During which part of pregnancy does the fetus begin to blink its eyes and become more active?
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During the 25th to 28th week of pregnancy, the baby is very active, moving about vigorously and responding to sounds and touch. Loud noises may make the baby kick, which the mother should be able to feel. Show
Medical accurate 3d illustration of a fetus week 25. Image Copyright: Sebastian Kaulitzki During this period, the baby’s eyelids will also open and the baby will start to blink. Major organs such as the lungs and brain are formed, but not yet fully developed and these will continue to develop throughout the rest of the pregnancy. The mother may find the baby starts to take up so much space in her abdomen that eating large meals is difficult and indigestion is a common problem. The mother may also experience water retention and swelling in the feet, hands or face. This is normal, but mothers should mention this to their General Practitioner (GP) so that they can rule out the possibility of a condition called pre-eclampsia that causes swelling during pregnancy. Week 25Related Stories
In the 25th week of pregnancy, the baby’s reflexes are developing and the baby may move in response to familiar sounds such as the parents’ voices. Most of the vital organs are formed and the skin is becoming less translucent. From this point, the remainder of the pregnancy is mainly about growth, so mums-to-be need ensure they eat and rest well. Week 26At 26 weeks, the baby’s lungs start to produce surfactant, which allows the lungs to inflate without the air sacs sticking together on deflation. By this stage, the baby is around 230mm in length and weighs about 800 grams. A major growth spurt is also about to occur and eating well is important for healthy development of the baby’s brain and senses. Week 27Week 27 marks the end of the second trimester. The baby now measures around 340mm and weighs about 820 grams (almost 2 pounds). The lungs are now developed, although they are immature. In order to prepare for life in the outside world, the baby breathes in amniotic fluid, which can cause it to hiccup. The jerk of each hiccup can then be felt by the mother in her tummy. At this stage, the mother may be checked for anemia, which can cause fatigue and affect the health of the placenta. If a mother is anemic, it is very important that she increases her iron level by boosting it with iron supplements Week 28 - The third trimesterThe baby continues to develop during the third trimester. He/she will open their eyes for the first time and the eyelids are partially developed and the eyelashes present. The baby continues to gain weight and wrinkles on the body start to smooth out as fat is stored. The skin also starts to become flesh colored.
Pregnant woman with visible uterus and fetus week 28. Image Copyright: Sebastian Kaulitzki / Shutterstock The baby now measures around 250mm and weighs around 1,000 grams or 2 and 1/4 pounds. Babies born at this stage have a very good chance of survival, without there being any risk of physical or mental disability. It is now possible to listen to the baby’s heartbeat using a stethoscope. The baby’s heartbeat may be heard if you put an ear to the mother’s abdomen. Further Reading
Last Updated: Feb 27, 2019 Written by Sally RobertsonSally first developed an interest in medical communications when she took on the role of Journal Development Editor for BioMed Central (BMC), after having graduated with a degree in biomedical science from Greenwich University. CitationsPlease use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:
Suggested ReadingWhat stage of pregnancy do eyes develop?At about 7 weeks, the main parts of the eye that enable sight – the cornea, iris, pupil, lens, and retina – start developing, and they're almost fully formed just a few weeks later. By about 10 weeks, your baby has eyelids, though they remain closed.
During which stage of pregnancy does a fetus grow hair eyelashes and eyebrows?In the second trimester, your baby's hair, including eyebrows and eyelashes, begins to grow. Muscles and bones continue to develop, allowing more movement. If your baby is a girl, her eggs will develop in her ovaries early in the second trimester.
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