Brain development in the third trimester is marked by the rapid development of neurons in the brain and explosive growth. Your baby's brain will triple in size during this time, growing from a little over 3 ounces to almost 11 ounces at birth.
Your baby's brain begins developing early in pregnancy, just three weeks after fertilization, and continues throughout your pregnancy. The third trimester is when major developments happen, and your baby's brain triples in weight.
The brain is part of the central nervous system and it develops during the entire pregnancy. Major, structural brain development lasts until about 16 fetal weeks (18 gestational weeks). However, the brain continues to develop for the rest of the pregnancy, after birth and through young adulthood.
However, most healthcare providers will say the most important time for fetal development is the first 13 weeks of the pregnancy (or the first trimester). The risk of miscarriage drops after the first trimester, when the fetus's major organs and systems are formed and working.
The fetus is most vulnerable during the first 12 weeks. During this period of time, all of the major organs and body systems are forming and can be damaged if the fetus is exposed to drugs, infectious agents, radiation, certain medications, tobacco and toxic substances.
Why is the third trimester crucial for my baby? When your baby is 28 weeks old (the start of the third trimester) his organs are fully formed and visible on the ultrasound. However, while they may be clearly visible, his organs' functions have not matured sufficiently for independent living.
Your nausea and vomiting may be worse than ever: Morning sickness peaks around 9 or 10 weeks of pregnancy for many women. That's when levels of the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) are highest (morning sickness is thought to be linked to rises in hCG and estrogen).
They include occasional headaches, dizziness, fatigue, sudden mood changes, sleep disturbances, nasal congestion, slight nosebleeds and gum bleeding, nausea, vomiting, heartburn ('acidity'), indigestion, pica (craving for non-food items like dirt or clay), slight shortness of breath, breast tenderness, skin ...
Risk factors for a high-risk pregnancy can include: Existing health conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or being HIV-positive. Overweight and obesity. Obesity increases the risk for high blood pressure, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, stillbirth, neural tube defects, and cesarean delivery.
Most miscarriages - 8 out of 10 (80 percent) - happen in the first trimester before the 12th week of pregnancy. Miscarriage in the second trimester (between 13 and 19 weeks) happens in 1 to 5 in 100 (1 to 5 percent) pregnancies. Pregnancy loss that happens after 20 weeks is called stillbirth.
The risk of miscarriage drops significantly as pregnancy progresses. In one study, researchers found a miscarriage rate of 9.4 percent at 6 weeks of pregnancy, 4.2 percent at 7 weeks, 1.5 percent at 8 weeks, 0.5 percent at 9 weeks and 0.7 percent at 10 weeks.
A missed miscarriage is often detected during the first-trimester exam, usually between 11 and 14 weeks. After a heartbeat has been detected at the eight-week scan, the chance of a miscarriage drops to only 2%. The chance falls to below 1% after 10 weeks.
First Trimester (0 to 13 Weeks)
The first trimester is the most crucial to your baby's development. During this period, your baby's body structure and organ systems develop. Most miscarriages and birth defects occur during this period. Your body also undergoes major changes during the first trimester.
eat healthily and avoid rich, spicy and fatty foods. cut back on drinks with caffeine (such as tea, coffee and energy drinks) sit up straight when you eat. give up alcohol and cigarettes.
While the cause is not always known, congenital brain malformations may result from inherited genetic defects, spontaneous mutations within the embryo's genes, or damage to the fetus caused by the mother's exposure to toxins, infection, trauma or drug use.
Folic acid is the only form of folate that has been shown to help prevent neural tube defects. Folic acid is a specific form of folate that does not generally occur naturally. You can find folic acid in vitamins, fortified foods like rice, pasta, and bread, and some breakfast cereals that are labeled “enriched.”
Birth defects can happen at any time during pregnancy. But most happen during the first 3 months of pregnancy (also called first trimester), when your baby's organs are forming. Birth defects also can happen later in pregnancy, when your baby's organs are still growing and developing.
Third Trimester Nutrients. The nutritional needs of a baby reach their peak during this time of rapid growth. This trimester still calls for higher levels of iron as well as protein. They are crucial to maintain increased blood volume, the growth and cellular development of your baby and a healthy placenta.
Your baby's brain development is a complex process that continues throughout your pregnancy. At just six weeks, the embryo's brain and nervous system begin to develop, although the complex parts of the brain continue to grow and develop through the end of pregnancy, with development ending around the age of 25.
The fetus is generally at the greatest risk of developing teratogenic effects from medications during the first trimester, but it is drug specific. The use of medications in pregnancy should be evaluated for the benefits and risks to both the mother and fetus.