When the nervous system in infants matures. Development of the nervous system in children

Many mothers ask themselves: when does the nervous system form in the fetus? Almost from the very beginning of cell laying. According to medical theories, all body systems develop unevenly in a baby.

At first, those systems that are most important for the further activity of the baby in the mother's stomach begin to function. The laying of the nervous system in the fetus is manifested among the first most important processes in the development of the body.

Already at 8-9 weeks of pregnancy, gynecologists can see the first signs of the nervous system on the echogram. The second month is marked by the fact that the baby makes the first barely noticeable movements. Well, for a week you can accurately see the child who sucks the processes.

At what time is the fetal nervous system formed?

The nervous system of the fetus appears from a peculiar formation, which in medicine is called the neural tube. It subsequently must ensure the correct functioning of the whole organism. Before the tube appears, nerve tissue must grow, which consists of several types of cells. The first type is responsible for the main specific functions of the nerves, that is, these cells (neurons) are responsible for the actual regulation of the psyche. The second type provides good nutrition neurons and protect them from damage.

Nervous tissue under normal conditions of development of the child begins to develop already on the eighteenth day after the fertilization of the egg. At 3-4 weeks, the neural tube itself is already visible.

At what week is the fetal nervous system laid down? Already at the first! The nervous system is one of the first to develop so that the baby can continue to grow. If there are any problems with the formation of the nervous tissue, the fetus will soon die. Therefore, if you find out about pregnancy, try to immediately change your lifestyle.

What is a neural tube?

The formation of the nervous system in the fetus directly depends on the development of the tube. It is formed from the neural plate, which gradually closes into a tube, forming a small process - the rudiment of the future nervous system. If we consider the neural tube in section, we can see several layers: inner, marginal and intermediate. The intermediate and marginal layers provide the production of gray and white matter of the spinal cord, which is then located in the spine. In the inner layer, several processes take place at once: cell division and the synthesis of the future material responsible for the baby's genetics.

It takes the first weeks of pregnancy for the development of the baby's neural tube.

Development of the nervous system at 4-5 weeks of gestation

So, we found out at what time the nervous system of the fetus is formed. But what happens to her next?

The neural tube has some extensions, which are called cerebral vesicles. When the nervous system of the fetus is laid, three brain bubbles appear. One of them turns into the forebrain (it includes two hemispheres), the other into the visual center of the head, and the third into the rhomboid brain, which includes several more sections.

The marginal section of the neural tube also highlights a new organ, the neural crest, which is responsible for the development of several systems. At 4-5 weeks, only a black dot is visible on ultrasound. So far, this is all that has grown. However, for a child, this is already a lot, because at that moment the cells responsible for his brain were born in him. At this point, for the good development of neurons, it is necessary folic acid. Never treat your teeth in the first trimester! Any drugs, even local anesthesia, can reverse the normal course of cell division of the nervous system. Because of this, the baby may be born with abnormalities.

Development of the fetal nervous system at 6-12 weeks of gestation

When the nervous system is formed in the fetus, the mother should be at rest. The first weeks of pregnancy are therefore important because the health of the child depends on them. Already at 7-8 weeks, the baby is capable of reflexes. For example, it was observed that when his lips came into contact with the processes, he tilted his head back, thereby protecting himself from danger. This is how it develops defensive reflex. At 10 weeks, the baby is able to open his mouth if something irritates his lips. At the same time, a grasping reflex occurs when something bothers the baby's hand.

By the twelfth week, the baby can move her toes. From this, doctors concluded that those parts of the brain that are responsible for the lower part of the fetal body are the first to begin to function. Until the child reaches three months of uterine age, he will not be able to fully respond to irritations. His movements will be sharp and short. This happens because the excitation so far captures small areas of the nervous system. But the fetus grows and develops, and over time, its systems become more perfect.

Fetal development during the week of pregnancy

The norms of the development of the fetal nervous system can only be known with the help of ultrasound. If you have been told that the fetus meets all developmental standards, do not worry. But what is your child doing at this time? By the fourteenth week, the baby becomes quite active. If earlier he still could not move, then by the fifteenth week it is already possible to count about 15 new mastered movements of the baby.

When the nervous system is formed in the fetus, the mother feels the first tremors of the baby. They show up for weeks. On ultrasound, it is already possible to distinguish between movements of the arms and legs, as well as hiccups, swallowing, yawns and other movements of the mouth. Between 15 and 20 weeks, the number of synapses, the places in the nervous system where signals are transmitted, increases. Due to this, the sphere of activity of the baby is expanding.

The condition of the fetus during the weeks of pregnancy

After the 20th week, when the nervous system is still being formed, the medulla begins to branch out in the fetus. This means that the exposed nerve cells will be covered with a layer of fat and will be able to fully function. nerve impulses the baby will accelerate, and he will soon be able to replenish a number of his skills with new movements. The first to come into operation are the limbs of the fetus. The sense of smell is getting better a little later (about 24 weeks). In parallel with these changes, the brain develops, in which a framework for nerve cells is built.

It is noteworthy that the mass of the brain is up to 15% of the total mass of the fetus. After the basic processes in the brain have ended, it is time for another one - the destruction of certain types of cells. According to scientists, there is nothing terrible in this process. It's just that the body thus cleanses of unnecessary structures that have already done their job. So, when the nervous system is formed in the fetus, the body spends all its strength on its proper development.

Anomalies in the development of the nervous system in the fetus

When the nervous system is formed in the fetus, various kinds of anomalies and factors that appeared spontaneously can occur. For example, a fertilized cell began to multiply incorrectly and in end result she got hurt. Fortunately, the percentage of such defects is very low: up to 1.5 per 1000 born. It is known for sure that the cells of the unborn baby are destroyed both from environmental factors and from the genetic nature. The World Health Organization has established that the percentage of development of anomalies also depends on the nationalities and habitats of people. Here is a list of the main fetal developmental disorders:

1. Absence of spinal cord and brain. This happens when the neural tube does not close. The skull and spine in this case are greatly exposed.
2. Non-closure of the tube in the head compartment. This means that the child is deprived brain. That is, it has no hemispheres and subcortex. There is only a midbrain. Children born with such a violation live only the first months.
3. Hernias of the brain. On the baby's head, protrusions of the skull bone or its tissues are found. Small hernias can be quickly removed.
4. Hernias spinal cord. They are very common - 1 in 200. In place of some hernias, there may be strong hair growth. Children with this disease cannot walk, as well as relieve themselves.

The only way to deal with these diseases is surgery. In some cases, doctors cannot help. The child either lives with this deviation all his life, or dies shortly after birth.

Causes affecting the damage to the nervous system

Any factors that influence the destruction of the fetal nervous system present a complex picture. After all, it all depends on how long this factor acted on the child, whether it was very negative, etc.

1. The first and main cause of all CNS lesions is the alcoholism of one of the parents. Toxins contained in alcohol are deposited in the body of the mother and father. When a woman has a child, all these harmful substances are transferred to new cells.
2. Some drugs (for example, against convulsions) should not be taken during pregnancy at all. Therefore, if you have a disease that requires constant medication, talk to your gynecologist about it. He will definitely help you.
3. Damage to the fetus cannot pass without a trace in the mother's body. A woman can get sick with infectious diseases (herpes, rubella, etc.).
4. Also, the development of the fetal nervous system can be affected by mother's diseases (diabetes, hypertension) and genetic predisposition. Such troubles lead to chromosomal abnormalities that cannot be cured.
5. Some defects, whether acquired or hereditary, may be mild. But they affect the overall development of the baby: autism, lack of attention, hyperactivity, different kinds depression.

Try to lead a healthy lifestyle, because a child with a disability, born as such due to your negligence, will suffer all his life.

When the nervous system is formed in the fetus, the mother must take full care of proper food, proper rest and tranquility. Although gynecologists do not take into account the first two weeks of pregnancy, it is at this moment that your baby's first life systems are laid.

Development of the brain of a child in the prenatal period

The human nervous system develops from the outer germinal lobe - the ectoderm. From the same part of the embryo in the process of development, sensory organs, skin and departments are formed. digestive system. Already find the day of intrauterine development (gestation) in the structure of the embryo, a layer of nerve cells is released - the neural plate, from which subsequently, by the 27th day of gestation, the neural tube is formed - the anatomical precursor of the central nervous system. The process of neural tube formation is called neurulation. During this period, the edges of the neural plate gradually fold upward, connect, and fuse with each other (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Stages of neural tube formation (in section).

When viewed from above, this movement may be associated with zippering (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Stages of neural tube formation (top view).

One "zipper" is fastened from the center to the head end of the embryo (rostral wave of neurulation), the other - from the center to the tail end (caudal wave of neurulation). There is also a third "zipper", which ensures the fusion of the lower edges of the neural plate, which "zips" towards the head end and meets the first wave there. All these changes happen very quickly, in just 2 weeks. By the time neurulation is completed (31-32 days of gestation), not all women even know that they will have a child.

However, by this time, the brain begins to form in the future person, the rudiment of two hemispheres appears. The hemispheres grow rapidly, and by the end of the 32nd day they make up ¼ of the entire brain! Then an attentive researcher will be able to see the rudiment of the cerebellum. During this period, the formation of the sense organs also begins.

Exposure to hazards during this period can lead to various malformations of the nervous system. One of the most common vices is spinal hernia, which is formed as a result of incorrect "fastening" of the second "zipper" (violation of the passage of the caudal wave of neurulation). Even erased, almost imperceptible variants of such spinal hernias sometimes reduce the child's quality of life, leading to various forms of incontinence (urinary and fecal incontinence). If a child has a problem such as enuresis (urinary incontinence) or encopresis (fecal incontinence), it is necessary to check if he has an erased form of spinal hernia. This can be found out by making an MRI of the child's lumbosacral spine. If a spinal hernia is detected, surgical treatment is indicated, which will lead to an improvement in pelvic functions.

In my practice, there was a case of a 9-year-old boy who suffered from encopresis. Only on the 6th attempt was it possible to make a high-quality MRI image, which showed the presence of a spinal hernia. Unfortunately, up to this point, the child had already been observed by a psychiatrist and received appropriate treatment, since neurologists disowned him, believing that he had mental problems. Simple Operation allowed the boy to return to a normal lifestyle, to fully control his pelvic functions. Even more revealing was the story of a 16-year-old who suffered from encopresis all his life. Neurologists sent him to gastroenterologists, gastroenterologists to psychiatrists. By the time we met, he had already received psychiatric treatment for ten (.) years. No one ever ordered him an MRI scan. Due to the fact that our recommendations for additional examination were carried out, the guy was diagnosed with serious disorders in the lumbar spine, which led to compression of the nerves and a violation of the sensitivity of the pelvic organs. Obviously, psychiatric treatment, as well as psychotherapy or other methods psychological impact in all these cases they are completely useless and perhaps even harmful.

To prevent the occurrence of such malformations as a spinal hernia, pregnant women are recommended to take folic acid already in the early stages of pregnancy. Folic acid plays the role of a protector of the cells of the nervous system (neuroprotector), and with its regular intake, the effect of various harmful factors is significantly weakened.

In order to minimize the risk of malformations, the expectant mother must also avoid various adverse effects on the body. Such effects include taking sedatives containing phenobarbital (including Valocordin and Corvalol), hypoxia (oxygen starvation), overheating of the mother's body. Unfortunately, certain anticonvulsant drugs also lead to adverse effects. Therefore, if a woman who is forced to take such drugs plans to become pregnant, she should consult with her doctor.

Throughout the first half of pregnancy, new nerve cells (neurons) are very actively born and develop in the future brain of the child. First of all, the processes of generation of new nerve cells occur in the area surrounding the cerebral ventricles. Another area of ​​the birth of new neurons is the hippocampus - the inner part of the cortex of the temporal regions of the right and left hemispheres. New nerve cells continue to appear after birth, but less intensively than in the prenatal period. Even in adults, young neurons have been found in the hippocampus. It is believed that this is one of the mechanisms due to which, if necessary, the human brain can plastically rebuild, restore damaged functions.

The newly born neurons do not stay in place, but "crawl" to the places of their permanent "deployment" in the cortex and deep structures of the brain. This process begins towards the end of the second month of pregnancy and actively continues until the weeks of intrauterine development. By the 35th week, the fetal cerebral cortex already has a structure inherent in the adult cortex.

Each neuron has processes through which it interacts with other cells of the body.

Figure 3. Neuron. The long process is the axon. Short branched processes - dendrites.

Neurons that have taken their place in the brain try to establish new relationships with other nerve cells, as well as with cells in other tissues of the body (for example, with muscle cells). The place where one cell connects to another is called a synapse. Such connections are very important, because it is thanks to them that the brain forms complex systems in which information can be quickly transmitted from one cell to another. Inside the cell, information is transmitted in the direction from the body to the end in the form of an electrical impulse. This impulse provokes the release of specific chemicals (neurotransmitters) into the synaptic cleft, which are stored at the end of the neuron, and through which information is transmitted from the neuron to the next cell.

The first synapses were found in embryos at the age of 5 weeks of intrauterine development. The formation of synaptic contacts between neurons is most active starting from 18 weeks of intrauterine development. New connections between nerve cells are formed almost throughout life. During the period of active formation of synapses, the child's brain is subject to negative influence narcotic substances and some medications that affect the metabolism of neurotransmitters. These substances include, in particular, antipsychotics, tranquilizers and antidepressants - drugs that are used to treat mental disorders. If the expectant mother is forced to take such drugs, she should consult with her doctor. And, of course, a pregnant woman should avoid the use of psychoactive substances if she is concerned about the mental development of her child.

Neurotransmitters are specific chemical compounds that transmit information in the nervous system. Much of human behavior depends on their correct exchange. Including, his mood, activity, attention, memory. There are factors that can affect their exchange. One such adverse effect is maternal smoking during pregnancy. The impact of nicotine generates several effects at once. The brain recognizes nicotine as an activating agent and begins to develop systems that are sensitive to it. Simply, the number of elements perceiving nicotine in the brain increases, the transmission of information through nicotine improves. At the same time, there is a negative impact on the exchange of those neurotransmitters that should be produced by the brain itself. First of all, this applies to those substances that are related to the provision of attention and the regulation of emotions. Studies have shown that maternal smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of having a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) by several times. The second consequence of intrauterine nicotine use after ADHD is oppositional defiant disorder, which is characterized by such manifestations as irritability, anger, constantly changing, often negative, mood, vindictiveness. Another effect of smoking is a deterioration in the condition of blood vessels, malnutrition of the fetus. Children of smoking mothers are born with low birth weight, and low birth weight itself is a risk factor for the development of subsequent behavioral problems. Due to vasospasm caused by exposure to nicotine, the fetal brain is susceptible to ischemic strokes- violations of the blood supply to certain parts of the brain, their hypoxia, which has a very detrimental effect on all subsequent mental development.

