At the 21st week of pregnancy, the baby already very similar to a newborn child, but somewhat thinner and with a larger head. Eyebrows and eyelashes are fully formed, and the fetus blinks frequently. His skin takes on a flesh color, thickens, and constrictions appear on it due to the development of subcutaneous fat.

Intensive development of fetal muscles and skeleton continues. The baby is active, and its small size allows you to make a variety of movements - somersaults, turns around its axis, intense flexion and extension of the arms and legs. During the day, the fetus can change its position in the uterus dozens of times: it lies either up or down, or lies transversely in the uterus.

The fetus's hearing develops so well that it reacts not only to loud and sharp sounds, but also to conversations and music.

At this stage of pregnancy, the intensive development of the gastrointestinal tract of the fetus continues. Receptors are formed on the taste buds of the tongue, and the baby clearly distinguishes the taste of the amniotic fluid.

Future MOM

The general well-being of pregnant women at this period, as a rule, does not undergo significant changes compared to previous weeks. The movements of the fetus are more intense, often the periods of sleep and wakefulness of the woman and the fetus do not coincide, and the mother can wake up at night, awakened by the baby. However, there are no painful sensations at this time, since the fetus still has insufficient physical strength.

From the 21st week, a pronounced weight gain of the expectant mother begins due to the growth of the baby and the accumulation of muscle and fat mass. This explains the increased appetite of the pregnant woman at this time.

The development of the fetal skeleton requires an increase in calcium consumption. And if there is a deficiency of free calcium in the body of the expectant mother, then from this period problems with the teeth are possible: their fragility increases, the teeth begin to crumble and collapse as a result of the "washout" of calcium from the dental tissue. It is extremely important to adhere to a balanced diet: consume dairy products - cheeses, cottage cheese, kefir. The calcium content is quite high in fish, cereals, legumes - lentils, beans, as well as vegetables, such as broccoli. However, it must be remembered that calcium is best absorbed from vitamin complexes and drugs. And it is quite possible that at this stage of pregnancy, the doctor will prescribe an additional calcium intake to the woman, based on the condition of the pregnant woman and the results of the tests.

22nd week

BABY

The height of the baby is 28-30 cm, and by the end of the 22nd week he will weigh about 500 g. The proportional ratio of the size of the head relative to the body continues to change. The advance of the head is no longer so significant, and the length of the limbs is no longer so far behind the body: all these changes bring the baby's appearance closer to its usual form. From this gestational age, the fetus begins to periodically straighten the legs, which until then were mostly in a bent state. Characteristic of this period is the intensive improvement of the central nervous system. In the period from the 21st to the 25th week of intrauterine development, the weight of the brain increases from 20 to 100 g - this is a very intensive weight gain.

The fetus makes small movements more and more clearly - moves its fingers, moves its head in different directions. If earlier, for his favorite pastime - sucking his thumb - the baby raised the handle, feeling his face, then from 22-23 weeks he begins to tilt his head, as if falling into his mouth with his thumb. Such a movement "towards" reflects quite serious processes occurring in the central nervous system. This is evidence of the perfection of sensitivity and coordination, i.e. a state when the fetus clearly feels the position of its body in space.

Surprising fact: by 22 weeks the brain contains a complete set of brain cells - neurons. It is this number that will be in the baby's brain after birth and throughout life. All the rest of the time there will be only an increase in the connections between these cells and an improvement in the functioning of the brain.

Expectant MOM

The height of the fundus of the uterus by this time reaches 2 cm above the navel. The volume of the abdomen is not yet too large, but, nevertheless, the internal organs respond to the rapid growth of the uterus, under the influence of which there is a forced change in their usual location. So, at this time, expectant mothers often feel discomfort in the area of ​​​​the lower ribs, which move apart slightly under the pressure of the bottom of the uterus. To get rid of this, you need to monitor your posture, keep your back straight. Changing the position of the body, tilting, turning the torso and other simple exercises will help relieve pressure on the ribs and relieve discomfort.

If the bottom of the uterus presses on the stomach, then pregnant women feel heaviness after eating, heartburn. A change in the position of the stomach to a more horizontal one, as well as a hormonal background (high progesterone content) relax the muscle that closes the transition from the esophagus to the stomach - the sphincter. The contents of the stomach - food soaked in acid - are thrown back into the esophagus. Normally, this does not happen and the sphincter should close completely after food passes into the esophagus. With a reverse cast, the esophageal mucosa reacts to acidic contents and pregnant women feel a burning sensation and an unpleasant taste in the mouth - heartburn. To prevent these phenomena, it is necessary to chew food thoroughly, eat in small portions, do not lie down immediately after eating, allowing the food bolus to move freely from the stomach without lingering in it. If these symptoms cause discomfort in a pregnant woman, it is necessary to inform the doctor about it. A rational diet and medications will help get rid of this trouble.

