7 month pregnant
The seventh month opens the third and last trimester of pregnancy. The expectant mother is actively preparing a “dowry” for the baby, with the help of her family she equips the nursery. At this stage of pregnancy, most women no longer work, taking maternity leave. A noticeably enlarged belly complicates the existence somewhat, but when wearing a high-quality prenatal bandage, a woman almost does not feel this heaviness.
Content:
- What happens in the female body?
- Fetus 7 months pregnant
- Sensations at 7 months
- The psychological state of a woman
- Problems and deviations in the seventh month
- Medical control
- Formation of the diet
- Intimate relationship
What happens in the female body?
At the beginning of the seventh month, the fundus of the uterus is located several centimeters above the navel, and by the end of this period it is located between the navel and the xiphoid process. Due to the enlarged uterus, the diaphragm changes its usual position, restricting the lungs. The consequence of this is shortness of breath, which becomes more intense even with little physical exertion. Painful sensations often appear in the hypochondrium.
The action of pregnancy hormones makes a woman's skin elastic and elastic, as elastin and collagen are intensively synthesized in it. If these substances are not enough, the epidermis becomes thinner in the place of increased load - intradermal tears appear. The body fills them with connective tissue, resulting in stretch marks. Most of them are located on the skin of the abdomen, chest, thighs.
If the fetus is large, twins are expected, there is polyhydramnios, the appearance of striae (stretch marks) is inevitable. For prevention, you can use vitaminizing moisturizers designed for pregnant women. It is recommended to supplement the use of such funds with a light circular massage of the abdomen, pinching the skin. If there is hypertonicity of the uterus, such a massage can increase the threat of termination of pregnancy.
In the mammary glands, colostrum is formed - the precursor of breast milk. If it stands out, you need to use special tabs in the bra, wash your breasts with cool water.
During the seventh month of pregnancy, the weight gain is 1200-1600 g, approximately 300-400 g per week. The total weight gain since the beginning of the gestational period is 7-11 kg. This variation is due to the difference in the physique of pregnant women - the less body weight was before pregnancy, the higher the gain.
Fetus 7 months pregnant
Although the uterus is growing very rapidly, the growing fetus now takes up all the space inside it. He also grows rapidly, reaching by the end of 7 months a weight of 1.6-1.7 kg, a height of 40-41 cm. The proportions of his body are increasingly approaching the proportions of a newborn, the head is no longer growing so quickly. Due to the increased layer of subcutaneous fatty tissue, the baby does not seem as thin as in previous months, his skin acquires a pinkish tint.
Hair grows on the head, eyebrows and eyelashes on the face. The nails, although growing, still do not reach the tips of the fingers, the ears and cartilage of the nose remain soft.
The nerve fibers of the brain and spinal cord are covered with myelin, and the size and structure of the cerebral cortex is practically formed. This development of the central nervous system gives the child many opportunities to learn about the surrounding reality. Reactions to stimuli in a fetus at 7 months do not differ from those in a newborn baby. He feels pain, reacts to mechanical impact on the abdomen, to loud sounds, to the psycho-emotional state of the mother. The response is an increase in the frequency or a decrease in the intensity of movements.
On the eyeball of the fetus, there is no longer a pupillary membrane; it can open and close the eyes. There are enough taste buds on the tongue of an unborn child to distinguish shades of taste. He swallows amniotic fluid, getting nutrients from it. The processed products gradually accumulate in the intestines, forming the original feces - meconium. He will be released only after childbirth, in the first days after birth.
The baby's bone marrow produces red blood cells, forming its own blood. The baby's blood and the mother's blood do not mix with each other, communicating through the placental barrier. Through this thin partition, the exchange of nutrients, water is carried out, and the process of excreting the waste of the child's life takes place there.
The baby swallows amniotic fluid, while lifting the chest. This imitation of swallowing movements trains the immature lungs before they take over the function of breathing. If the baby is born at this stage of pregnancy, he will have to breathe with the help of forced ventilation of the respiratory system. Despite this, he has an over 90% chance of surviving a premature birth. If amniotic fluid enters the lungs when swallowing, the woman may feel the baby hiccup.
The position of the fetus in the uterus at this stage of pregnancy can be any, but the range of motion every day becomes less and less due to the growth of the child's body weight. It is desirable that by 28 weeks the baby is turned head down - the optimal position for childbirth. If this does not happen, the child has less and less chance of avoiding a breech or breech presentation, which complicates labor. To prevent such a situation, it is fashionable to do special exercises that stimulate the fetus to take the desired position.
Sensations at 7 months
At this time, the influence of the hormone relaxin is making itself felt more and more. Its level increases, relaxing all the ligaments and muscles of the abdominal cavity and small pelvis to facilitate labor. Because of this circumstance, women acquire a specific "duck" waddling gait, they are worried about back pain.
Relaxin action on internal organs:
- On the venous wall - provokes varicose veins;
- On the muscles of the esophagus - throwing the contents of the stomach into the esophagus, heartburn;
- On the muscles of the bladder - urinary incontinence.
Good heredity and a high level of physical fitness can save a woman from negative feelings.
The pregnant woman's sleep became shallow, because of discomfort, she often wakes up at night, sees dreams associated with childbirth. This is due to the inability to take a comfortable position, the activity of a rather large fruit. A change in the intensity of activity in one direction or the other indicates a problem in the child's condition. Perhaps he does not have enough oxygen, he experiences hypoxia. In any case, you should consult your doctor.