One of the most important processes occurring in the developing brain of an unborn child is the covering of the long endings of nerve cells (axons) with myelin (myelination). A myelinated axon is shown in one of the previous drawings (a drawing of a neuron). Myelin is a substance that is somewhat like the insulation that covers wires. Thanks to him, the electrical signal moves from the body of the neuron to the end of the axon very quickly. The first signs of myelination are found in the brain of 20-week-old fetuses. This process is uneven. The axons that form the visual and motor nerve pathways, which are primarily useful to a newborn baby, are the first to be covered with myelin. A little later (almost before birth), the auditory pathways begin to become covered with myelin.

The cells of one of the brain tissues - neuroglia, which produce myelin, are very sensitive to a lack of oxygen. Also, the myelination of the fetal brain can be affected by exposure to toxins, narcotic substances, a deficiency of the substances necessary for the brain from food (in particular, B vitamins, iron, copper and iodine), improper metabolism of certain hormones, such as thyroid hormones.

Alcohol is extremely harmful to the normal course of myelination processes. It interferes with myelination and, as a result, can cause severe violations mental development accompanied by mental retardation of the child. The impact of alcohol can also have a non-specific effect, leading to a variety of malformations.

About how intensively the brain of a child in the womb develops, at least the fact that in the period from 29 to 41 weeks, the brain increases almost 3 times! In many ways, this is due to myelination.

Relatively little is known about the mental development of a child in the prenatal period. At the same time, there are some interesting facts.

Starting from 10 weeks of fetal development, children suck their thumb (75% - right). It turns out that future right-handers, for the most part, prefer to suck their right thumb, and future left-handers prefer their left.

When exposed to sound on the abdomen of pregnant women (37-41 weeks of pregnancy) through headphones, significant activation was found in the temporal areas in four and in the frontal areas in one fetus - the same areas of the cerebral cortex that will subsequently take part in the processing of speech information. This suggests that the child's brain is actively preparing to exist in the environment that is intended for him.

Nomura Y., Marks D.J., Halperin J.M. Prenatal Exposure to Maternal and Parental Smoking on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Symptoms and Diagnosis in Offspring // J Nerv Ment Dis. September 2010; 198(9):.

Tau G.Z., Peterson B.S.. Normal development of brain circuits // Neuropsychopharmacology reviews (2010) 35,

Saveliev S.V. Embryonic pathology of the nervous system. - M.: VEDI, 2007. - 216 p.

Development of the nervous system in the fetus

This period of development lasts from 12 to 40 weeks of gestation.

During the fetal period, almost all organs and systems of the fetus are in a physiological state of functional immaturity, which determines the originality of the fetus's responses to external influences.

According to the theory of systemogenesis proposed by the famous physiologist P.K. Anokhin, the development of individual systems in the fetus occurs unevenly, while selectively and rapidly develop those functional systems that are primarily necessary for the adaptation of his body to the conditions of extrauterine life. This pattern becomes clearly visible when considering the features of intrauterine development of the nervous, cardiovascular, hematopoietic, endocrine and other systems.

This system is laid down very early. The formation of the neural tube and cerebral vesicles is noted already during the first weeks of ontogenetic development, which can be identified on echograms from 8–9 weeks of gestation; elements of the reflex arc are formed in the 2nd month of intrauterine life. Since that time, the first motor reflexes appear, which are clearly visible on ultrasound from 7-8 weeks of gestation. In the future, the motor activity of the fetus takes on a natural character, averaging about three movements per 10 minutes. By 20-22 weeks, the period of local manifestations of reflex reactions ends (with irritation of certain parts of the body) and reflexes of a more complex nature appear. For example, at the 21st week of intrauterine development, the first spontaneous sucking movements occur in the fetus. Approximately in the same period, it is possible to fix the appearance of the first electric potentials of the brain. By the 24th week, the motor activity of the fetus outwardly already resembles the movements of a newborn baby.

The reflex reactions should also include the respiratory movements of the fetus. Some authors believe that as a result of respiratory movements, which are clearly visible on ultrasound, the blood circulation of the fetus improves, since a periodically occurring decrease in intra-abdominal pressure promotes blood flow into the vena cava and increases the work of the heart. The respiratory movements of the fetus do not have a constant character, they are usually combined with periods of apnea. It is impossible to completely exclude such an assumption that the respiratory movements of the fetus are the preparation of the respiratory apparatus for the implementation of its main function after the birth of the child.

By the end prenatal period basically ends the formation of the most important parts of the central and peripheral nervous system of the fetus. However, cortical functions develop in a child after birth.

Pregnancy and the intelligence of the unborn baby

Summary: Pregnancy and the intelligence of the future baby. Factors affecting the formation of the intelligence of the unborn child during pregnancy. The activities of future parents aimed at developing the intelligence of the unborn child. The influence of bad habits of the future mother on the formation of the child's intelligence. Influence of infectious and chronic diseases of a pregnant woman on the intellectual development of a baby.

The activities of future parents aimed at developing the intelligence of the unborn child.

As an epigraph to this article, we can cite a well-known parable about how a woman came to a sage and asked for advice on how to raise a child. "When he was born?" - asked the old man. "Yesterday," replied the mother. "You are nine months late," the sage was upset. This amazing period from the moment of fertilization to the birth of a newborn is called childhood before birth. It is no coincidence that in some countries the age of a person is counted from the first day of his existence in the mother's womb.

In the whole life of a person there is no more complex, unusual, but also responsible stage. Pregnancy is a normal physiological process during which significant changes occur in a woman's body. This obliges the expectant mother to strictly observe hygiene rules under the supervision of a doctor in order to maintain health and promote the normal development of the fetus.

At this time, many vital systems are formed - respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive, nervous, etc. The mother's womb is the environment for the unborn child, and favorable conditions of the mother's body, naturally, create opportunities for his growth, normal development and, accordingly, already affect his intelligence. Even the ancients said: "In a healthy body of a woman - the future of the people."

In the process of fetal development, it is customary to distinguish two periods:

1) embryonic, or germinal, - the period lasting from the moment of fertilization of the egg to eight weeks of pregnancy,

2) fetal, or fruitful, - the period lasting from the beginning of the ninth week of pregnancy until the moment of delivery.

Every woman who decides to give birth to a child must remember that the embryonic period is the most important and most vulnerable in the life of the fetus. Although it lasts only two months, at this time the formation of all its main organs and systems occurs in the embryo - organogenesis (i.e., the emergence of organs). Now the embryo is extremely sensitive to the effects of adverse factors that can lead to major malformations. In the first 8 weeks of life, the fetus does not yet have independent functions, so its well-being depends entirely on the mother's body.

Of particular importance for the development of the organism is the nervous system, which is laid down on the day of embryo development. Cells that are destined to become "building material" for the nervous system are characterized by a higher rate of division than neighboring - integumentary - cells. Such an early appearance of the nervous system is due to the fact that only under its influence is it possible to "start" the processes of laying and developing other structures of the body. By the 28th day, the nervous system of the embryo is already a neural tube, in which the expanded anterior end (the future brain) is clearly visible, exceeding the rest of the size (the future spinal cord).

In the fourth week, the brain spinal cord is clearly revealed, its main sections are outlined within the brain. Nerve cells begin to establish connections with each other, as a result, nerves are formed that connect the periphery of the body with the brain. Already from the sixth week, the unborn child is able to carry out the first motor reactions.

A giant leap in the rate of brain development and the complication of connections with the periphery is observed in the period from the sixth to the seventh week. The seventh week is characterized by the laying of one of the main structures of the brain - the cerebral cortex, it is she who will be in the future difficult task higher mental functions person.

Already now it is necessary to ensure that these processes develop at the right pace, which is manifested in the fact that expectant mothers should lead a healthy lifestyle, eat right and pay due attention to their unborn baby. His intellectual development begins precisely at this stage, as a result of the formation of the nervous system and brain. But for the final development of such a young education, more for a long time- in humans, the process of maturation of the cerebral cortex ends in the third decade of life. You need to do everything possible for its initial maturation, which will be discussed in this article.

By the eighth week, the baby has eyes, nostrils, lips. At the same time, rapid changes are taking place in the child's brain. At the eleventh week, both hemispheres of the brain are already working, the main coordinator of movement, the cerebellum, is developing. Every minute, 250 new brain cells are formed. This process is completed by the seventh month of pregnancy. Two months before his birth, the unborn child has already formed all the brain cells with which he will have to live.

During the second month of the life of the new organism, events of great importance take place, which are expressed in the fact that the embryo acquires the features of a human being. Any violation of the process of formation of the organism of the future person can lead to severe malformations. Therefore, substances that can harm the body are especially dangerous in these first two months of life. These include primarily alcohol, cigarettes and, of course, drugs, even in minimal doses.

The fetal period is the further growth and development of organs and systems of the fetus. Harmful substances acting at this stage of intrauterine life do not cause severe malformations in the fetus, but can cause functional disorders its organs and systems. After eight weeks, the placenta begins to form in the fetus. Its full development ends at sixteen weeks.

The fetus is in the uterus in the fetal bladder with amniotic fluid, the amount of which normally ranges from 0.8 to 1.5 liters. Amniotic fluid is the habitat of the fetus and protects it from adverse external influences.

Already at four weeks old, your unborn child has the entire central nervous system fully formed, which means that he now feels pain just like you do. At the same time, the baby is sensitive to any change in the mood of the mother. It should be noted that nature has maximally secured future offspring from many troubles.

The period from the second to the fourth month (weeks 8-20) is extremely important in the life of a young organism. The brain and peripheral nervous system are developing at a tremendous pace. The circulatory system is being improved, designed to ensure the timely supply of oxygen and nutrients from the mother's body to the developing organism.

The development of the human body is characterized by the fact that it is different from the embryos of other vertebrates - the embryo already has the rudiments of reason. Such a purely human path of development is manifested in the specifics of the development of the brain, hands and tongue, i.e., those organs with the work of which our human activity is associated. Interestingly, the laying of the tongue occurs already in a four-week-old embryo. By the tenth week, the developed muscles of the tongue receive "signals" from the brain. At the same time, studies show that other structures of the oral cavity are not yet developed during this period. The hand is included in the work on the sixth or seventh week of the life of the embryo, while the shoulder and forearm begin to work much later.

The graceful, light movements of the fetus, attached to the mother by the umbilical cord, resemble the movements of an astronaut in space - swimming, bending, turning over, somersaulting. The liquid environment allows him not only to move, but also, which is no less valuable, to exercise his muscles. This is very useful for the physical development of the child, as well as for the mental, because the motor abilities of the baby are closely related to his intellectual development. At this time, the mother does not yet feel how the fetus moves and how much time it takes for its exercises. In the uterus, the fetus lies in the cavity of the fetal bladder, which is filled with amniotic fluid, which protects the developing organism from external shocks and provides the possibility of free movement ("swimming") of the fetus.

At fourteen to fifteen weeks, the first specific reactions are formed in him: irritation of the palm of the fetus causes squeezing of the fingers. This is how the innate grasping reflex manifests itself, which can be observed in newborn children and with the help of which children receive all the necessary information about the world around them.

The main elements of the digestive system are formed in the third or fourth month of fetal development. Already in the next month of pregnancy, the first sucking and swallowing movements of the fetus are observed. A normally developing fetus swallows about 450 ml per day amniotic fluid that serves him important component nutrition and stimulates the functional activity of his digestive system.

But, in addition to this, the natural ingestion of amniotic fluid by the fetus is also a prerequisite for the formation of a certain taste selectivity of the unborn child and determines his preference for mother's milk.

Each person is a unique creation according to his "biochemical portrait". Amniotic fluid is the most complex chemical environment of the body. The chemical stimulation received by the fetus from the amniotic fluid contributes to early ripening taste and smell. And this is especially important for a child in the first stages of his life, when the contact of the mother with the baby is only being established. It is the unity of these two kindred souls that determines the full intellectual and mental development of your baby (read about this in the article "Establishing emotional contact between mother and baby").

Taste and olfactory systems while still in the womb, the infants are tuned to the perception and selection from the environment of the corresponding "signs of the mother" - the taste of her milk and the smell of the mother's body.

The prerequisites for the process of lactation are laid even before the birth of the child. AT last days Pregnancy is the release of primary mother's milk - colostrum (or colostrum), which continues in the first 3-4 days after birth.

Colostrum has absolutely unique qualities. In addition to the fact that it has a laxative effect on the intestines of the newborn, which creates favorable conditions for the transition of the infant to the normal process of digestion, the mother's colostrum contains antibodies that protect the child from many diseases. These antibodies reliably protect his fragile body during the first six, the most difficult for him, weeks of life. The composition of colostrum is very close to that of amniotic fluid. The familiar taste helps the child to "recognize" the mother after birth, which contributes to their strong unity, which, apparently, begins even during pregnancy.

Studies by French scientists have shown that the moment of conception and the first days of embryo development do not occur in the dark, as previously thought, but in the rays of a weak red light that breaks through the mother's belly. The more light, the better the body of the unborn child is formed.

By using modern technology managed to find out that in the cavity of our body does not reign at all total darkness. Separate particles of light - photons - penetrate the tissues of the female abdomen and, "illuminating" the sperm, fill it with energy and help it move faster, which means it will reach the egg faster and easier.

If conception has taken place, light becomes even more important in the following weeks. And here a special role belongs to the placenta, which becomes a powerful source of the light flux of the red spectrum. The more powerful this flow, which penetrates the dividing cells of the embryo, the more energy-photons the protein molecules absorb, the better the baby grows.

In the cells of the embryo, there is an intensive metabolism, which is helped by "accumulations" in the mother's body, and an important factor is the recharging of her body with light rays. In the early days of pregnancy, it is useful to walk outside on a sunny day. In winter, a woman is tightly dressed - the embryo will not see the light, you can arrange a walk around the sun-drenched apartment.

