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.

Recently Answered

QWhat is amniotic fluid?

1 Answer

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A Dr. Jeanne Morrison, PhD , Family Medicine, answered on behalf of Sigma Nursing
Amniotic fluid consists mostly of water with small amounts of organic and inorganic substances such as albumin, urea, creatine, phospholipids, fructose, fat, leukocytes, epithelial cells, enzymes and hair. The composition of amniotic fluid changes over the course of the pregnancy. In early pregnancy, amniotic fluid has a composition similar to maternal plasma and in later pregnancy the amniotic fluid becomes hypotonic due to the presence of fetal urine.
The amniotic fluid serves a number of functions for the developing embryo/fetus. The amniotic fluid:

surrounds the developing fetus

helps to maintain a constant body temperature and

cushions the fetus from trauma by blunting and dispersing outside forces
In addition, the fluid-filled cavity provides an environment that allows free movement for muscular development. The fluid also keeps the embryo from becoming entangled with the membranes and facilitates symmetrical growth of the fetus.
QWhat is fetal blood sampling?

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A Dr. Jeanne Morrison, PhD , Family Medicine, answered on behalf of Sigma Nursing

Fetal blood sampling, also known as PUBS (percutaneous umbilical blood sampling), is the collection of a small amount of blood from the fetus during pregnancy. Fetal blood sampling is performed by maternal-fetal medicine specialists to diagnose, treat, and monitor various fetal problems.
QHow is amniotic fluid used as a diagnostic tool for a fetus?

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A Diana Meeks , Family Medicine, answered on behalf of Sigma Nursing

Amniotic fluid is in constant contact with the developing fetus. Therefore an analysis of the amniotic fluid may be use to assess the fetus for specific conditions. In the first half of the pregnancy a sample of amniotic fluid can be obtained via amniocentesis to assess the fetus for specific chromosomal disorders such as trisomy 21 and Edwards Syndrome and to identify the gender of the developing fetus. An analysis of amniotic fluid can also reveal elevated levels of alpha-feto-protein which is associated with the presence of a neural-tube disorder in the fetus. The presence of hemolyzed red blood cells in a sample of amniotic fluid is an indicator of fetal hemolytic disease. In the third trimester of pregnancy, samples of amniotic fluid can be analyzed to assess fetal lung maturity.
QWhat determines the sex of a baby?

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A StoneSprings Hospital Center answered

The sex of a baby is determined by mom and dad's chromosomes.

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QHow is fetal blood sampling performed?

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A Diana Meeks , Family Medicine, answered on behalf of Sigma Nursing

Fetal blood sampling, also known as PUBS (percutaneous umbilical blood sampling), is the collection of a small amount of blood from the fetus during pregnancy. Fetal blood sampling is an outpatient procedure but involves a number of hours in the outpatient setting. The procedure is done under ultrasound guidance and the technique is similar to an amniocentesis. The mother's abdomen is cleaned with an antiseptic solution, and the umbilical cord is visualized. A thin needle is inserted into a fetal blood vessel of the umbilical cord. When the needle is in place, a blood sample is removed. Once the needle is in the vessel it can also be used to administer medications or a blood transfusion, if necessary. Once the procedure is completed the mother will need to rest and have the fetal heart rate monitored and the uterus assessed for contractions for several hours. In addition post procedure care includes monitoring for sign of bleeding, infection or change in fetal activity.
QWhat are fetal diagnostic procedures?

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A Diana Meeks , Family Medicine, answered on behalf of Sigma Nursing

Fetal Diagnostic Procedures include a variety of assessments and test that examine the fetus or structures surrounding the fetus during the pregnancy. The focus of these procedures is testing for diseases or conditions in a fetus or embryo. Some examples of fetal diagnostic procedures include ultrasound, chorionic villus sampling, amniocentesis, maternal serum screening and percutaneous umbilical cord blood sampling.
There are three purposes of obtaining information from fetal diagnostic procedures: (1) to enable timely medical or surgical treatment of a condition before or after birth, (2) to give the parents the chance to abort a fetus with the diagnosed condition, and (3) to give parents the chance to "prepare" psychologically, socially, financially, and medically for a baby with a health problem or disability, or for the likelihood of a stillbirth.
QWhat is fetal movement?

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A Diana Meeks , Family Medicine, answered on behalf of Sigma Nursing

Throughout intrauterine life the developing fetus is flexing and extending its extremities and total body, rolling side to side and doing flips, hiccupping and even expanding the thoracic as if to be practicing breathing. All of these activities are considered fetal movement. Fetal movement is visible on ultrasound imaging, palpable through the maternal abdomen and can be felt by the pregnant woman beginning between 16-20 weeks gestation. In the last couple of week of pregnancy, fetal movement may decrease due to the lack of space for stretching and rolling in the uterus.
QWhat are apgar scores?

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A Diana Meeks , Family Medicine, answered on behalf of Sigma Nursing

The APGAR test is a way to evaluate the newborns transition from the intrauterine to extrauterine environment. Five characteristics are evaluated: activity, heart rate, reflex irritability, appearance, and respiration. Each characteristic is scored on a scale of 0 to 2 with 2 being the best score.

A score is given for each characteristic at one minute and five minutes after the birth. If there are problems with the baby an additional score may be given at 10 minutes. A score of 7-10 is considered normal, while infants with a score of 4-7 might require some resuscitative measures, and a baby with an APGAR of 3 and below requires immediate resuscitation.
QWhat is the fetal fibronectin (fFN) test?

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A Diana Meeks , Family Medicine, 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).
QWhat is gestational age?

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A RealAge answered

Gestational age is the age of a pregnancy calculated as the number of weeks that have elapsed from the first day of the last normal menstrual period, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Pregnancy is often described as being nine months long. However, doctors determine gestational age based on a 40-week period that is divided into three trimesters of about 13 weeks each.

Another key factor in determining gestational age is the estimated due date, which is calculated from the first day of your last menstrual period. If the first day of your last menstrual period was five weeks ago, your gestational age would be five weeks. Your doctor will use your gestational age to track your baby's growth and development and possibly to schedule tests throughout your pregnancy. Normal gestation can range from about 37 to 41 weeks, so estimated due dates are accurate for only about one out of every 20 pregnancies.