Marianne Theuma
Roots to life - A baby to cherish and to hold
An anti-abortion woman next to a poster of a foetus in Lisbon.
It is amazing how a baby, from the very first day of his existence, manages to affect his surroundings in so many ways, even before anybody gets to know about him. His mother's body is, of course, his immediate environment which needs to change drastically to allocate his various needs.
A mother needs to be educated and prepared for these changes and learn how to adapt and cope with the new conditions. This will help her feel good about her pregnancy and give her self-confidence. She is not a sick person and should not be treated as such. Regular visits to her midwife or doctor make sure that both she and the baby are in the best of health. It is in society's best interest to teach and help her contribute actively towards preserving the life and giving the best to her baby. Each baby is not just a member of the family he is born into, but also a member of society. A baby is everybody's responsibility!
It is basic knowledge for the mother to know how her lifestyle, her attitude towards life in general, affect her baby. Stopping smoking, alcohol and all sorts of drugs are adamant, even before a baby is conceived. Eating well and exercising should become a way of life. Moroever, numerous studies show that the support the mother gets from the people around her is crucial to having less problems, both on a physical and psychological level. This proves true not only during pregnancy, but also during the birth and the postnatal period. It is a good enough reason for the latest trend of having family-centred care when dealing with a pregnant couple. Every member of the family needs his/her own fair share of support. It makes life with a new baby so much easier.
What is happening during the weeks and months of life within the womb? Until recently, we considered pregnancy a "closed box" which we knew contained a living being, but little else. Today, modern technology allows us to not only see the baby physically and follow his progress. We take it to extremes, taking pictures and videos of the baby while it moves inside the uterus. Some manage not only to discover what sex the baby will be, but also to make out whom the baby will look like!
The baby's progress week by week follows a pattern, and it is possible to know the baby's gestational age by its growth and stage it has reached.
The information below gives a general overview of the baby's growth pattern.
• First month: By the end of the first month, the embryo has a head and a trunk. Features are beginning to form, and tiny structures called limb buds, which will grow into arms and legs, begin to appear. The heart also forms and begins to beat on the 25th day. At the end of this month, the embryo is about 1.3 centimetres long and weighs less than 30g.
• Second month: The early stages of the placenta, chorionic villi, are visible and working. All of the major body organs and systems are formed, although they are not completely developed. The heartbeat can be detected with special techniques and apparatus. The first bone cells appear. Ears, ankles and wrists are formed, and fingers and toes are developed. Eyelids form and grow but are sealed shut. At the end of the second month, the foetus is a little over 2.5cm but still weighs less than 30g.
• Third month: Fingers and toes of the foetus have soft nails. There are 20 buds for future teeth, and hair is beginning to appear on the foetus's head. Kidneys develop and secrete urine into the bladder.
The initial stages of all organs can be recognised. From now on, the organs will mature and the foetus will gain weight. By the end of this month, the foetus is 10cm long and weighs a fraction over 30g.
• Fourth month: The foetus moves, kicks, sleeps and wakes, swallows, can hear, and can pass urine. Eyebrows have formed, and there is a small amount of hair on the head. The skin is pink and transparent. The foetus is now 15 to 17cm and weighs about 140g.
• Fifth month: The foetus has a real growth spurt. The internal organs are maturing. Fingernails have grown to the tips of the fingers. The foetus sleeps and wakes at regular intervals and is much more active, turning from side to side and sometimes moving head over heels. At the end of the month, the foetus is 20 to 30cm long and weighs anywhere from 220 to 450g.
• Sixth month: The foetus is continuing its rapid growth, but its organ systems are still developing. The skin is wrinkled and red and covered with fine, soft hair called lanugo. At the end of the sixth month, the foetus will be 25 to 35cm long and weighs about 450 to 650g. But because it is still so small and its lungs are not fully developed, it usually cannot live outside the mother without very specialised care.
• Seventh month: This is another rapid growth period for the foetus. It exercises by kicking and stretching. It sucks its thumb and opens and closes its eyes. Calcium is being stored and fetal bones are hardening. The foetus now has a better chance of survival if it is born early. It is gaining weight, now weighing about 1.35kg and is about 38cm long.
• Eighth month: The foetus continues to grow in size and weight. It is too big to move around much, but its kicks are felt much more strongly, and the shape of a small heel or elbow may be visible to you through the abdomen. The bones of the head are soft and flexible. It is now 45cm long and weighs about 2.25kg.
• Ninth month: The foetus is now gaining about 220g per week. The bones of its head are soft and flexible for delivery. It is getting ready for birth and usually settles into a favourable position. It is curled up with its knees against its nose and its thighs tight against its torso, resting lower in the abdomen. At 40 weeks, it will be full term and weighs 2.7 to 4 kg. The baby should arrive anywhere from 37 to 42 weeks of pregnancy.
• Marianne Theuma is a qualified childbirth educator and school teacher. A mother of three children and a grandparent, she directs a school for parents, In the Family Way, based at Marsascala. The school offers courses and support for parents, covering various related subjects, from pregnancy to primary and early secondary school age.