According to the observations of French doctors, in children whose first half of gestation fell on spring-summer, the formation of the skeleton and both halves of the palate begins a few days earlier. Thus, he gets the opportunity to open his mouth, swallow. And the sooner the fetus begins to drink amniotic fluid, the better it will subsequently take the mother's breast, develop faster.

If in the last few months you often walk lightly dressed, for example, in a transparent dress, and spend a lot of time outdoors, then your baby will behave very actively. Usually, thin mothers have children who are more energetic, mobile, they start walking and talking earlier. Therefore, it is desirable for overweight women to be outdoors more often and take short sunbaths. It is better to do this before eleven in the morning and after four in the afternoon.

For the sake of health, full physical and mental development of children, it is necessary to plan their birth in terms of the age of parents established by nature. Practice gives a lot of evidence of the complexity of childbirth in women aged 18 and 35 years. Very young teenage girls have a very poor diet, and they themselves grow quickly, so a fetus that requires additional food from the mother is likely to cause some tension in the functioning of her body. In addition, a young mother is unlikely to receive full care, necessary for a woman during pregnancy.

The reproductive system of women at the age of 35 has passed the peak of its development, and with age, the condition of the ovaries worsens. At this time, primiparous women are faced with large quantity problems and complications during pregnancy and childbirth. They tend to be long and complex. High blood pressure is one of the most common complications of a pregnant woman over the age of 35. Women at this age are at risk of premature birth, severe pain in pelvic organs before and during childbirth. Older mothers' firstborns are more likely to be born with low birth weight, Down's syndrome, developmental delays, or premature births.

Modern women have a desire to first arrange their lives, build a career, find themselves in a professional field. They are not in a hurry to have a child before the age of 30. Modern business women are completely immersed in their work, they have a rather busy schedule.

According to statistics, an increasing number of women are faced with the problem of infertility and the birth of handicapped, retarded children due to the content in their blood of too much androgens - male sex hormones. Possible reason high content androgens in the blood - a constant stress for working women, and yet every year they become more and more.

For a woman the most optimal time the birth of a child. A big gap between the appearance of the first and next children should also not be made, the best is two to three years.

As age increases, genetic counseling becomes more important. Genetic counseling can, in some circumstances, help you and your partner make the right decision about conceiving a child. It is available from some major universities. Any information will be strictly confidential. As a result, you will receive information about what may affect your future offspring or your ability to conceive. But, even knowing about the possible complications, there is no guarantee that you will be able to avoid them. Just you will know what can expect you in this or that case.

Such counseling is also necessary for any woman who has given birth to a child with congenital malformations, a woman who has had recurrent miscarriages; if any of the partners has a congenital defect; if there were cases of hereditary diseases in the family: Down syndrome, mental retardation, muscular dystrophy, blood diseases, congenital heart disease; if you and your partner are related in any way.

Children of spouses-relatives are much more likely than children from unrelated couples to be born with different handicapped, suffer from metabolic disorders, have speech defects, lag behind in mental development. In consanguineous marriages, both husband and wife, having a common ancestor, can inherit from him a "spoiled" gene. The closer the blood relationship, the more likely to have pathology in offspring. First task genetic counseling is early diagnosis and prevention of various complications.

Research shows that the age of the father of the unborn child may also be important. Over time, the likelihood of chromosomal diseases increases. The risk of having a child with Down syndrome doubles in men over the age of 55. Men, have children before the age of forty. The final maturation of a man's body - "adulthood" - takes place in flight. This age is most favorable for fatherhood.

The special requirements for the life of a mother in an extremely important period for her and the unborn child are associated with the provision of sufficient and nutritious nutrition and the exclusion of junk food from the diet of pregnant women. The birth of a normal baby depends on this. The average weight of newborns is about 3.2 kg. Often, children are born, albeit on time, but with a lower weight - 2.3-2.5 kg. Children with low birth weight are significantly behind in physical and mental development. This may be the result of malnutrition of the mother during pregnancy, evidence of the inferiority of her nutrition.

However, other reasons for the low weight of the child are also possible: malnutrition of the fetus itself due to a violation of the transport of nutrients or the inability of the fetus to use them. These violations in the diet affect primarily the development of the higher parts of the nervous system, i.e., the brain.

According to studies, certain eating disorders during pregnancy affect the structural and functional development of the brain of the unborn child. In such children, the electrical reactions of the brain are changed, the orienting reflex is disturbed - the most important behavioral reaction that underlies the formation of the movements around them and the actions of other people.

So, during pregnancy, it is important for the expectant mother to eat right. If your diet is poor, it may affect your child's development. Increase your calorie intake by about a day. They will be spent on the growth of tissues in your body and the child, on the growth and development of the baby. An increase in adipose tissue is necessary during pregnancy and after childbirth to feed the baby. For the vital activity of the child's body, the energy that you give him with food is necessary: ​​to create reserves of proteins (protein), fats, carbohydrates. Pregnancy is not the period of life when you can experiment with various diets and reduce calorie intake. However, this does not mean that you can eat whatever you want, whenever you want.

In the early stages of pregnancy, the fetal egg uses its own reserves for nutrition. Therefore, in the first half of pregnancy, a woman's diet should not differ significantly from her diet before pregnancy. However, it must be complete (contain proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, microelements) and not contain foods and drinks that adversely affect the fetus (fatty, spicy food, spices and seasonings, canned food, smoked meats, fried meat and fish, strong meat broths, products made from white flour and pastry, various sweets, alcohol, very strong tea, coffee). There should be at least four times a day, that is, you need to eat "for two."

In the second half of pregnancy, you should switch to five to six meals a day. Along with an increase in the mass of the fetus and uterus, the size of the placenta, mammary glands, blood mass, etc.

Products containing complete proteins include milk, yogurt, kefir, low-fat cottage cheese, mild cheese, boiled meat and fish, potatoes, cabbage, beans, wheat, rice, buckwheat and oatmeal.

Carbohydrates compensate for energy costs in the human body. A direct relationship has been proven between the amount of carbohydrates consumed and the weight of the fetus. Eat more foods that are rich in fiber and vitamins: wholemeal bread, vegetables, fruits, cereals.

Fats are also an important energy reserve, as they provide two and a half times more thermal energy than carbohydrates and proteins. Fats are involved in plastic processes, affect the functions of the central nervous system, endocrine glands, reduce heat transfer and mitigate the effect of fluctuations in external temperature on the body. Your diet should be up to 40% fat plant origin: sunflower, olive, cottonseed oil, etc. Use butter and ghee from animal fats, refrain from lamb and beef fat, margarine.

During pregnancy, the need for vitamins and minerals increases two to four times. Balanced vitamin and mineral complexes will provide you with all the necessary nutrients, and the baby will be born beautiful, strong and cheerful.

Vitamins of groups A, B, C, D, E, etc. act as regulators of metabolic processes. These can be products made from wholemeal flour, cereals, legumes, herbs, vegetables, fruits, berries, liver, meat, dairy products. In the winter and early spring months, in consultation with your doctor, take vitamin preparations. Today, one of the most effective is the Materna complex. We also recommend you "Pregnavit" and "Vitrum Prenatal", from domestic drugs- Gendevit.

A pregnant woman should receive no more than 1-1.2 liters of fluid per day. It is advisable to reduce salt intake, especially in the second half of pregnancy, despite the fact that you are "drawn to salty". Your body also needs to get enough minerals (calcium, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, etc.) and trace elements (iron, cobalt, iodine, etc.), which are contained in sufficient quantities in your food.

Also, gymnastics designed specifically for pregnant women will be useful for you and your baby. In many modern magazines you can find various exercises, there are also special centers where expectant mothers come, they are advised on all emerging issues and they have aerobics lessons with them. Water aerobics, gymnastics and swimming will allow you to stay fit and slim all nine months of pregnancy, strengthen the muscles of your chest and abdomen, and simply cheer you up! Swimming is the optimal physical activity for pregnant women.

You can also work out at home with your unborn baby. But even before conception, you should pay special attention to special exercises which strengthen the muscles of the abdomen, perineum, pelvic floor. Strong and trained muscles ensure the optimal location of the fetus in the uterus, contribute to the favorable course of childbirth.

The upcoming birth will require a lot of physical stress from you. A special set of exercises will increase the efficiency and defenses of the body to perform physical exertion during childbirth. In the first half of pregnancy, most exercises are aimed at strengthening the muscles of the arms, legs, back, and abdominals.

In the second half of pregnancy, you need to strengthen the muscles of the feet, as the center of gravity of the body shifts. Rotational exercises are useful for increasing the flexibility of the spine and pelvic joints.

The ability to control your breathing will be needed during childbirth. At the end of pregnancy, do breathing exercises. To do this, it is necessary to alternate deep breath holdings with subsequent relaxation of the body. Most of the exercises in late pregnancy are done with a stick or while sitting in a chair.

All classes are carried out at a slow pace, each exercise is repeated 3-5 times. After them you should not feel physical fatigue, the pulse should remain within the normal range (beats per minute).

We must not forget about the intrauterine psychological comfort of the unborn baby. The formation of the emotional behavior of adult organisms is largely determined by the former conditions of intrauterine development. Scientists have proven that calm classical music has a calming effect not only on the expectant mother, but also on the child in her womb. Now there are many musical recordings for relaxation, whether it be the sounds of the forest or the surf. Such music has a very beneficial effect on the child. Even the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle argued that music can influence the formation of character.

And psychologists have found that if women listen to music very often during pregnancy, they give birth to children with absolute pitch. The fact is that sound affects the endocrine and vascular systems of an unborn child. Sound vibrations heal the body, act like a massage, affect intellectual ability baby.

Some smells also favorably affect the future baby: mint, roses, lavender, sea freshness and others. Oriental aromas have a somewhat depressing effect on the nervous system of both the expectant mother and the child. With the help of aromatherapy, you can cope with many ailments that accompany pregnancy, including stress relief. It is useful to take a bath with leuzea oil, we also recommend rubbing a mixture of jasmine and tangerine oils with deodorized vegetable oil to the central lymphatic ducts(armpits and groin).

The world in which the baby will appear, he begins to explore even in the womb. Embryos begin to hear already at the fifteenth or twentieth week of intrauterine life. The future baby feels well what is happening around the mother, distinguishes between male and female voices. He unmistakably recognizes his mother's voice, distinguishes between personal and telephone conversations, and reacts to changes in intonation. An unborn baby perfectly feels maternal emotions. Mother and child have a strong bond with each other. And this connection will never be as strong as during the months of pregnancy.

The sound of a mother's speech is the main and, perhaps, the only emotional stimulus for the life of an unborn child: it pleases, excites, and soothes. For the last three months of intrauterine life, the fetus listens, remembers the intonation, rhythm, and melody of the mother's speech. He is born with a solid supply of impressions and, consequently, information. But much of what a child learns in the womb is erased from memory after birth. Only not the mother's voice, which becomes the music of life for the baby, sedative for a frightened, newly born baby. A familiar voice helps to come to terms with the new conditions of life.

A person begins to prepare himself for understanding and reproducing speech even before birth. In the womb of his mother, he begins to hear speech, to distinguish the sound of speech from other sounds and noises. Scientists are sure that the behavioral code, individual for each person, is laid even before birth. And the nature of this code, no doubt, will be reflected in the words of love uttered by a native voice.

It is very useful for your unborn child to listen to foreign speech from mom and from those people who surround her. The fact is that a newborn child feels how different sound different languages. When he is born, he feels if his mother suddenly starts speaking in a foreign language. He reacts not so much to new words as to the general pattern of speech: stress, accent, intonation. A person is generally born a polyglot. The newborn is able to hear the difference between all sounds and phonemes human speech. If you immediately accustom him to someone else's speech, then later learning a foreign language will be easier for the child. But it is important to remember that, being in the environment of the native language after a month of life, the baby loses acute hearing for someone else's speech.

It has been established that the formation of the emotional behavior of adult organisms is largely determined by the former conditions of intrauterine development. For a pregnant woman in the family there should be peace, favorable psychological climate. While the expectant mother is waiting for the first meeting with her baby, it's time to start a dialogue that will continue when the baby is born. He still does not distinguish words, but their emotional connotation will unmistakably determine.

One and a half months before birth future baby begins to memorize verses and a lullaby melody. Therefore, we would advise the expectant mother to sing lullabies before going to bed, because your baby needs a restful sleep, and in the last three months he has already developed his own cycle of sleep and wakefulness.

Back in 1913, Russian academician V. M. Bekhterev wrote about the important role of lullabies in the full development of the fetus. And if you regularly read the same poem out loud, then, having heard it after birth, the baby reacts precisely to this poem, distinguishes it from others (which is manifested in a change in the rhythm of sucking on the pacifier).

Even in the womb, the child fixes in memory the language spoken by others. Sometimes it turns out that after birth, the baby finds himself in a different language environment. In this case, in a few years, when he begins to learn a foreign language - the language that his mother spoke during pregnancy - he will learn it amazingly easily.

The influence of bad habits of the future mother on the formation of the child's intelligence.

Let's talk about how they can affect bad habits parents on the intellectual development of your baby.

In recent years, the "epidemic" of smoking has spread to girls and even pregnant women. Drinking alcohol and smoking tobacco are dangerous for the health of an unborn baby. Nicotine and alcohol easily penetrate the placenta to the fetus and cause irreparable harm to his body. The consequences of smoking can be quick: low birth weight and a "difficult", noisy baby. May not be detected immediately: slow development, low level of intellectual data.

Smoking nicotine can cause the development of the "tobacco syndrome" in the fetus, cause a spasm of the uterine arteries, which provide the child's place (placenta) with all the products necessary for life. As a result, blood flow in the placenta is disturbed and placental insufficiency develops, so the fetus does not receive the necessary amount of oxygen and nutritious foods. Tobacco smoke contains carbon monoxide, which, penetrating through the placenta into the blood of the fetus, is firmly bound to hemoglobin and prevents the delivery of oxygen to the tissues. As a result, the fetus develops oxygen starvation.

The composition of tobacco smoke, in addition to nicotine and carbon monoxide, includes other volatile toxic compounds. That's why second hand smoke, i.e., the stay of a non-smoking pregnant woman in a smoky room also causes significant damage to the health of the expectant mother and fetus.

Alcohol has a high ability to dissolve easily in water and fats. Its low molecular weight allows it to pass unhindered through all the body's tissue barriers, which protect it from many damaging substances. Alcohol inhibits the process of maturation of germ cells, which damages their most important structure - the genetic apparatus, and offspring are born with developmental defects. Alcohol-damaged female reproductive system causes infertility, spontaneous miscarriages, premature birth and stillbirths.

