Life Before Birth

4D Ultrasound 28 Weeks

At around 4 months the foetus can be seen playing with its own umbilical cord – often getting it wrapped around its body. But it is still very elastic and presents no danger at this stage. When prodded through the abdomen the baby squirms – it can bend and twist its fingers, hands, wrists and toes. The heart has settled to around twice an adults heartbeat rate – 120-160 bpm.

One of the most important reactions the baby will have is now developing – the grasping reaction. It will spend plenty of time practicing by holding on to the umbilical cord, the other hand, toes, feet and face. In the case of twins they hold on to each other. Digestive and urinary tracts are in full swing with the baby swallowing and circulating its own amniotic fluid – breathing the fluid in and out of its liquid filled lungs all the time. This is around the time the baby’s mother will feel its movements for the first time.

The eyes were previously thought to remain fused until around 24 weeks. But 4D ultrasound scans have revealed babies opening their eyes by the 16th week. It’s dark in there but the eyes are still not fully functional anyway. By the 18th week the foetus has reached the half way stage. At 21 weeks, the end of the second trimester, everything is fully formed if not fully grown. At this stage a few babies can survive outside the womb but most would still die or suffer from severe difficulties. But most will remain where they are and put on a bit of weight and practice some vital skills for survival in the outside world.

The mother is becoming increasingly aware of the changes happening inside her body. Her baby can taste and smell the amniotic fluid in which it lives. Doctors know that the amniotic fluid can taste of garlic, onion and even curry. Too much spice and the foetus will stick out its tongue! And it can hear not only what goes on inside the womb, but also the rest of its mother’s body and sounds from the outside world. The most dominant sound is the mother’s heartbeat, followed by the gurgling in her stomach. Strangely it can hear it father’s voice best if he is close – the lower frequency waves can penetrate the abdomen wall more easily.