• Through this article I will be discussing several aspects of parenting. It would be interesting to receive feedback from readers. Comments and suggestions are most welcome.
A mother needs to be educated and prepared for these changes and learn how to adapt and cope with the new conditions. This will help her feel good about her pregnancy and give her self-confidence. She is not a sick person and should not be treated as such. Regular visits to her midwife or doctor make sure that both she and the baby are in the best of health. It is in society's best interest to teach and help her contribute actively towards preserving the life and giving the best to her baby. Each baby is not just a member of the family he is born into, but also a member of society. A baby is everybody's responsibility!
It is basic knowledge for the mother to know how her lifestyle, her attitude towards life in general, affect her baby. Stopping smoking, alcohol and all sorts of drugs are adamant, even before a baby is conceived. Eating well and exercising should become a way of life. Moroever, numerous studies show that the support the mother gets from the people around her is crucial to having less problems, both on a physical and psychological level. This proves true not only during pregnancy, but also during the birth and the postnatal period. It is a good enough reason for the latest trend of having family-centred care when dealing with a pregnant couple. Every member of the family needs his/her own fair share of support. It makes life with a new baby so much easier.
What is happening during the weeks and months of life within the womb? Until recently, we considered pregnancy a "closed box" which we knew contained a living being, but little else. Today, modern technology allows us to not only see the baby physically and follow his progress. We take it to extremes, taking pictures and videos of the baby while it moves inside the uterus. Some manage not only to discover what sex the baby will be, but also to make out whom the baby will look like!
The baby's progress week by week follows a pattern, and it is possible to know the baby's gestational age by its growth and stage it has reached.
The information below gives a general overview of the baby's growth pattern.
• First month: By the end of the first month, the embryo has a head and a trunk. Features are beginning to form, and tiny structures called limb buds, which will grow into arms and legs, begin to appear. The heart also forms and begins to beat on the 25th day. At the end of this month, the embryo is about 1.3 centimetres long and weighs less than 30g.
• Second month: The early stages of the placenta, chorionic villi, are visible and working. All of the major body organs and systems are formed, although they are not completely developed. The heartbeat can be detected with special techniques and apparatus. The first bone cells appear. Ears, ankles and wrists are formed, and fingers and toes are developed. Eyelids form and grow but are sealed shut. At the end of the second month, the foetus is a little over 2.5cm but still weighs less than 30g.
• Third month: Fingers and toes of the foetus have soft nails. There are 20 buds for future teeth, and hair is beginning to appear on the foetus's head. Kidneys develop and secrete urine into the bladder.
The initial stages of all organs can be recognised. From now on, the organs will mature and the foetus will gain weight. By the end of this month, the foetus is 10cm long and weighs a fraction over 30g.
• Fourth month: The foetus moves, kicks, sleeps and wakes, swallows, can hear, and can pass urine. Eyebrows have formed, and there is a small amount of hair on the head. The skin is pink and transparent. The foetus is now 15 to 17cm and weighs about 140g.
• Fifth month: The foetus has a real growth spurt. The internal organs are maturing. Fingernails have grown to the tips of the fingers. The foetus sleeps and wakes at regular intervals and is much more active, turning from side to side and sometimes moving head over heels. At the end of the month, the foetus is 20 to 30cm long and weighs anywhere from 220 to 450g.
• Sixth month: The foetus is continuing its rapid growth, but its organ systems are still developing. The skin is wrinkled and red and covered with fine, soft hair called lanugo. At the end of the sixth month, the foetus will be 25 to 35cm long and weighs about 450 to 650g. But because it is still so small and its lungs are not fully developed, it usually cannot live outside the mother without very specialised care.
• Seventh month: This is another rapid growth period for the foetus. It exercises by kicking and stretching. It sucks its thumb and opens and closes its eyes. Calcium is being stored and fetal bones are hardening. The foetus now has a better chance of survival if it is born early. It is gaining weight, now weighing about 1.35kg and is about 38cm long.
• Eighth month: The foetus continues to grow in size and weight. It is too big to move around much, but its kicks are felt much more strongly, and the shape of a small heel or elbow may be visible to you through the abdomen. The bones of the head are soft and flexible. It is now 45cm long and weighs about 2.25kg.
• Ninth month: The foetus is now gaining about 220g per week. The bones of its head are soft and flexible for delivery. It is getting ready for birth and usually settles into a favourable position. It is curled up with its knees against its nose and its thighs tight against its torso, resting lower in the abdomen. At 40 weeks, it will be full term and weighs 2.7 to 4 kg. The baby should arrive anywhere from 37 to 42 weeks of pregnancy.
• Marianne Theuma is a qualified childbirth educator and school teacher. A mother of three children and a grandparent, she directs a school for parents, In the Family Way, based at Marsascala. The school offers courses and support for parents, covering various related subjects, from pregnancy to primary and early secondary school age.
• Through this article I will be discussing several aspects of parenting. It would be interesting to receive feedback from readers. Comments and suggestions are most welcome.
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