Getting into the blood of the fetus, alcohol primarily affects his brain, liver, vascular system and endocrine glands. The concentration of alcohol in the blood of the fetus reaches% of its content in the blood of the mother. The fetus has not yet developed those systems that neutralize alcohol in the body of an adult, so its damaging effect on the fetus will be much stronger and longer. As a result, multiple deformities of the fetus inevitably arise, compatible or incompatible with its life. First of all, the child's brain suffers, those of its structures that determine mental activity.

Children with alcohol syndrome - a set of congenital pathological signs in the fetus - they lag behind in mental and physical development. The birth of children with deformities, epilepsy, mental retardation is often associated with the father's alcoholism: in men, under the influence of frequent alcohol intake, degeneration of internal organs occurs, irreversible changes occur in the liver, heart vessels, and sex glands. Their children are born weakened, often and for a long time get sick, lag behind in physical and mental development.

In many countries of the world, there have long been customs forbidding newlyweds to drink alcoholic beverages. In Russia, young people were given only kvass. This fact once again suggests that alcohol consumption has a detrimental effect on offspring. The ban on drinking alcohol for newlyweds protected the health of future children. This was clear to the ancestors without genetics. AT ancient india It was strictly forbidden for all women to drink wine. Violators of this custom burned the notorious bottle on their foreheads with hot metal.

Until recently, there was an opinion that the state of the body of the father at the time of conception of the child does not play a significant role. But today this myth is completely dispelled. A father who drinks can harm his unborn child. Alcohol - a poison for any living cell - reduces the activity, mobility of spermatozoa, breaks, distorts their hereditary structure.

Damage caused by alcohol causes inevitable deviations, malformations of the child from the very beginning of his biological existence. The consequences of drinking alcohol by future fathers can be tragic: underdevelopment of the child's brain, mental retardation, dementia up to idiocy.

Alcohol can harm expectant mothers long before conception. Not to mention the fact that a woman with his "help" can generally deprive herself of happy motherhood. Alcohol quickly damages a woman's body, and the younger she is, the faster it happens. The menstrual cycle is disturbed - unfavorable conditions for conception are created. Due to alcohol intoxication, the ovaries produce immature, defective eggs. If such a damaged, defective egg combines according to biological laws to form an embryo with a spermatozoon, unhealthy unborn child is already guaranteed.

The toxic, destructive effect of alcohol on the germ cells of future parents lasts about two weeks from the moment of its use. A sperm cell poisoned by alcohol merged with an egg cell poisoned by the same poison - that's it, a drunken conception. The result is a distorted formation of the embryo, defective development of the fetus, a dead, ugly or sick child.

In addition to alcohol, tobacco and diseases, there are other factors that negatively affect the full development of the unborn child. They may be vibration, noise, radiant heat, ionizing radiation, dust, pesticides, various chemical compounds - paints, varnishes, cleaning solutions, gasoline vapors, lead compounds, mercury, etc. The fetus in the mother's womb often suffers already from a slight impact adverse factors that do not have a noticeable effect on the health of a pregnant woman.

The use of strong nitro-paints and varnishes during the repair of an apartment, the use of pesticides to kill domestic insects, and other household chemicals during pregnancy is fraught with very adverse consequences for the health of the unborn child if improperly handled and stored.

During pregnancy, the child's body is extremely sensitive to all kinds of influences. His developing brain firmly imprints the information that comes to him. This imposes a huge responsibility not only on the expectant mother, but also on the people around her. They form the "environment" of the child, influence the development of his psyche and intellect, form the main features of his character, and are most directly included in the process of his upbringing. The physical and mental health of a future person depends precisely on this "environment", which can either bring him good or cause irreparable harm.

Future parents can properly organize their own activities to develop the intelligence of their child. For the mother-to-be, moderate labor during pregnancy is essential. But it is important to establish reasonable combination work and rest, especially in the second half of pregnancy. It is advisable to alternate work with rest every minute.

Fatigue, drowsiness are common factors that accompany a woman during pregnancy. The expectant mother should remember that the duration of sleep should be at least 8-9 hours. In case of sleep disturbance, on the advice of a doctor, you can take hypnotic. The room before going to bed should be well ventilated.

During pregnancy, the need for oxygen increases by %. The expectant mother needs to walk more often fresh air, since during walks the blood is saturated with oxygen especially actively. If possible, walk several times a day, before going to bed - be sure.

The expectant mother breathes for two (the child receives oxygen from her blood through the placenta through the umbilical cord). The full development and respiration of blood depends on the quality of the mother's blood, in particular on the level of hemoglobin. And during pregnancy, the composition of the blood changes - the number of red blood cells (erythrocytes) decreases or the amount of hemoglobin, an integral part of the erythrocyte, decreases. The main task of hemoglobin is to carry oxygen from the lungs to the tissues of the body, and carbon dioxide from the tissues to the lungs.

The total blood volume increases by one and a half times as pregnancy develops, while the mass of red blood cells increases by only 18%. The normal course of pregnancy means that the hemoglobin level drops by about 15% compared to the normal state. If your hemoglobin level was

130, then during pregnancy is normal. If the indicator is less than a hundred, it's time to take action.

By the seventh month of pregnancy, your blood circulation reaches its maximum intensity. The increase in total blood volume does not keep pace with the baby's oxygen needs. If the blood retained its usual viscosity, then such a rapid circulation of the blood would be impossible. Therefore, a decrease in the percentage of red blood cells is inevitable here. But by the end of pregnancy, nature insures you against excessive blood loss during childbirth: the total blood volume reaches its maximum, and blood clotting increases.

At certain stages of pregnancy, anemia is even necessary for the successful bearing of a child. But, if the state of your blood goes beyond the norm, fatigue may appear, frequent colds, dizziness, weakness and other troubles. Therefore, try to eat more vegetables and fruits, pomegranates, bananas, beets, apples, dark grapes, plums, eggs, beef, liver, etc. are especially useful. Excessive consumption of dairy products or calcium preparations worsens the absorption of iron. Walk outdoors more often, do gymnastics and breathing exercises.

Influence of infectious and chronic diseases of a pregnant woman on the intellectual development of a baby.

Now you and your baby are one. You not only rejoice and grieve together, but also get sick together. Even a slight change in the temperature of the skin of the abdomen of a pregnant woman is immediately reflected in the heart rate of the fetus. Therefore, it is natural that all diseases of the mother, both chronic and acute, are dangerous for the fetus.

Many women, only after becoming pregnant, begin to check their health status. And some find out that they are either psychologically unprepared for childbearing, or have diseases that pose a threat to the unborn child.

Even before you decide to have a baby, find out from the doctors the level of your physical development, health status, check for diseases that you may not be aware of. First of all, visit a therapist, he will refer you to other specialists if necessary.

Diseases of the teeth and nasopharynx can cause a lot of anxiety to the mother and damage the fetus. Insidious diseases such as toxoplasmosis, rubella, helminthic diseases, on the unborn child act in the most severe way. You should also ask if you have received all the necessary vaccinations against infectious diseases.

For the most part, the pathogenic microbes that affect the mother are too large to penetrate the placenta into the blood of the fetus and infect it. The exception is pathogens. chickenpox, hepatitis, poliomyelitis and smallpox. There are a significant number of diseases, including rubella, syphilis, and diabetes, that have a particularly strong impact on a child's intellectual development. In no case should such serious illnesses accompany the onset of pregnancy. Treating a pregnant woman with any type of infection is no easy task. After all, the use of certain drugs during pregnancy is contraindicated due to their possible harmful influence to the fruit.

Pregnancy should not occur immediately after completion of treatment. After all, the body is weakened by the disease, the functional activity of some organs and systems has not yet been finally restored.

Rubella - a viral infection - in an adult can manifest itself weakly or go unnoticed at all (in women, rubella can manifest itself only with a runny nose, a slight cough, a mild rash on the body for 1-3 days), while it causes serious complications in the fetus. The most severe consequences for the baby are brought by the infection in the first three months of intrauterine development, when there is an increased sensitivity and susceptibility of the fetus to any influences. The consequences are very terrible: disease or insufficient development of the heart, smaller (relative to the norm) head size, delays in overall development, hearing and vision defects, and even death. Rubella vaccinations should do everything - both children and adult women who do not have immunity, but the latter should first make sure that they are not pregnant.

Syphilis is passed from mother to fetus. The microorganisms that cause syphilis infect the fetus, quickly penetrating almost all of its tissues and organs, destroying the kidneys, liver, blood vessels, and lungs. If the child survives, then the threat of getting sick will constantly hang over him. acute pneumonia or lose your sight. If a woman is cured before the fourth month of pregnancy, then the child can avoid this disease. Early detection of syphilis is essential for the woman, her partner, and the child. If you notice any ulcerative lesions during pregnancy, contact your doctor immediately. An effective remedy for syphilis is penicillin and some other drugs that are harmless to pregnant women.

Not only infectious diseases of spouses are fraught with adverse consequences for children.

A common endocrine pathology is diabetes mellitus. This disease is caused by insufficient production of the pancreatic hormone - insulin. In the blood of such patients, the content of sugar is increased, which is not absorbed by the body and is excreted in large quantities in the urine. In diabetes mellitus, all types of metabolism are disturbed in a patient, first of all carbohydrate, then fat, protein, mineral, vitamin. In diabetic mothers, babies can be born with congenital defects.

The risk of complications during pregnancy can be reduced by constantly monitoring blood sugar levels. Most of the complications associated with diabetes appear within thirteen weeks of pregnancy. Doctors recommend monitoring the development of the disease especially closely for at least two to three months before conception. You will need to have your blood sugar tested several times a day to fully control the disease and avoid possible complications. Thanks to complete and constant monitoring, even diabetic women can count on a successful outcome of pregnancy and childbirth.

Disturbances are especially harmful to the fetus carbohydrate metabolism, which a long period proceeded in women hidden, and therefore the patients did not undergo treatment. This disorder is called prediabetes. The symptoms of this disease are the same as those of diabetes: thirst, increased appetite, itchy skin, frequent urination, fatigue, weight loss, etc. Pre-diabetic conditions that are hidden for a long time can cause not only spontaneous miscarriages, but also the birth of children with malformations.

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, can cause complications for both mother and baby. A woman is at risk of kidney failure, a hypertensive crisis and headache. Blood flow to the placenta will decrease, which can lead to fetal developmental delays, the baby may be born with an underweight.

During all nine months of bearing a child, it is necessary to monitor the pressure if you had it before pregnancy. Some high blood pressure medications are safe for pregnant women, and some are not. The course of pregnancy may be adversely affected by reducing the dosage of drugs or stopping their intake.

The most common kidney disease in expectant mothers is pyelonephritis (inflammation of the renal pelvis). It can adversely affect not only the course of pregnancy, but also the condition of the fetus. Almost half of pregnant women with pyelonephritis, especially chronic, have a so-called late toxicosis.

In the body of the expectant mother, there is a serious hormonal restructuring. The placenta produces the hormone progesterone, and under its influence, the smooth muscles of the intestines, bladder and ureters relax. You may develop a tendency to constipation, slow down the outflow of urine from the kidneys (the so-called "passage"). The situation is also aggravated by the pressure on the ureters of the growing uterus, which increases 60 times during pregnancy.

Also, the disease arises and develops in the presence of infectious focus in the body. Any focus of chronic infection can adversely affect the health of your baby. In expectant mothers, as a rule, immunity is weakened, so pathogenic microbes (fungi, mycoplasmas, Trichomonas) are activated and enter the kidneys with blood flow. Be especially careful if, even before pregnancy, the content of salts in the urine was increased or anomalies in the development of the urinary tract were detected.

Since pyelonephritis does not manifest itself for a long time, women rarely think about a urological examination on the eve of a planned pregnancy. Outside of exacerbations, you feel good, however, sometimes there are attacks of weakness, headaches, and backaches. But, as a rule, they do not pay attention to this, they attribute everything to fatigue. Consult a doctor, a specialist, depending on the form of pyelonephritis, will determine the degree of risk for you and for the child.

In no case do not self-medicate! Even if you are treated with herbs, consult your doctor, because absolutely safe herbs also no. Drink more - at least 2-3 liters per day: cranberry and lingonberry fruit drinks.

Any disease can be dangerous for the unborn baby. Discuss your condition with your doctor if you suffer from any chronic disease or have to constantly take medication. At the time of conception and early stages pregnancy, it is better not to take drugs and not undergo any treatment. The laying of all the organs and tissues of the child occurs during the first thirteen weeks of pregnancy, so protect your baby from the harmful effects of drugs and examinations.

How the nervous system of a newborn develops, what parents need to know about the nervous system of the baby, what is the norm, and when to be alert - we have collected interesting and important facts about the nervous system of the baby.

The nervous system of the child begins to form in the womb. From the moment of conception until the age of 3, the baby's reflexes, reactions to the world around him and skills change greatly. In the first year of life, the brain of a newborn doubles in size, and by the age of 3 it reaches 80% of the adult volume.

It is especially important during this period to surround the child with care and love so that the baby forms healthy neural connections and can quickly adapt to changes in the world around him.

Development of the nervous system of the newborn

In the mother's womb, the embryo receives everything it needs. During the maturation of the embryo, 25,000 nerve cells are born in its brain every minute. It is important for mom to lead so that the baby

5 facts about the nervous system of a newborn:

1. By the end of the prenatal period, the central nervous system of the child is fully formed, but the brain of an adult is much more complicated than the brain of a newborn.
2. With normal intrauterine development and normal delivery a child is born, albeit with a structurally formed, but immature nervous system.
3. It is only after birth that the brain tissue develops. The number of nerve cells in it after birth does not increase.
4. In a newborn, all convolutions are practically formed, but they are poorly expressed.
5. Of all the parts of the central nervous system, by the time prenatal maturation is completed, the spinal cord is the most mature.

The central nervous system regulates the activity of all organs and systems of the body.

Since she is not yet mature, the newborn may have various problems: irregular stools, anxiety. As the nervous system of the newborn matures, everything returns to normal.

Baby's health after birth:

Babies (birth to 1 year old) and toddlers (1 to 2 years old) grow quickly.

