Fetal Development Basics & Pregnancy

At 4 weeks, the cells of the fetus are specializing into a nervous system, hair, organs, and skin. At 12 weeks, the fetus is around 2 _ inches in size and makes movement on its own. At 20 weeks, the nervous systems functions, sex can be determined, and you will feel your baby move. At 28 weeks, the fetus weighs over 2 pounds and if born prematurely, would most likely be able to survive. At 32 weeks, the baby weighs 4 pounds and fat layers begin to develop under its skin. At 36 weeks, the lungs are almost fully developed and brain function is developing rapidly. At 37 weeks, a term pregnancy can be made.

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QWhat is the fetal fibronectin (fFN) test?

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A Dr. Deborah Raines, MSN , Nursing, answered on behalf of Sigma Nursing

The fetal fibronectin (fFN) test measures the levels of fFN in secretions from a pregnant woman's vagina and cervix. fFN is a protein produced during pregnancy. It acts like biological glue, attaching the fetal sac to the uterine lining. fFN normally is present in cervico-vaginal secretions up to 22 weeks of pregnancy and again at the end of the third trimester. fFN usually cannot be detected between 24 and 34 weeks of pregnancy.
Health care providers perform the fFN test on women between 24 and 34 weeks of pregnancy. The presence of fFN during these weeks, along with symptoms of preterm labor, suggests that the "glue" may be disintegrating ahead of schedule and alerts health care providers to a possibility of premature labor and delivery.
The sample of cervico-vaginal secretions is collected during a speculum examination. Results usually are available within 24 hours. The result is either positive (fFN is present) or negative (fFN is not present).
QShould I have a quad screen test during pregnancy?

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A Intermountain Healthcare answered

Prenatal testing, such as the quad screen, is a very personal decision from patient to patient. It's important that patients talk to their physician about the quad screen and whether or not it would be a good idea for her to have it or not. It is a blood test that looks for a patient's risk, and it reports the risk of the baby having Down syndrome and neural tube defects, such as spina bifida. It is not a yes-or-no answer; it is simply a risk determination, and it is used as a screening test. So it is important that the patient speak with her doctor and talk about her risk factors first, whether it is family history or age. Based on that, the test helps make the decision whether to see a genetic counselor and makes a decision whether or not to have those screening tests that are available to her.
QHow often should I feel my baby move during pregnancy?

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A Intermountain Healthcare answered

Fetal movement counting in pregnancy is an important way to monitor your baby's health. After you are about 28 weeks along, it's recommended that you monitor fetal kick counts on a daily basis. You should feel the baby move at least two different times during a day, on a daily basis. The baby may move many more times than that. During one of these episodes of movement, you should feel the baby move at least ten times in an hour. You don't need to feel the baby move ten times every hour, but there should be at least one time during the day where you feel the baby move ten times in the hour. If that doesn't happen, it's important you lie down, drink something sweet, and see if the baby will move ten times in the subsequent hour. If you drink something sweet, then that gets through your bloodstream to the baby and stirs the baby up a little bit.

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QWhat are apgar scores?

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A Dr. Michael Roizen, MD , Internal Medicine, answered

At 1 minute and at 5 minutes after delivery, nurses will give your child an APGAR score to assess whether your baby may be at risk and need further close monitoring soon after birth. On a scale of 0-10 (10 being the best), the test measures appearance, pulse, grimace, activity, and respiration (a max of 2 points for each category). Don't worry; few babies get a perfect 10. That's because lots of babies lose points for having a bluish tint to their extremities.

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QWhat determines the sex of a baby?

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A Dr. Michael Roizen, MD , Internal Medicine, answered

Sperm dictates the sex of the fertilized egg. However, a lot of mutual factors contribute to gender, including as the egg's receptivity to the male's chromosomes. So if a couple has five girls, that doesn't necessarily mean it's the man's fault. You can blame a man for keeping his eyes glued to the TV during a conversation, but you can't pin this one on him. Both partners have some role in determining the sex of the offspring.

