In the late pregnancy, the fetus weighs about 3000 grams and has a length of about 51 cm. The difference between fetuses is still large. Although some of them are fatter and some are thinner, it is normal as long as the fetus weighs more than 2500g. The position of the fetus in the abdomen of the expectant mother is declining, and the head of the fetus gradually enters the pelvis to find a suitable position for delivery. Some smaller fetuses will enter the pelvis in advance.
The growth and development of the 8th-month fetus
At the end of 8 months of pregnancy, the length of the fetus increased to 45-50 cm, the weight of the fetus was about 900-1800 g, and the growth rate was about one time. He will often open his eyes and begin to form a regular pattern of sleeping and waking, and can recognize the patterns of your speech, the voices around you and the music playing.
29th week: The development of the respiratory system was basically mature, the alveoli began to synthesize pulmonary surfactant, and the fetus had light sense.
30th week: The testicles of male fetuses descend from the kidney to the scrotum through the groin, the big and small labia of female fetuses have appeared, and the endocrine system and immune system of fetuses have developed accordingly.
31st week: The lungs and digestive tract are almost mature, the eyebrows and eyelashes are all grown, and the fetus will follow the light to move his head or touch the light with his hands.
32nd week: The fine hairs on the fetal face and body began to fall off, the frequency and intensity of fetal movement decreased, and the rapid growth of body weight was over.
The growth and development of the 9th-month fetus
At 9 months, the weight of the fetus is about 2800 grams, and it will gain about 280 grams every week. With the passage of time, the development of the fetus is more mature, and the wrinkles of the skin are less and less. By 34 weeks, the fingernails of the fetus had grown to the fingertips, and the auditory and neural centers of the brain were also mature, and the fetus could swallow, urinate and breathe in the uterus.
33rd week: The lungs can breathe rhythmically, the respiratory system and digestive system are close to maturity, the temperature regulating system starts to run, the bones become strong, and the fetal skin turns pink.
34th week: The immune system is developing rapidly, the fetus is unable to float on amniotic fluid, its movement is slower than before, and the fetus’s posture becomes head down “handstand”.
35th week: The development of the digestive system is about to be completed, the lungs are almost perfect, the fetus begins to get fat with the increase of fat, and it is difficult for the fetus to move around.
36th week: Kidney development has completed, the liver begins to deal with the waste in the blood, the face of the fetus is round and full, and the fingernails have completely covered the fingertips.
Growth and development of the 10th-month fetus
In the 10th month, the fetus began to prepare for delivery, the amount of amniotic fluid decreased slowly, and the fetus continued to grow. At this time, the weight of the fetus will generally increase to about 3000 grams, and the full-term fetus generally has 3200 grams. When the fetus is full-term, because of its rapid growth, the surface of the cerebral cortex is not as smooth as before, but as wrinkled as the walnut nucleus. If you are pregnant with the first child, at about the 36th week, the head of the fetus will descend and connect to the pelvis; if you are not pregnant with the first child, the connection generally occurs after the beginning of delivery.
37th week: Most of the pappi has faded (except for the hair), the hair is thick, and the brain of the fetus is still developing but cannot stretch its limbs as it used to.
38th week: The head of the fetus has completely entered the pelvis, a thin layer of fluff covering the body and most of the white fetal fat have gradually fallen off, and the skin of the fetus has become smooth.
39th week: The fetal tissues and organs are well developed (except for the lungs), the head has been fixed in the pelvis, and the fetus continues to grow fat.
40th week: All the systems in the fetal body have developed and matured, the fetus has more than 70 different reflex abilities, the fetal intestines begin to accumulate feces, and some bones have not been fused together.
Fetuses in the 38th week and later are called term babies, which means that the fetus may come to the world at any time and see the rich and wonderful world outside!