Physical development in infancy and childhood implies changes in the body and the functioning of internal organs, the development of reflexes, motor skills, sensations. The child gets acquainted with the world around him, studies himself, gains new experience.

The first 4 weeks of life are called the neonatal or neonatal period.

It starts from the moment of cutting the umbilical cord and lasts 28 days. It is divided into early neonatal (the first 7 days of a baby's life) and late neonatal period (lasts from the 8th to the 28th day).

In pediatrics, the early neonatal period is considered critical in the life of a newborn. The body adapts to the environment - the child learns to breathe on his own, microorganisms appear in the intestinal tract to digest food, the body and organs adapt to new conditions of thermoregulation.

In the first 7 days of life, the baby is a lot. The nervous system is still immature, so the processes of excitation are almost imperceptible.

AT in the early neonatal period, the baby may experience the following problems with health:

• erythema, which is in the form of rashes and redness on the skin
• sexual or hormonal crisis
• transient fever manifests as elevated temperature, which can last from 3 hours to several days.

In newborns, the appearance of such conditions is considered a natural phenomenon, but the baby should be under the supervision of doctors.

In the late neonatal period, the child's body continues to adapt to changes. Passive immunity, which was formed in the womb thanks to antibodies from the mother's body, protects the baby from infections.

It is important during this period to create a calm atmosphere in the house and comfortable conditions for the child, so that he gains weight, and the nervous system continues to develop.

The development of the fetal and newborn brain is also rapid. The lower or subcortical regions of the brain (responsible for basic life functions such as breathing) develop first, then the cortical regions responsible for thinking and planning develop.

Most changes in a baby's brain occur after birth.

At birth, a newborn brain weighs only 25% of an adult brain.

By the end of the second year, the brain weighs about 80%.

By puberty, the brain weighs almost 100% of the adult brain.

Reflexes of newborns

What can a baby do up to a year

• About a month after birth, the baby can raise their chin when they lie on their stomach.
• During the 2nd month, babies can lift their chest from the same position they lie in.
• By 4 months, babies can pick up rattles as well as sit with support.
• By the 5th month, babies can roll over.
• By the 8th month, babies can sit up unassisted.
• After about 10 months, babies can stand while holding on to an object for support.

Of course, these criteria are indicative. The pace of physical and motor development differ in children depending on a number of factors.

How does a newborn perceive the world?

Healthy babies respond to sensory input from the outside world. Newborns are myopic, but visual acuity develops quickly.

Although children's vision is not as clear as an adult's, they react to images from birth.

Babies are especially attracted to contrasting objects in light-dark hues. The human face is also of interest. Newborns even distinguish between happy and sad expressions.

How does a child's vision develop in the first year of life (video)

Newborns can also respond to tastes, smells, and sounds, especially the sound of the human voice. From birth, a baby knows his mother's voice and recognizes the sounds of stories if she read books aloud while he was still in the womb.

Relying on sight, smells and sounds, the child distinguishes parents from other people from the first days. Infant sensory abilities improve significantly during the first year.

How to teach a newborn different skills

Learning is a process that leads to permanent changes in behavior based on experience. Babies learn in many different ways.

Most often, the learning process looks like the application of rewards and/or punishments. Reinforcers reinforce the desired behavior, while negative reinforcement indicates which response is undesirable.

For example, a child who sees that smiling attracts parental attention smiles more at their parents.

Basically, newborns learn by observing and imitating others.

For example, a baby learns to clap by observing and imitating his older brother. This form of learning is the fastest and most natural way for children to acquire new skills.

Nervous system of the baby: when to beware

The child's nervous system is very plastic and has a phenomenal ability to recover - it happens that the alarming symptoms detected by the doctor in the first days of the baby's life disappear without a trace in the future.

Poor nutrition, hygiene and neglected medical care threaten the healthy development of the child.

Parents should take care of the proper nutrition of the newborn (preference is given to breastfeeding), observing the rules of infant hygiene and, if necessary, obtaining adequate medical care.

For example, proper vaccination has crucial to prevent infectious diseases such as, and.

The nervous system is the leading physiological system organism.

Neuropsychic development (NPD) is an improvement, a qualitative change in the intellectual and motor skills of the child. At the time of birth, the nervous system of children has this characteristic:

By the time of birth, a healthy full-term newborn has a well-developed spinal cord, medulla oblongata, trunk, and hypothalamus. Life support centers are connected with these formations. They provide vital activity, survival of the newborn, processes of adaptation to the environment.

At birth, the brain is the most developed organ. In a newborn, the brain mass is 1/8-1/9 of the body weight, by the end of the first year of life it doubles and is equal to 1/11 and 1/12 of the body weight, at 5 years it is 1/13-1/14, in 18-20 years - 1/40 of body weight. Large furrows and convolutions are very well expressed, but have a shallow depth. There are few small furrows, they appear only in the first years of life. The size of the frontal lobe is relatively smaller, and the occipital lobe is larger than in an adult. Lateral ventricles relatively large, stretched. The length of the spinal cord increases somewhat more slowly than the growth of the spine, so the lower end of the spinal cord moves upward with age. The cervical and dorsal thickenings begin to contour after 3 years of age.

The brain tissue of a child is characterized by significant vascularization, especially of the gray matter. At the same time, the outflow of blood from the brain tissue is weak, so toxic substances accumulate in it more often. Brain tissue is richer in proteins. With age, the amount of protein decreases from 46% to 27%. By birth, the number of mature neurocytes, which will then become part of the cerebral cortex, is 25% of the total number of cells. At the same time, there is a histological immaturity of nerve cells for the birth of a child: they are oval in shape, with one axon, there is granularity in the nuclei, there are no dendrites.

By the time of birth, the cerebral cortex is relatively immature, varying degrees subcortical motor centers are differentiated (with a sufficiently mature thalamo-pallidar system, the striatal nucleus is poorly developed), myelination of the pyramidal pathways is not completed. The cerebellum is poorly developed, characterized by small thickness, small hemispheres and superficial grooves.

Underdevelopment of the cortex and the prevailing influence of the subcortex affects the behavior of the child. Underdevelopment of the cortex, striatal nucleus, pyramidal pathways makes it impossible voluntary movements, auditory, visual concentration. The dominant influence of the thalamo-pallidar system explains the nature of the movements of the newborn. In a newborn, involuntary slow movements are of a massive generalized nature with general muscle rigidity, which is manifested by physiological hypertension of the limb flexors. The movements of the newborn are limited, chaotic, erratic, athetosis-like. Tremor and physiological muscle hypertonicity gradually subside after the first month of life.

The prevailing activity of the subcortical centers with a weak influence of the cortex is manifested by a complex of congenital conditioned reflexes(VBR) of a newborn, which are based on three: food, defensive, indicative. These reflexes of oral and spinal automatism reflect the maturity of the nervous system of the newborn child.

The formation of conditioned reflexes occurs after birth and is associated with the food dominant.

The development of the nervous system continues after birth until puberty. The most intensive growth and development of the brain are observed in the first two years of life.
In the first half of the year, the differentiation of the striatal nucleus, pyramidal tracts ends. In this regard, muscle rigidity disappears, spontaneous movements are replaced by arbitrary ones. The cerebellum grows intensively and develops in the second half of the year, its development ends by the age of two. With the development of the cerebellum, coordination of movements is formed.

The first criterion CPD child is the development of voluntary coordinated movements.

Levels of organization of movements according to N.A. Bernstein.

Spinal level - at the 7th week of intrauterine development, the formation of reflex arcs begins at the level of 1 segment of the spinal cord. It is manifested by muscle contraction in response to skin irritation.

Rubrospinal level - the red nucleus is included in the reflex arcs, which ensures regulation muscle tone and motor skills of the body.

Talamopallidar level - from the second half of pregnancy, a number of subcortical structures of the motor analyzer are formed, integrating the activity of the extrapyramidal system. This level characterizes the motor arsenal of the child during the first 3-5 months of life. It includes rudimentary reflexes, emerging postural reflexes and chaotic movements of a newborn child.

The pyramidal-striatal level is determined by the inclusion in the regulation of the striatum with its various connections, including those with the cerebral cortex. Movements of this level are the main large voluntary movements, which are formed at 1–2 years of age.

Cortical, parieto-premotor level - the development of fine movements from 10-11 months, the improvement of motor skills throughout a person's life.

The growth of the cortex is carried out mainly due to the development of the frontal, parietal, temporal regions. Proliferation of neurons lasts up to a year. The most intensive development of neurons is observed at 2-3 months. This determines the psycho-emotional, sensory development of the child (smile, laughter, crying with tears, a complex of revival, cooing, recognition of one's own and others).

The second criterion of CPD is psycho-emotional and sensory development.

Different areas and fields of the cortex complete development at different times. The centers of movement, hearing, vision mature by 4-7 years. The frontal and parietal regions finally mature by the age of 12. Completion of the myelination of the pathways is achieved only by 3-5 years of postnatal development. The incompleteness of the process of myelination of nerve fibers determines the relatively low rate of conduction of excitation through them. The final maturation of conductivity is achieved at 10-12 years.

Development of the sensory sphere. Pain sensitivity - receptors pain sensitivity appear at 3 months of intrauterine life, however pain threshold sensitivity in newborns is much higher than in adults and older children. The child's reactions to a painful stimulus are at first of a general generalized nature, and only after a few months do local reactions occur.

Tactile sensitivity - occurs at 5-6 weeks of fetal development exclusively in the perioral region and by 11-12 weeks it spreads to the entire surface of the skin of the fetus.

The thermoreception of a newborn child is morphologically and functionally mature. There are almost 10 times more cold receptors than thermal ones. The receptors are unevenly located. The sensitivity of the child to cooling is significantly higher than to overheating.

The eyes of a newborn child are relatively large, their ratio to body weight in a newborn is 3.5 times greater than in an adult. As the eye grows, refraction changes. In the first days after birth, the child opens his eyes for a short time, but by the time of birth, the system of synchronous opening of both eyes has not been formed. There is no reflex closing of the eyelids when any object approaches the eye. The asymmetry of eye movement disappears in the third week of a child's life.

In the first hours and days of life, children are characterized by hypermetropia (farsightedness), over the years its degree decreases. Also, a newborn child is characterized by moderate photophobia, physiological nystagmus. The pupillary reaction in a newborn is observed both direct and friendly, that is, when one eye is illuminated, the pupils of both eyes narrow. From 2 weeks, the secretion of the lacrimal glands appears, and from 12 weeks, the lacrimal apparatus is involved in the emotional reaction. At 2 weeks, a transient fixation of gaze occurs, usually monocular, it gradually develops, and at 3 months the child steadily binocularly fixes motionless objects with a look and traces moving ones. By 6 months, visual acuity increases, the child sees well not only large, but also small objects.

At the eighth week of postnatal development, a blinking reaction appears to the approach of an object and to sound stimulation, which indicates the formation of protective conditioned reflexes. The formation of peripheral fields of vision is completed only by the 5th month of life. From 6 to 9 months, the ability of stereoscopic perception of space is established.

When a child is born, he perceives the surrounding objects as a lot of color spots, and sounds as noise. It takes the first two years of his life to learn to recognize patterns, or to link sounds into something meaningful. The infant's reaction to bright light and sound is defensive. In order for the baby to learn to distinguish the face of the mother (first of all) and then other people close to him from the foggy spots reflected in his eyes, conditional connections must be developed in the occipital cortex of his brain, and then stereotypes, which are complex systems such connections. So, for example, a child's perception of space is made up of the friendly work of many analyzers, primarily visual, auditory, and skin. Moreover, the connections in the cerebral cortex responsible for the complex structures that provide an idea of ​​the presence of the child himself in a confined space are formed rather late. Therefore, the child of the first years of life, being in a confined space, does not fix his gaze on individual items and often they simply do not notice.

The presented facts are largely due to the relatively late development of the macular region of the eye in a child. So the development of the macula in to a large extent ends 16-18 weeks after the birth of the child. Differentiated Approach to the sensation of color in a child begins only at 5-6 months of age. Only by the age of 2-3 years can children correctly assess the color of an object. But by this time, the morphological "maturation" of the retina does not end. The expansion of all its layers continues up to 10 - 12 years, and therefore, only by this age is the color perception finally formed.

The formation of the auditory system begins in the prenatal period at 4 weeks. Already by the 7th week, the first coil of the cochlea is formed. At 9-10 weeks of fetal development, the cochlea has 2.5 turns, i.e. its structure approaches that of an adult. The snail reaches the form characteristic of an adult at the 5th month of fetal development.

The ability to respond to sound appears in the fetus at prenatal age. A newborn child hears, but is able to differentiate the sound strength of only about 12 decibels (distinguishes sounds in height by one octave), by 7 months he begins to distinguish sounds that differ by only 0.5 tones.

At the age of 1 to 2 years, the auditory field of the cortex (field 41 according to Brodmann) of the brain is formed. However, its final "maturation" occurs by about 7 years. Therefore, even at this age auditory system the child is not functionally mature. Sensitivity to sound reaches a maximum only by adolescence.

With the development of the cortex, most of the innate unconditioned reflexes gradually fade away during the first year. Conditioned reflexes are formed under the influence of external stimuli.

On the basis of conditioned reflexes, speech develops - the third criterion of CPD. Up to 6 months passes preparatory stage speech - the child communicates with others only with the help of emotions: a smile, a complex of animation when referring to him, cooing, differentiation of intonation. Cooing - the pronunciation of the first sounds (a, gu-u, uh-uh, etc.).

Direct speech develops after 6 months: the ability to understand the word (sensory speech) and speak (motor speech). Babble - the pronunciation of individual syllables (ba-ba-ba, ma-ma-ma, etc.).

By the end of 1 year of life, the child's vocabulary already has 8-12 words, the meaning of which he understands (give, mom, dad, etc.). Among them there are onomatopoeias (am-am - to eat, av-av - a dog, tick - so - a clock, etc.). At the age of 2, the vocabulary reaches 300, short sentences appear.

Due to the fact that sensory systems are actively functioning in a newborn child, he develops the simplest type of memory - a short-term sensory imprint. This type of memory is based on the property of the sensory system to preserve and lengthen the action of the stimulus (there is no object, but the person sees it, the sound has stopped, but we hear it). In an adult, this reaction lasts about 500 microseconds, in a child, due to insufficient myelination of nerve fibers and a lower speed of nerve impulse conduction, it takes a little longer.