As many people know (or have heard), the sperm that carry male chromosomes (which will make a boy) can swim faster because they carry less genetic material and are lighter. So though male and female sperm have equal muscular power in their flippers, the lighter ones will travel faster (just like a smaller cyclist will go faster than a larger one, if all other things are equal, because there's less mass to move).

But even if the male sperm outrace the female sperm, the male sperm will die off if the egg isn't in proper position for fertilization, leaving the female sperm clear for landing. Although male sperm are faster, female sperm are like tortoises; they keep pushing ahead slowly, hanging out, and waiting a few days. To have a boy, having sex around ovulation is critical, or the female sperm will win.

Aside from timing it right (and praying), you can do little to influence gender during conception. Some couples may try copulating upside down or in other acrobatic positions because they've heard rumors that you can influence the gender of a child, but the process is more complex than that.

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QDo babies kick less near the end of pregnancy?

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A Count the Kicks answered

Babies do not kick less near the end of pregnancy. Toward the end of pregnancy the baby may move differently. It may feel more like rolling than kicking. However, if you are monitoring the baby’s movements at the same time each day, it should take about the same amount of time to feel 10 movements. Call your provider if you notice a significant change in your baby’s movement patterns or if you do not feel 10 movements in two hours.
QWhat does fetal movement or a kick count indicate?

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A Brigham and Women's Hospital answered

Some medical authorities think that a fetus’ activity levels indicate a lot about the baby’s well being. Fetal movement or a kick count refers to the spontaneous fetal movements that a mother notices. Unfortunately, there is no universal consensus on a good number of fetal movements. Certain doctors say less than 10 movements in a 12-hour period is worrisome while others say less than four movements in one hour is a concern. The baby’s position, the mother’s blood-sugar level, her occupation and eating habits, sound, light, and physical stimulus to the uterus all affect fetal movement. Also, each fetus has a typical movement rhythm, and each pregnant mother has a different ability to recognize the baby’s movement. One point is certain: Fetal activity is reassuring, and inactivity may need further evaluation. Contact your doctor if you notice the fetus’ activity has diminished considerably.

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QWhen should I contact my healthcare provider if counting my baby's kicks?

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A Count the Kicks answered
If you are counting your baby's kicks, do the following:

Call your provider if your baby has less than 10 movements in two hours.

Call your provider if your baby has a significant or sudden change in movements.

Do not wait 24 hours when there is no fetal movement or significant changes in the movements.

When in doubt, contact your provider.
QWhen should pregnant women start feeling fetal movement?

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A Dr. Christopher J. Allphin, MD , OBGYN (Obstetrics & Gynecology), answered on behalf of Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center

Pregnant women typically start feeling fetal movement during the second trimester, commonly between 20 and 24 weeks. During this time, movement's going to be quite sporadic. Women may feel it some days and less other days. It doesn't mean the fetus is not doing well. The fetus is still small. Toward the end of the second trimester, around 24 weeks, women feel movement a lot more frequently. It's also common to feel occasional flutters of movement before 20 weeks. This is okay too. Movement is never a bad thing. It's always good.
QWhat tests can be done if my baby isn't kicking enough?

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A First Candle answered
Once you report decreased activity, your doctor should have you come to the office or go directly to your hospital’s labor and delivery unit. There are other tests that can be done to check on your baby’s health. For example:

Nonstress test - monitoring your baby’s heart rate in response to its own movements.

Ultrasound - taking pictures from sound waves to check the growth of the baby, amniotic fluid quantity, placenta, blood flow pattern, etc.

Biophysical profile - using an ultrasound exam with a nonstress test to evaluate your baby’s heart rate, breathing, body movement, muscle tone and amniotic fluid quantity.

Contraction stress test – monitoring your baby’s heart rate in response to uterine contractions.