IN THE WOMB
Fetal growth
(Source: Internet)
In the womb
The best place for a baby to develop is the mother’s womb. Understanding how the womb supports development can help you care for your preterm baby. The sensory system develops in a specific sequence, which will also help you understand your preterm baby’s reactions.
Touch
The sense of touch develops early, starting around the mouth at 8 weeks and spreading across the body by 20 weeks. Babies respond to touch of the palm in the womb from 24 weeks, grasping the umbilical cord and later your finger after birth. Deep pressure over mom’s tummy will stimulate the tactile system in the fetus and sensitize him to positive touch.
Grasping during pre-birth operation (Source: Internet)
Fetus sucking on thumb
(source: Internet)
Movement and Balance
By 7.5 weeks, babies start moving in the womb, and by 15 weeks, they show all the movements they’ll need, like hiccups and breathing. The balance system works by 25 weeks, allowing babies to adjust their position in response to mom’s movements.
Taste
Taste buds form by 8 weeks, and babies start swallowing amniotic fluid, which takes on the flavors of what mom eats. Babies are naturally drawn to sweet tastes, helping with feeding after birth.
First Trimester
(Source: Internet)
Tissue filled nasal cavity
(Source: Internet)
smell
Babies can smell by 28 weeks, reacting to both pleasant and unpleasant scents. After birth, familiar smells, like their parents or favorite scents from pregnancy, can help soothe them.
hearing
Babies respond to sound by 16 weeks but don’t fully distinguish different sounds until the third trimester. Gentle sounds, like parents’ voices, are comforting, while loud noises can be overwhelming.
Hearing development
(source: Internet)
Fetal development
(Source: Internet)
Vision
Vision is the last sense to develop. By 26 weeks, babies start to open their eyes, However, only from eight months pregnancy, can the fetus constrict the irises, therefore they still need protection from bright lights, especially if born prematurely.
Neurological
The neurological system develops throughout pregnancy, with two key elements: the myelin sheath and neuronal connections. The myelin sheath is a protective layer around nerves that helps impulses travel to the brain. In preterm babies, this sheath is still developing, which may lead to challenges in behavior. Neuronal connections, which allow different systems to communicate, also form during pregnancy. Positive experiences in the womb help these connections develop well, but premature birth can lead to negative experiences, impacting behavior. The fetal brain grows rapidly, quadrupling in size between 26 and 40 weeks, reflecting the intense stimulation and development occurring during this time.
Fetal brain growth
(source: Internet)
Thumb sucking
(Source: Internet)
Reflexes in the womb
Fetal development is key for survival skills like reflexes, which start in the womb. The sucking reflex, essential for feeding, begins in utero but fully matures around 36 weeks, which is important to know when starting to feed your preterm baby.
Hands to face
(Source: Internet)
Babies also develop the hands-to-face reflex, a natural self-soothing behavior that comforts them before and after birth.
Foot-bracing, where the fetus flexes its legs and supports the feet, promotes muscle development and gives a sense of security. The amniotic sac provides gentle boundaries, allowing the baby to explore and return to a flexed position.
Fetal foot bracing
(Source: Internet)
Read more on fetal development and how the fetus experiences his environment in Chapter one of Prematurity – Adjusting your Dream.
*Footnote: To simplify writing and reading, gender is referred to as: A fetus as his/he, the preterm or newborn infant as her/she and toddlers as his/he. This does not exclude the other sex.