In a newborn child, the functions of short-term and long-term memory are primarily associated with the activity of the auditory and sensory systems, and in later periods - with the locomotor function. From the second month of a child's life, other parts of the cortex are also included in the formation of memory. At the same time, the rate of formation of a temporary connection is individual and already at this age depends on the type of higher nervous activity.

In a newborn, due to the immaturity of the cerebral cortex, attention is carried out due to simple forms of orienting reactions (to sound, light). More complex (integrated) mechanisms of the attention process appear at the age of 3-4 months. During this period, the occipital -rhythm periodically begins to form on the electroencephalogram, but it is unstable in the projection zones of the cortex, which indicates the absence of conscious reactions in the child in the field of sensory modalities.

The child's NPD depends on environmental factors, upbringing, which can either stimulate the development of certain skills or slow them down.

Due to the peculiarities of the nervous system, the child cannot quickly switch from one type of activity to another, and quickly gets tired. A child is distinguished from an adult by high emotionality and imitative activity.

Evaluation of CPD is carried out in decreed (epicrisis) terms according to age-appropriate criteria

Unconditioned reflexes of the newborn

The main form of activity of the nervous system is reflex. All reflexes are usually divided into unconditional and conditional.

Unconditioned reflexes- these are congenital, genetically programmed reactions of the body, characteristic of all animals and humans.

Conditioned reflexes- individual, acquired reactions of higher animals and humans, developed as a result of learning (experience).

For a newborn child, unconditioned reflexes are characteristic: food, defensive and indicative.

Conditioned reflexes are formed after birth.

The main unconditioned reflexes of a newborn and infant are divided into two groups: segmental motor automatisms, provided by segments brain stem(oral automatisms) and spinal cord (spinal automatisms).

VBR of a newborn baby

Reflexes in the position of the child on the back: Kussmaul-Genzler search reflex, sucking reflex, Babkin palmar-oral reflex, grasping or hugging reflex (Moro), asymmetric neck-tonic reflex, grasping reflex (Robinson), plantar reflex, Babinsky reflex.

Reflexes in an upright position: the child is taken from the back by the armpits, the doctor's thumbs support the head. Support or straightening reflex; automatic gait or stepping reflex.

Reflexes in the position on the stomach: protective reflex, labyrinth tonic reflex, crawling reflex (Bauer), Galant reflex, Perez.

Oral segmental automatisms

Sucking reflex

With the introduction of the index finger into the mouth by 3-4 cm, the child makes rhythmic sucking movements. The reflex is absent in pareselic nerves, severe mental retardation, in severe somatic conditions.

Search reflex (Kussmaul reflex)

proboscis reflex

A quick tap of the finger on the lips causes the lips to stretch forward. This reflex persists up to 2-3 months.

Palmar-mouth reflex (Babkin reflex)

When pressing with the thumb on the area of ​​​​the palm of the newborn (both palms at the same time), closer to the tenar, the mouth opens and the head bends. The reflex is pronounced in newborns in the norm. Lethargy of the reflex, rapid exhaustion or absence indicate damage to the central nervous system. The reflex may be absent on the affected side with peripheral paresis. After 2 months it fades by 3 months. disappears

Spinal motor automatisms

Protective reflex of the newborn

If the newborn is placed on the stomach, then a reflex turn of the head to the side occurs.

Support reflex and automatic gait in newborns

The newborn does not have the readiness to stand, but he is capable of a support reaction. If you hold the child vertically in weight, then he bends his legs in all joints. The child placed on a support straightens the body and stands on half-bent legs on a full foot. The positive support reaction of the lower extremities is a preparation for stepping movements. If the newborn is slightly tilted forward, then he makes stepping movements (automatic gait of newborns). Sometimes, when walking, newborns cross their legs at the level of the lower third of the legs and feet. This is caused by a stronger contraction of the adductors, which is physiological for this age and outwardly resembles the gait in cerebral palsy.

Crawling reflex (Bauer) and spontaneous crawling

The newborn is placed on the stomach (head in the midline). In this position, he makes crawling movements - spontaneous crawling. If you put your palm on the soles, then the child reflexively pushes away from it with his feet and crawling intensifies. In the position on the side and on the back, these movements do not occur. Coordination of movements of arms and legs is not observed. Crawling movements in newborns become pronounced on the 3rd - 4th day of life. The reflex is physiological up to 4 months of life, then it fades away. Independent crawling is a precursor to future locomotor acts. The reflex is depressed or absent in children born in asphyxia, as well as in intracranial hemorrhages, spinal cord injury. Pay attention to the asymmetry of the reflex. In diseases of the central nervous system, crawling movements persist for up to 6-12 months, like other unconditioned reflexes.

grasp reflex

Appears in a newborn with pressure on his palms. Sometimes a newborn wraps his fingers so tightly that he can be lifted up ( Robinson reflex). This reflex is phylogenetically ancient. Newborn monkeys are held onto hairline mother. With paresis of the hand, the reflex is weakened or absent, in inhibited children the reaction is weakened, in excitable children it is strengthened. The reflex is physiological up to 3-4 months, later, on the basis of the grasping reflex, an arbitrary grasp of the object is gradually formed. The presence of a reflex after 4-5 months indicates damage to the nervous system.

The same grasping reflex can also be evoked from the lower extremities. Pressing the ball of the foot with the thumb causes plantar flexion of the toes. If you apply a dashed irritation to the sole of the foot with your finger, then there is a dorsiflexion of the foot and a fan-shaped divergence of the fingers (physiological Babinski reflex).

Reflex Galant

When the skin of the back is irritated paravertebral along the spine, the newborn bends the back, an arc is formed that is open towards the stimulus. The leg on the corresponding side often extends at the hip and knee joints. This reflex is well evoked from the 5th - 6th day of life. In children with damage to the nervous system, it may be weakened or completely absent during the 1st month of life. When the spinal cord is damaged, the reflex is absent for a long time. The reflex is physiological until the 3rd - 4th month of life. With damage to the nervous system, this reaction can be observed in the second half of the year and later.

Perez reflex

If you run your fingers, slightly pressing, along the spinous processes of the spine from the coccyx to the neck, the child screams, raises his head, unbends the torso, bends the upper and lower limbs. This reflex causes a negative emotional reaction in the newborn. The reflex is physiological until the 3rd - 4th month of life. Inhibition of the reflex during the neonatal period and a delay in its reverse development is observed in children with damage to the central nervous system.

Moro reflex

It is caused by various and not different methods: a blow to the surface on which the child lies, at a distance of 15 cm from his head, raising the extended legs and pelvis above the bed, sudden passive extension of the lower extremities. The newborn moves his arms to the sides and opens his fists - the 1st phase of the Moro reflex. After a few seconds, the hands return to their original position - phase II of the Moro reflex. The reflex is expressed immediately after birth, it can be observed during the manipulations of the obstetrician. In children with intracranial trauma, the reflex may be absent in the first days of life. With hemiparesis, as well as with obstetric paresis of the hand, an asymmetry of the Moro reflex is observed.

Assessment of the degree of maturity of the nervous system of a newborn child

The criteria for assessing CPD are:

motor skills (this is a purposeful, manipulative activity of the child.);

statics (this is the fixation and holding of certain parts of the body in the required position.);

conditioned reflex activity (1 signal system);

speech (2 signal system);

higher nervous activity.

The neuropsychic development of a child depends on biological and social factors, the conditions of the mode of life, upbringing and care, as well as the state of health of the child.

The delay in the pace of mental development may be due to the unfavorable course of the prenatal period, because. at the same time, brain damage associated with hypoxia is often noted, the rate of maturation of individual complex structures. The immaturity of certain parts of the brain in the postnatal period often leads to various disorders of neuropsychic development. Unfavorable biological factors include toxicosis of pregnancy, the threat of miscarriage, asphyxia, maternal illness during pregnancy, prematurity, etc. Bad habits of parents (smoking, alcohol abuse) matter.

Unfavorable family climate, incomplete family, low educational level of parents stand out among the unfavorable social factors.

The rate of development of the child is reduced due to frequent acute illnesses. Proper upbringing plays an important role in the development of a young child. Frequent systematic communication with him is necessary, the gradual formation of various skills and abilities in the child, the development of speech.

The child develops heterochronously, i.e. unevenly. When evaluating the CPD, the doctor looks at the epicrisis period for those lines (indicators) that by this moment are developing most intensively, i.e. leading lines.

Leading lines of CPD in a child at various epicrisis periods

FOR - visual analyzer

SA - auditory analyzer

E, SP - emotions and social behavior

DO - general movements

DP - movements with objects

PR - understood speech

AR - active speech

H - skills

DR - hand movements

SR - sensory development

ART - visual activity

G - grammar

B - questions

NDP for children of the first year

There are 4 main groups of NPR:

I group includes 4 subgroups:

— normal development when all indicators correspond to age;

- accelerated, when there is an advance of 1 es;

- high, when there is an advance of 2 es;

- upper harmonic, when some of the indicators are ahead by 1 es, and some by 2 or more.

II group - these are children who have a delay in the NPR by 1 e.s. It includes 2 subgroups with a uniform delay of 1 es. along one or more lines:

a) 1–2 lines - 1 degree

b) 3-4 lines - 2nd degree

inharmonious - with uneven development, when some of the indicators have a delay of 1 es, and some are ahead.

III group - these are children with a 2 e.s. It includes 2 subgroups with a uniform delay of 2 es. along one or more lines:

a) 1–2 lines - 1 degree

b) 3-4 lines - 2nd degree

c) 5 or more lines - 3 degree

lower harmonic - with uneven development, when some of the indicators lag behind (or ahead of) by 2 es, and some by 1 es.

IV group- these are children with a delay in the NPR by 3 e.s. It includes 2 subgroups with a uniform delay of 3 es. along one or more lines:

a) 1–2 lines - 1 degree

b) 3-4 lines - 2nd degree

c) 5 or more lines - 3 degree

lower harmonic - with uneven development, when some of the indicators are behind (or ahead of) by 3 es, and some by 1 or 2 es.

A delay of 3 or more epicrisis periods indicates the presence of a borderline condition or pathology. These children need advice and treatment from specialist doctors.

Pregnancy- This is a physiological process in which a new organism develops in the uterus, resulting from fertilization. Pregnancy lasts an average of 40 weeks (10 obstetric months).

In the intrauterine development of a child, two periods are distinguished:

1. Embryonic(up to 8 weeks of pregnancy inclusive). At this time, the embryo is called an embryo and acquires the features characteristic of a person;
2. Fetal(from 9 weeks to birth). At this time, the embryo is called a fetus.

The growth of a child, the formation of his organs and systems proceeds naturally in different periods of intrauterine development, which is subject to the genetic code embedded in the germ cells and fixed in the process of human evolution.

Embryo development in the first obstetric month (1-4 weeks)

First week (1-7 days)

Pregnancy starts from the moment fertilization- the fusion of a mature male cell (sperm) and a female egg. This process usually occurs in the ampulla of the fallopian tube. After a few hours, the fertilized egg begins to divide exponentially and descends through the fallopian tube into the uterine cavity (this journey takes up to five days).

As a result of division a multicellular organism, which looks like a blackberry (in Latin "morus"), which is why the embryo at this stage is called morula. Approximately on the 7th day, the morula is introduced into the wall of the uterus (implantation). Villi outer cells the embryo connects with the blood vessels of the uterus, subsequently the placenta is formed from them. Other outer cells of the morula give rise to the development of the umbilical cord and membranes. After some time, various tissues and organs of the fetus will develop from the internal cells.

Information At the time of implantation, a woman may have small bleeding from the genital tract. Such secretions are physiological and do not require treatment.

Second week (8-14 days)

The outer cells of the morula grow tightly into the lining of the uterus. At the fetus the formation of the umbilical cord, placenta, as well as neural tube from which the fetal nervous system subsequently develops.

Third week (15-21 days)

The third week of pregnancy is a difficult and important period.. At that time important organs and systems begin to form fetus: the beginnings of the respiratory, digestive, circulatory, nervous and excretory systems appear. In the place where the fetal head will soon appear, a wide plate is formed, which will give rise to the brain. On day 21, the baby's heart begins to beat.

Fourth week (22-28 days)

This week fetal organ laying continues. The rudiments of the intestines, liver, kidneys and lungs are already present. The heart begins to work more intensively and pumps more and more blood through the circulatory system.

From the beginning of the fourth week in the embryo body wrinkles appear, and appears rudiment of the spine(chord).

Ends by day 25 neural tube formation.

By the end of the week (approximately 27-28 days) muscular system, spine are formed, which divides the embryo into two symmetrical halves, and upper and lower limbs.

During this period begins formation of pits on the head, which will later become the eyes of the fetus.

Development of the embryo in the second obstetric month (5-8 weeks)

Fifth week (29-35 days)

During this period, the embryo weighs about 0.4 grams, length 1.5-2.5 mm.

The formation of the following organs and systems begins:

1. Digestive system: liver and pancreas;
2. Respiratory system: larynx, trachea, lungs;
3. Circulatory system;
4. reproductive system: precursors of germ cells are formed;
5. sense organs: eye and inner ear formation continues;
6. Nervous system: the formation of brain regions begins.

At that time a faint umbilical cord appears. The formation of limbs continues, the first rudiments of nails appear.

On the face formed upper lip and nasal cavities.

Sixth week (36-42 days)

Length embryo during this period is about 4-5mm.

Starts in the sixth week placenta formation. At this time, it is just beginning to function, the blood circulation between it and the embryo has not yet been formed.

Continues formation of the brain and its parts. At the sixth week, when performing an encephalogram, it is already possible to fix signals from the fetal brain.

Begins facial muscle formation. The eyes of the fetus are already more pronounced and uncovered by the eyelids, which are just beginning to form.

During this period, they begin upper limbs change: they lengthen and the rudiments of hands and fingers appear. The lower limbs are still in their infancy.

Changes in important organs:

1. Heart. The division into chambers is completed: ventricles and atria;
2. urinary system. Primary kidneys have formed, the development of the ureters begins;
3. Digestive system. The formation of departments begins gastrointestinal tract: stomach, small and large intestines. By this period, the liver and pancreas had practically completed their development;

Seventh week (43-49 days)

The seventh week is significant in that the final the formation of the umbilical cord is completed and uteroplacental circulation is established. Now the breathing and nutrition of the fetus will be carried out due to the circulation of blood through the vessels of the umbilical cord and placenta.