The psychological state of a woman
There is a category of pregnant women who at this stage of pregnancy are not interested in anything other than narrow problems related to childbirth and caring for newborns. They actively discuss these problems with family and friends, visit forums for pregnant women. If it is not easy to find like-minded people, it is worth looking for them in pregnancy preparation courses.
Problems and deviations in the seventh month
If the doctor diagnoses "intrauterine growth retardation", this means that the weight and height of the child lags behind the norm for this period of the gestational period. The optimal border beyond which treatment is required is 10% of the norm for a specific period.
Reasons for developmental delay:
- Heredity;
- Miniature parents;
- Anemia;
- Smoking during pregnancy;
- Somatic diseases of the cardiovascular or endocrine system of a woman;
- Ecology;
- Taking medications during pregnancy;
- Pregnancy with twins or triplets;
- Living in areas with thin air (highlands).
The diagnosis is made on the basis of ultrasound data, as well as the results of measuring the size of the uterus.
The low dynamics of its increase indicates that the woman and the child require treatment:
- Good nutrition;
- Taking multivitamins;
- Preparations: Actovegin, Trental, Courantil, Instenon;
- Bed rest to stimulate blood flow to the placenta.
All activities are aimed at increasing the amount of oxygen and nutrients entering the fetus.
From the beginning of the 7th month of pregnancy, the doctor palpates the abdomen, determining the presentation of the fetus:
longitudinal, oblique, transverse. Longitudinal presentation can be cephalic and pelvic. In response to the special gymnastics prescribed by the doctor to change the presentation, the fetus begins to actively move. If the woman is wearing a bandage while doing this, the coup may not happen.
If a pregnant woman has an increased risk of terminating her pregnancy, she may have a preterm labor during this period.
To protect yourself from such a situation, preventive measures should be taken:
- Avoid intimate relationships;
- Do not gain excess weight;
- Eat well;
- Stop working;
- During the cold season, protect yourself from viral infections.
Symptoms of preterm labor may be the appearance of a mucous plug, the appearance of bloody or profuse watery discharge, and cramping pain in the pelvis.
Another danger this month is the appearance of late pregnancy toxicosis, or gestosis. This condition is extremely dangerous, it can result in disruption of the vital organs of a pregnant woman. Gestosis is manifested by edema, headache, weakness, nausea. If you experience these symptoms, you should immediately contact your doctor.
Medical control
At 7 months, the doctor plans to visit the woman for a consultation once every 2 weeks.
Before issuing a sick leave for pregnancy and childbirth, the obstetrician-gynecologist prescribes the following examinations:
- Blood test for HIV, hepatitis and syphilis;
- General clinical analysis of urine and blood;
- Blood chemistry;
- Blood test for coagulability, sugar content;
- Blood clotting test (for pregnant women with Rh-conflict and 0 (1) blood group);
- Consultation with an ophthalmologist and therapist.
After the 28th week of pregnancy, a cardiotocogram is performed - a study and recording of the heart rate, fetal movement, and the intensity of uterine contractions. The study is carried out for 20-40 minutes. If during this time the fetal heart rate changes noticeably, this indicates a pathology of development, possible oxygen starvation.
From the 30th week of the gestational period, a woman receives a certificate of disability due to pregnancy for herods in the antenatal clinic. Its duration is 140 days, with multiple pregnancies - 180 days. The period of incapacity for work in this case begins from the 28th week.
When observed in a consultation for at least 12 weeks, the woman is given a birth certificate.
Formation of the diet
Strict control over the quality of nutrition is a guarantee of the well-being of a pregnant woman and the full development of the fetus. Fatty, fried foods, sweets and marinades should be removed from the diet. These substances provoke weight gain, heartburn, salt retention in the body, and edema.
The menu requires fermented milk products, fish, meat, cottage cheese, fruits and vegetables, nuts. They are valuable sources of calcium, protein and vitamins.
Due to the specifics of digestion during pregnancy, it is best to eat often, but little by little, planning the last meal 3-4 hours before bedtime. Dinner consists of foods that are easy for digestion, before going to bed you can drink a glass of kefir or milk.
Intimate relationship
The answer to the question of whether intimate relationships are allowed at 7 months of pregnancy is very difficult to give. It all depends on the state of health of the woman, the absence or presence of contraindications. Most likely, the solution to this issue should be entrusted to the doctor. If he does not see any contraindications to sexual intercourse, there is an opportunity for an intimate relationship.
Such contacts cannot harm the child, he is protected by the muscular layer of the uterus and amniotic fluid.
The increased weight and a significant size of the abdomen at 7 months impose certain restrictions on a woman - she must wear low-heeled shoes, do gymnastics, not walk for too long, raise her legs to an elevated position after a long walk.
Video about medical examination during pregnancy, precautions for contact with people during the season of increased morbidity, about the treatment of colds during pregnancy:
The author of the article: Lapikova Valentina Vladimirovna | Gynecologist, reproductologist
Education: Diploma in Obstetrics and Gynecology received at the Russian State Medical University of the Federal Agency for Healthcare and Social Development (2010). In 2013 completed postgraduate studies at N. N. N. I. Pirogova.