23rd week

BABY

The development of the fetus at this period is characterized by intensive formation of the respiratory system. From this stage, the fetus begins to make constant respiratory movements. Prior to this period, they arose sporadically, did not last long, but now the respiratory movements last up to 40 minutes. Their frequency is 50-60 per minute. Such a systematic training of the lungs will continue until childbirth. With each movement imitating inhalation, a certain amount of amniotic fluid enters the respiratory tract to the closed glottis and is pushed outward, washing the epithelium - the integumentary cells of the respiratory tract.

The fetus continues to swallow amniotic fluid, the liquid part of which is absorbed into its bloodstream, and the rest forms meconium - the original feces. Sometimes the intense ingestion of water by the fetus causes irritation of the diaphragm - a flat muscle that separates the chest and abdominal cavities - and its subsequent contractions. This manifests itself in the form of rhythmic movements - "fetal hiccups." This phenomenon occurs frequently and is not a sign of trouble. As a rule, "hiccups" last for several minutes and do not cause discomfort to either mother or baby. If it occurs frequently and lasts for several hours, you should inform your doctor about this to rule out other causes of hiccups, such as fetal hypoxia.

An important event of the 23rd week is the improvement of the blood-forming organs and the immune system - the liver, spleen, bone marrow, lymph nodes and thymus. The thymus, or thymus gland, is the most important endocrine gland located behind the sternum. It grows intensively during fetal development and atrophies with the onset of puberty - it decreases in size and ceases to function. The thymus can be called the "school of lymphocytes". "Untrained" lymphocytes enter the thymus tissue, mature in it and enter the bloodstream as adult T-cells - strong lymphocytes that can resist foreign agents.

The baby's own immune system during fetal development is only at the stage of formation and is not able to protect the fetus on its own. The main role of protection is performed by mother cells - antibodies. From the 23rd week, the “learning” of the baby’s immune system takes place. The baby's body learns to recognize antigens - foreign cells (bacteria, viruses, etc.), remembers them and forms a defense.

Expectant MOM

At the 23rd week, the height of the fundus of the uterus reaches 4 cm above the navel. The volume of the uterus increases not so much due to the fetus, but because of the amniotic fluid and the mass of the placenta. Weight gain by this period is about 5-7 kg. It is very important to continue to monitor your diet in order to prevent excessive weight gain.

Due to the intensive growth of the uterus, the center of gravity shifts, the spine and joints may react with discomfort: there are aching pains when walking, sitting, etc. Perhaps this will require the appointment of wearing a special supporting underwear or bandage.

24th week

BABY

The weight of the fetus at this period is about 33 cm, and the weight is 600 g. The baby occupies the entire space of the uterine cavity, his movements become more distinct and less intense. The fetus is able to radically change its position from the head to the pelvic and vice versa, but prefers smaller movements - plays with the umbilical cord, flexes and unbends the limbs. At this time, the number of muscle fibers increases sharply and reaches a maximum. Further, the increase in muscle mass will occur due to an increase in each muscle fiber in volume.

This period is characterized by the perfection of the sense organs of the fetus. Skin, vestibular, gustatory, auditory sensitivity became more complicated over the past weeks and by the end of the 24th week they reach a fairly high level of development. The intensive development of the brain and the formation of connections with the senses determine the complex behavior of the fetus. The baby not only reacts to external stimuli - sounds, bright lights, mother's mood and well-being, but also forms certain behavior depending on external signals. So, if bright sunlight falls on the belly of a pregnant woman, then the fetus turns away, closes its eyes, and covers itself with handles. To loud and sharp sounds or situations when the mother experiences excitement, fear, anxiety, the baby either reacts with intense movements, or, on the contrary, freezes.

Future MOM

Weight gain at this time is about 500 g per week. The volume of the abdomen increases not only due to the growth of the uterus, but also due to its stretching. This may be accompanied by some pain. They should not be pronounced and last a long time.

A fairly rapid weight gain may be accompanied by the appearance of edema, which at this time occurs due to compression of the large veins by the growing uterus and difficulty in the outflow of lymph. Most often, this is manifested by swelling of the feet, which increases in the evening.

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