The embryo is still bent in an arcuate manner; there is a small tail on the pelvic part of the body. The size of the head is at least the entire half of the embryo. The length from the crown to the sacrum grows by the end of the week up to 13-15 mm.

Continues upper limb development. The fingers are clearly visible, but their separation from each other has not yet occurred. The child begins to perform spontaneous hand movements in response to stimuli.

Good eyes formed, already covered with eyelids that protect them from drying out. The child can open his mouth.

There is a laying of the nasal fold and nose, two paired elevations are formed on the sides of the head, from which they will begin to develop ear shells.

Intensive development of the brain and its parts.

Eighth week (50-56 days)

The body of the embryo begins to straighten, length from the crown of the head to the coccyx is 15 mm at the beginning of the week and 20-21 mm on day 56.

Continues formation of important organs and systems Key words: digestive system, heart, lungs, brain, urinary system, reproductive system (boys develop testicles). The organs of hearing are developing.

By the end of the eighth week the face of the child becomes familiar to a person: well-defined eyes, covered with eyelids, nose, auricles, lip formation ends.

Intensive growth of the head, upper and lower horses is noted. features, ossification develops long bones arms and legs and skull. Fingers are clearly visible, there is no skin membrane between them.

Additionally The eighth week ends the embryonic period of development and begins the fetal. The embryo from this time is called the fetus.

Fetal development in the third obstetric month (9-12 weeks)

Ninth week (57-63 days)

At the beginning of the ninth week coccygeal-parietal size fetus is about 22 mm, by the end of the week - 31 mm.

going on improvement of the vessels of the placenta which improves uteroplacental blood flow.

Development of the musculoskeletal system continues. The process of ossification begins, the joints of the toes and hands are formed. The fetus begins to make active movements, can squeeze fingers. The head is lowered, the chin is closely pressed to the chest.

Changes occur in the cardiovascular system. The heart makes up to 150 beats per minute and pumps blood through its blood vessels. The composition of blood is still very different from the blood of an adult: it consists only of red blood cells.

Continues further growth and development of the brain, structures of the cerebellum are formed.

The organs of the endocrine system are intensively developing in particular, the adrenal glands, which produce important hormones.

Improved cartilage tissue: auricles, cartilages of the larynx, vocal cords are being formed.

Tenth week (64-70 days)

By the end of the tenth week fruit length from coccyx to crown is 35-40 mm.

Buttocks begin to develop, the previously existing tail disappears. The fetus is in the uterus in a fairly free position in a half-bent state.

The development of the nervous system continues. Now the fetus performs not only chaotic movements, but also reflex ones in response to a stimulus. When accidentally touching the walls of the uterus, the child makes movements in response: he turns his head, bends or unbends his arms and legs, pushes himself to the side. The size of the fetus is still very small, and the woman cannot yet feel these movements.

The sucking reflex develops, the child begins reflex movements of the lips.

Diaphragm development completes, which will take an active part in breathing.

Eleventh week (71-77 days)

By the end of this week coccygeal-parietal size fetus increases to 4-5 cm.

The body of the fetus remains disproportionate: small body, large head, long arms and short legs, bent at all joints and pressed to the stomach.

The placenta has already reached sufficient development and copes with its functions: it provides oxygen and nutrients to the fetus and removes carbon dioxide and metabolic products.

going on further formation fetal eye: at this time, the iris develops, which will later determine the color of the eyes. The eyes are well developed, semi-lidded or wide open.

Twelfth week (78-84 days)

Coccygeal-parietal size fetus is 50-60 mm.

Goes distinctly the development of the genital organs according to the female or male type.

going on further improvement of the digestive system. The intestines are elongated and fit in loops, as in an adult. Its periodic contractions begin - peristalsis. The fetus begins to make swallowing movements, swallowing amniotic fluid.

The development and improvement of the fetal nervous system continues. The brain is small, but exactly repeats all the structures of the brain of an adult. Well developed large hemispheres and other departments. Reflex movements are improved: the fetus can squeeze and unclench its fingers into a fist, grabs the thumb and actively sucks it.

In the blood of the fetus not only erythrocytes are already present, but the production of white blood cells - leukocytes - begins.

At this time the child single respiratory movements begin to register. Before birth, the fetus cannot breathe, its lungs do not function, but it makes rhythmic movements of the chest, imitating breathing.

By the end of the week, the fetus eyebrows and eyelashes appear, the neck is clearly visible.

Fetal development in the fourth obstetric month (13-16 weeks)

13 weeks (85-91 days)

Coccygeal-parietal size by the end of the week is 70-75 mm. The proportions of the body begin to change: the upper and lower limbs and torso lengthen, the size of the head is no longer so large in relation to the body.

Improvement of the digestive and nervous systems continues. Germs of milk teeth begin to appear under the upper and lower jaws.

The face is fully formed, clearly visible auricles, nose and eyes (completely closed for centuries).

14 weeks (92-98 days)

Coccygeal-parietal size by the end of the fourteenth week increases up to 8-9 cm. The proportions of the body continue to change to more familiar ones. The forehead, nose, cheeks and chin are well defined on the face. The first hair appears on the head (very thin and colorless). The surface of the body is covered with fluffy hairs, which retain the lubrication of the skin and thus perform protective functions.

Improved musculoskeletal system fetus. Bones become stronger. Increased motor activity: the fetus can roll over, bend, make swimming movements.

The development of the kidneys, bladder and ureters is completed. The kidneys begin to excrete urine, which mixes with the amniotic fluid.

: pancreatic cells begin to work, producing insulin, and pituitary cells.

There are changes in the genitals. In boys, the prostate gland is formed, in girls, the ovaries migrate into the pelvic cavity. At the fourteenth week, with a good sensitive ultrasound machine, it is already possible to determine the sex of the child.

Fifteenth week (99-105 days)

Coccygeal-parietal size of the fetus is about 10 cm, fruit weight - 70-75 grams. The head still remains quite large, but the growth of the arms, legs and torso begins to outpace it.

Improves the circulatory system. In a child in the fourth month, it is already possible to determine the blood type and Rh factor. Blood vessels (veins, arteries, capillaries) grow in length, their walls become stronger.

The production of original feces (meconium) begins. This is due to the ingestion of amniotic fluid, which enters the stomach, then into the intestines and fills it.

Fully formed fingers and toes, they have an individual pattern.

Sixteenth week (106-112 days)

The weight of the fetus increases to 100 grams, the coccygeal-parietal size - up to 12 cm.

By the end of the sixteenth week, the fetus is already fully formed., he has all the organs and systems. The kidneys work actively, every hour a small amount of urine is released into the amniotic fluid.

Fetal skin is very thin, subcutaneous fatty tissue is practically absent, so blood vessels are visible through the skin. The skin looks bright red, covered with downy hairs and grease. Eyebrows and eyelashes are well defined. Nails are formed, but they cover only the edge of the nail phalanx.

Mimic muscles are formed, and the fetus begins to "grimace": a frown of eyebrows is observed, a semblance of a smile.

Fetal development in the fifth obstetric month (17-20 weeks)

Seventeenth week (113-119 days)

The weight of the fetus is 120-150 grams, the coccygeal-parietal size is 14-15 cm.

The skin remains very thin, but under it, subcutaneous fatty tissue begins to develop. The development of milk teeth, which are covered with dentin, continues. Under them, the germs of permanent teeth begin to form.

Reaction to sound stimuli. From this week, you can say for sure that the child began to hear. When strong sharp sounds appear, the fetus begins to move actively.

Fetal position changes. The head is raised and is almost vertical. The arms are bent at the elbow joints, the fingers are clenched into a fist almost all the time. Periodically, the child begins to suck his thumb.

Becomes distinct heartbeat. From now on, the doctor can listen to him with a stethoscope.

Eighteenth week (120-126 days)

The weight of the child is about 200 grams, length - up to 20 cm.

The formation of sleep and wakefulness begins. Most of the time the fetus sleeps, movements stop for this time.

At this time, a woman may already begin to feel the movement of the child, especially with repeated pregnancies. The first movements are felt as gentle jolts. A woman can feel more active movements during excitement, stress, which is reflected in emotional state child. At this time, the norm is about ten episodes of fetal movement per day.

Nineteenth week (127-133 days)

The weight of the child increases to 250-300 grams, body length - up to 22-23 cm. The proportions of the body change: the head lags behind the body in growth, arms and legs begin to lengthen.

Movements become more frequent and noticeable. They can be felt not only by the woman herself, but also by other people, putting their hand to their stomach. Primigravida at this time can only begin to feel movements.

Improves the endocrine system: the pancreas, pituitary, adrenals, gonads, thyroid and parathyroid glands are actively functioning.

The composition of the blood has changed: in addition to erythrocytes and leukocytes, there are monocytes and lymphocytes in the blood. The spleen begins to take part in hematopoiesis.

Twentieth week (134-140 days)

Body length increases to 23-25 ​​cm, weight - up to 340 grams.

Fetal skin is still thin, covered with a protective lubricant and fluffy hairs that can persist until the very birth. Intensively develops subcutaneous adipose tissue.

Well formed eyes, at twenty weeks the blink reflex begins to appear.

Improved movement coordination: the child confidently brings his finger to his mouth and begins to suck it. Expressed facial expressions: the fetus can close his eyes, smile, frown.

This week, all women feel the movements regardless of the number of pregnancies. Movement activity changes throughout the day. When irritants appear loud sounds, stuffy room) the child begins to move very violently and actively.

Fetal development in the sixth obstetric month (21-24 weeks)

Twenty-first week (141-147 days)

Body weight grows up to 380 grams, fetal length - up to 27 cm.

The subcutaneous tissue layer increases. The skin of the fetus is wrinkled, with many folds.

Fetal movements become more and more active and tangible. The fetus moves freely in the uterine cavity: lies down with its head or buttocks, across the uterus. It can pull the umbilical cord, push off with hands and feet from the walls of the uterus.

Changes in sleep and wake patterns. Now the fetus spends less time sleeping (16-20 hours).

Twenty-second week (148-154 days)

At week 22, the size of the fetus increases to 28 cm, weight - up to 450-500 grams. The size of the head becomes proportional to the trunk and limbs. The legs are almost all the time in a bent state.

Fully formed fetal spine: it has all the vertebrae, ligaments and joints. The process of strengthening bones continues.

Improvement of the fetal nervous system: the brain already contains all the nerve cells (neurons) and has a mass of about 100 grams. The child begins to take an interest in his body: he feels his face, arms, legs, tilts his head, brings his fingers to his mouth.

Significantly enlarged heart, are being improved functionality of cardio-vascular system.

Twenty-third week (155-161 days)

The body length of the fetus is 28-30 cm, weight - about 500 grams. The pigment begins to be synthesized in the skin, as a result, the skin acquires a bright red color. The subcutaneous fatty tissue is still quite thin, as a result, the child looks very thin and wrinkled. Lubrication covers the entire skin, is more abundant in the folds of the body (elbow, axillary, inguinal, and other folds).

The development of the internal genital organs continues: in boys - the scrotum, in girls - the ovaries.

Increased respiratory rate up to 50-60 times per minute.

Still well developed swallowing reflex : the child constantly swallows amniotic fluid with particles of a protective lubricant of the skin. The liquid part of the amniotic fluid is absorbed into the blood, a thick green-black substance (meconium) remains in the intestines. Normally, the intestines should not be emptied until the baby is born. Sometimes swallowing water causes hiccups in the fetus, a woman can feel it in the form of rhythmic movements for several minutes.

Twenty-fourth week (162-168 days)

By the end of this week, the weight of the fetus increases to 600 grams, body length - up to 30-32 cm.

The movements are getting stronger and clearer. The fetus occupies almost the entire place in the uterus, but can still change position and roll over. Muscles grow strongly.

By the end of the sixth month, the child has well-developed sense organs. Vision begins to function. If a bright light falls on the woman's stomach, the fetus begins to turn away, tightly closes the eyelids. Hearing is well developed. The fetus determines for itself pleasant and unpleasant sounds and reacts to them in different ways. With pleasant sounds, the child behaves calmly, his movements become calm and measured. With unpleasant sounds, it begins to freeze or, conversely, moves very actively.

An emotional bond is established between mother and child. If a woman experiences negative emotions (fear, anxiety, longing), the child begins to experience similar feelings.

Fetal development in the seventh obstetric month (25-28 weeks)

Twenty-fifth week (169-175 days)

The length of the fetus is 30-34 cm, body weight increases to 650-700 grams. The skin becomes elastic, the number and severity of folds decreases due to the accumulation of subcutaneous fatty tissue. The skin remains thin with a large number of capillaries, giving it a red color.

The face has a familiar human appearance: eyes, eyelids, eyebrows, eyelashes, cheeks, auricles are well expressed. The cartilages of the ears are still thin and soft, their curves and curls are not fully formed.

Bone marrow develops, which takes on a major role in hematopoiesis. The strengthening of the bones of the fetus continues.

happening important processes in lung maturation: small elements of lung tissue (alveoli) are formed. Before the birth of the child, they are without air and resemble deflated balloons, which straighten out only after the first cry of the newborn. From the 25th week, the alveoli begin to produce a special substance (surfactant) necessary to maintain their shape.

Twenty-sixth week (176-182 days)

The length of the fetus is about 35 cm, the weight increases to 750-760 grams. The growth of muscle tissue and subcutaneous adipose tissue continues. Bones are strengthened and permanent teeth continue to develop.

The formation of genital organs continues. In boys, the testicles begin to descend into the scrotum (the process lasts 3-4 weeks). In girls, the formation of the external genitalia and vagina is completed.

Improved sense organs. The child develops a sense of smell (smell).

Twenty-seventh week (183-189 days)

Weight increases to 850 grams, body length - up to 37 cm.

Organs of the endocrine system are actively functioning in particular the pancreas, pituitary gland and thyroid gland.

The fetus is quite active, makes various movements freely inside the uterus.

From the twenty-seventh week of the child individual metabolism begins to form.

Twenty-eighth week (190-196 days)

The weight of the child increases to 950 grams, body length - 38 cm.

By this age the fetus becomes practically viable. In the absence of organ pathology, a child with good care and treatment can survive.

Subcutaneous adipose tissue continues to accumulate. The skin is still red in color, vellus hair begins to gradually fall out, remaining only on the back and shoulders. Eyebrows, eyelashes, hair on the head become darker. The child begins to open his eyes frequently. The cartilages of the nose and ears remain soft. The nails do not yet reach the edge of the nail phalanx.

This week starts over active functioning of one of the hemispheres of the brain. If the right hemisphere becomes active, then the child becomes left-handed, if the left, then right-handedness develops.

Fetal development in the eighth month (29-32 weeks)

Twenty-ninth week (197-203 days)

The weight of the fetus is about 1200 grams, growth increases to 39 cm.

The child has already grown enough and takes up almost all the space in the uterus. The movements are not so chaotic. The movements are manifested in the form of periodic pushes with the legs and arms. The fetus begins to take a definite position in the uterus: head or buttocks down.

All organ systems continue to improve. The kidneys excrete up to 500 ml of urine per day. The load on the cardiovascular system increases. The circulation of the fetus is still significantly different from the circulation of the newborn.

Thirtieth week (204-210 days)

Body weight increases to 1300-1350 grams, growth remains about the same - about 38-39 cm.

Constant accumulation of subcutaneous adipose tissue, skin folds are straightened. The child adapts to the lack of space and assumes a certain position: curled up, arms and legs crossed. The skin still has a bright color, the amount of lubrication and vellus hair is reduced.

Continues development of alveoli and production of surfactant. The lungs prepare for the birth of the baby and the start of breathing.

The development of the brain continues brain, the number of convolutions and the area of ​​the cortex increase.

Thirty-first week (211-217 days)

The weight of the child is about 1500-1700 grams, growth increases to 40 cm.

The child's sleep and wake patterns change. Sleep still takes a long time, during this time there is no motor activity of the fetus. During wakefulness, the child actively moves and pushes.

Fully formed eyes. During sleep, the child closes his eyes, during wakefulness, the eyes are open, periodically the child blinks. The color of the iris in all children is the same (blue), then after birth it begins to change. The fetus reacts to bright light by constriction or dilation of the pupil.

Increases the size of the brain. Now its volume is about 25% of the volume of the brain of an adult.

Thirty-second week (218-224 days)

The height of the child is about 42 cm, weight - 1700-1800 grams.

Continued accumulation of subcutaneous fat, in connection with which, the skin becomes lighter, there are practically no folds on it.

are being improved internal organs : organs of the endocrine system intensively secrete hormones, surfactant accumulates in the lungs.

The fetus produces a special hormone, which promotes the formation of estrogen in the mother's body, as a result, the mammary glands begin to prepare for the production of milk.

Fetal development in the ninth month (33-36 weeks)

Thirty-third week (225-231 days)

The weight of the fetus increases to 1900-2000 grams, growth is about 43-44 cm.

Skin becomes brighter and smoother, the layer of adipose tissue increases. Vellus hair is more and more wiped, the layer of protective lubricant, on the contrary, increases. The nails grow to the edge of the nail phalanx.

The child becomes more and more crowded in the uterine cavity, so his movements become more rare, but strong. The position of the fetus is fixed (head or buttocks down), the likelihood that the child will roll over after this period is extremely small.

The work of internal organs is improving: the mass of the heart increases, the formation of alveoli is almost completed, the tone increases blood vessels fully formed brain.

Thirty-fourth week (232-238 days)

The weight of the child ranges from 2000 to 2500 grams, height is about 44-45 cm.

The baby is now in a stable position in the uterus. The bones of the skull are soft and mobile thanks to the fontanelles, which can close only a few months after childbirth.

The hair on the head grows intensively and take on a certain color. However, hair color may change after childbirth.

Significant strengthening of bones, in connection with this, the fetus begins to take calcium from the mother's body (a woman at this time may notice the appearance of seizures).

Baby swallows amniotic fluid all the time, thereby stimulating the gastrointestinal tract and the functioning of the kidneys, which secrete at least 600 ml of clear urine per day.

Thirty-fifth week (239-245 days)

Every day the child adds 25-35 grams. Weight in this period can vary greatly and by the end of the week is 2200-2700 grams. Height increases to 46 cm.

All the internal organs of the child continue to improve, preparing the body for the upcoming extrauterine existence.

Fatty tissue is intensively deposited, the child becomes more well-fed. The amount of vellus hair is greatly reduced. The nails have already reached the tips of the nail phalanges.

A sufficient amount of meconium has already accumulated in the intestines of the fetus, which normally should depart 6-7 hours after childbirth.

Thirty-sixth week (246-252 days)

The weight of the child varies greatly and can range from 2000 to 3000 grams, height - within 46-48 cm

The fetus already has well-developed subcutaneous adipose tissue, skin color becomes light, wrinkles and folds completely disappear.

The baby takes a certain position in the uterus: more often he lies upside down (less often, legs or buttocks, in some cases, transversely), the head is bent, the chin is pressed to the chest, arms and legs are pressed to the body.

Skull bones, unlike other bones, remain soft, with cracks (fontanelles), which will allow the baby's head to be more pliable when passing through the birth canal.

All organs and systems are fully developed for the existence of a child outside the womb.

Fetal development in the tenth obstetric month

Thirty-seventh week (254-259 days)

The height of the child increases to 48-49 cm, the weight can fluctuate significantly. The skin has become lighter and thicker, the fat layer increases by 14-15 grams per day every day.

cartilage of the nose and auricles become tighter and more elastic.

Fully formed and mature lungs, the alveoli contain the necessary amount of surfactant for the breath of the newborn.

Completion of the digestive system: In the stomach and intestines, there are contractions necessary to push food through (peristalsis).

Thirty-eighth week (260-266 days)

The weight and height of the child varies greatly.

The fetus is fully mature and ready to be born. Outwardly, the child looks like a full-term newborn. The skin is light, fatty tissue is sufficiently developed, vellus hair is practically absent.

Thirty-ninth week (267-273 days)

Usually two weeks before delivery fetus starts to drop clinging to the bones of the pelvis. The child has already reached full maturity. The placenta begins to gradually grow old and metabolic processes worsen in it.

The mass of the fetus increases significantly (30-35 grams per day). The proportions of the body change completely: the chest and shoulder girdle are well developed, the belly is rounded, and the limbs are long.

Well developed sense organs: the child catches all sounds, sees bright colors, can focus vision, taste buds are developed.

Fortieth week (274-280 days)

All indicators of fetal development correspond to the neonatal born. The child is completely ready for childbirth. Weight can vary significantly: from 250 to 4000 and above grams.

The uterus begins to contract periodically(), which is manifested by aching pains in the lower abdomen. The cervix opens slightly, and the fetal head is pressed closer to the pelvic cavity.

The bones of the skull are still soft and pliable, which allows the baby's head to change shape and easier to pass through the birth canal.

Fetal development by week of pregnancy - Video

Many mothers ask themselves: when does the nervous system form in the fetus? Almost from the very beginning of cell laying. According to medical theories, all body systems develop unevenly in a baby. At first, those systems that are most important for the further activity of the baby in the mother's stomach begin to function. The laying of the nervous system in the fetus is manifested among the first most important processes in the development of the body.

Already at 8-9 weeks of pregnancy, gynecologists can see the first signs of the nervous system on the echogram. The second month is marked by the fact that the baby makes the first barely noticeable movements. Well, at 22-24 weeks, you can accurately see the baby who sucks the processes.

At what time is the fetal nervous system formed?

The nervous system of the fetus appears from a peculiar formation, which in medicine is called the neural tube. It subsequently must ensure the correct functioning of the whole organism. Before the tube appears, nerve tissue must grow, which consists of several types of cells. The first type is responsible for the main specific functions of the nerves, that is, these cells (neurons) are responsible for the actual regulation of the psyche. The second type provides proper nutrition to neurons and protects them from damage.

Nervous tissue under normal conditions of development of the child begins to develop already on the eighteenth day after the fertilization of the egg. At 3-4 weeks, the neural tube itself is already visible.

At what week is the fetal nervous system laid down? Already at the first! The nervous system is one of the first to develop so that the baby can continue to grow. If there are any problems with the formation of the nervous tissue, the fetus will soon die. Therefore, if you find out about pregnancy, try to immediately change your lifestyle.

What is a neural tube?

The formation of the nervous system in the fetus directly depends on the development of the tube. It is formed from the neural plate, which gradually closes into a tube, forming a small process - the rudiment of the future nervous system. If we consider the neural tube in section, we can see several layers: inner, marginal and intermediate. The intermediate and marginal layers provide the production of gray and white matter of the spinal cord, which is then located in the spine. In the inner layer, several processes take place at once: cell division and the synthesis of the future material responsible for the baby's genetics.

It takes the first weeks of pregnancy for the development of the baby's neural tube.

Development of the nervous system at 4-5 weeks of gestation

So, we found out at what time the nervous system of the fetus is formed. But what happens to her next?

The neural tube has some extensions, which are called cerebral vesicles. When the nervous system of the fetus is laid, three brain bubbles appear. One of them turns into the forebrain (it includes two hemispheres), the other into the visual center of the head, and the third into the rhomboid brain, which includes several more sections.

The marginal section of the neural tube also highlights a new organ, the neural crest, which is responsible for the development of several systems. At 4-5 weeks, only a black dot is visible on ultrasound. So far, this is all that has grown. However, for a child, this is already a lot, because at that moment the cells responsible for his brain were born in him. At this point, folic acid is essential for good neuronal development. Never treat your teeth in the first trimester! Any drugs, even local anesthesia, can reverse the normal course of cell division of the nervous system. Because of this, the baby may be born with abnormalities.

Development of the fetal nervous system at 6-12 weeks of gestation

When the nervous system is formed in the fetus, the mother should be at rest. The first weeks of pregnancy are therefore important because the health of the child depends on them. Already at 7-8 weeks, the baby is capable of reflexes. For example, it was observed that when his lips came into contact with the processes, he tilted his head back, thereby protecting himself from danger. This is how the defensive reflex develops. At 10 weeks, the baby is able to open his mouth if something irritates his lips. At the same time, a grasping reflex occurs when something bothers the baby's hand.

By the twelfth week, the baby can move her toes. From this, doctors concluded that those parts of the brain that are responsible for the lower part of the fetal body are the first to begin to function. Until the child reaches three months of uterine age, he will not be able to fully respond to irritations. His movements will be sharp and short. This happens because the excitation so far captures small areas of the nervous system. But the fetus grows and develops, and over time, its systems become more perfect.

Fetal development at 14-20 weeks of gestation

The norms of the development of the fetal nervous system can only be known with the help of ultrasound. If you have been told that the fetus meets all developmental standards, do not worry. But what is your child doing at this time? By the fourteenth week, the baby becomes quite active. If earlier he still could not move, then by the fifteenth week it is already possible to count about 15 new mastered movements of the baby.

When the nervous system is formed in the fetus, the mother feels the first tremors of the baby. They appear at 19-20 weeks. On ultrasound, it is already possible to distinguish between movements of the arms and legs, as well as hiccups, swallowing, yawns and other movements of the mouth. Between 15 and 20 weeks, the number of synapses, the places in the nervous system where signals are transmitted, increases. Due to this, the sphere of activity of the baby is expanding.

The condition of the fetus at 20-40 weeks of pregnancy

After the 20th week, when the nervous system is still being formed, the medulla begins to branch out in the fetus. This means that the exposed nerve cells will be covered with a layer of fat and will be able to fully function. The nerve impulses of the baby will be accelerated, and he will soon be able to replenish a number of his skills with new movements. The first to come into operation are the limbs of the fetus. The sense of smell is getting better a little later (about 24 weeks). In parallel with these changes, the brain develops, in which a framework for nerve cells is built.

It is noteworthy that the mass of the brain is up to 15% of the total mass of the fetus. After the basic processes in the brain have ended, it is time for another one - the destruction of certain types of cells. According to scientists, there is nothing terrible in this process. It's just that the body thus cleanses of unnecessary structures that have already done their job. So, when the nervous system is formed in the fetus, the body spends all its strength on its proper development.

Anomalies in the development of the nervous system in the fetus

When the nervous system is formed in the fetus, various kinds of anomalies and factors that appeared spontaneously can occur. For example, a fertilized cell began to multiply incorrectly and, as a result, it was damaged. Fortunately, the percentage of such defects is very low: up to 1.5 per 1000 born. It is known for sure that the cells of the unborn baby are destroyed both from environmental factors and from the genetic nature. The World Health Organization has established that the percentage of development of anomalies also depends on the nationalities and habitats of people. Here is a list of the main fetal developmental disorders:

1. Absence of spinal cord and brain. This happens when the neural tube does not close. The skull and spine in this case are greatly exposed.
2. Non-closure of the tube in the head compartment. This means that the child is brainless. That is, it has no hemispheres and subcortex. There is only a midbrain. Children born with such a violation live only the first months.
3. Brain hernias. On the baby's head, protrusions of the skull bone or its tissues are found. Small hernias can be quickly removed.
4. Hernias of the spinal cord. They are very common - 1 in 200. In place of some hernias, there may be strong hair growth. Children with this disease cannot walk, as well as relieve themselves.

The only way to deal with these diseases is surgery. In some cases, doctors cannot help. The child either lives with this deviation all his life, or dies shortly after birth.

Causes affecting the damage to the nervous system

Any factors that influence the destruction of the fetal nervous system present a complex picture. After all, it all depends on how long this factor acted on the child, whether it was very negative, etc.

1. The first and main cause of all CNS lesions is the alcoholism of one of the parents. Toxins contained in alcohol are deposited in the body of the mother and father. When a woman has a child, all these harmful substances are transferred to new cells.
2. Some drugs (for example, against convulsions) should not be taken during pregnancy at all. Therefore, if you have a disease that requires constant medication, talk to your gynecologist about it. He will definitely help you.
3. Damage to the fetus cannot pass without a trace in the mother's body. A woman can get sick with infectious diseases (herpes, rubella, etc.).
4. Also, the development of the fetal nervous system can be affected by mother's diseases (diabetes, hypertension) and genetic predisposition. Such troubles lead to chromosomal abnormalities that cannot be cured.
5. Some defects, whether acquired or hereditary, may be mild. But they affect the overall development of the baby: autism, lack of attention, hyperactivity, various types of depression.

Try to lead a healthy lifestyle, because a child with a disability, born as such due to your negligence, will suffer all his life.

When the nervous system is formed in the fetus, the mother must take full care of proper food, proper rest and tranquility. Although gynecologists do not take into account the first two weeks of pregnancy, it is at this moment that your baby's first life systems are laid.