The birth of a child is the most important event in the life of every family. And also the first cry of a newborn, his first breath makes the mother feel endless joy, pouring out tears of happiness when she sees her baby. And it’s not for nothing that many parents are concerned about how their baby develops in the womb and, in particular, they are interested in how the child breathes in the womb, given the fact that he is in water.
How does a baby breathe in the womb?
For the entire time, starting from the fertilized egg and before the onset of birth, the developing organism receives a continuous supply of oxygen, but this happens in a very interesting and unusual way. Initially, the fertilized egg is nourished by a substance that is an egg without a shell and is called the yolk sac. It is he who delivers all the necessary substances to the nascent life, and also represents reliable protection for the developing fetus.
When the fetus reaches fourteen weeks, a new organ appears in the fetus, which will subsequently ensure its vital functions throughout pregnancy - this is the placenta, otherwise it is also called the “baby place”. And this is done in the following way: blood, enriched with oxygen, enters from the placenta (namely through the so-called placental villi) into the circulatory system of the developing baby through the artery in the umbilical cord.
Receipt of oxygen through the placenta ends after the baby is born. But an interesting point is the fact that after birth, the arteries in the umbilical cord maintain the air supply until the woman’s body begins to reject the placenta. It is after this that the baby begins to breathe on his own.
How your baby gets oxygen through the umbilical cord.
The baby can breathe not only through the placenta, but also receive oxygen through the umbilical cord. I would like to understand how a child breathes in the womb through the umbilical cord. The umbilical cord is a connected vessel, thanks to which the developing fetus is attached to the mother's body, and it is formed starting from the second week of fetal development and acquires a larger size as the embryo grows. A logical fact is that the size of the umbilical cord at the birth of a baby is equal to the length of the newborn’s body. This organ ensures the supply of substances necessary for the development of the fetus, and also promotes the excretion of products, resulting in metabolism.
Need for fresh air.
Specialists from medical institutions recommend that pregnant women spend more time in the fresh air, in nature, and move more often. The baby receives oxygen from the mother’s blood, which is why the woman may periodically experience a lack of air, which can even lead to loss of consciousness.
In the last months of pregnancy, it is best not to go out alone to avoid such an illness.
A woman who is going to become a mother needs to know a number of other reasons that can cause a lack of oxygen, both in the woman herself and cause hypoxia (lack of oxygen) in the developing fetus. To do this, you must follow the following important rules in order to avoid serious problems and pathologies in your baby:
- It is prohibited to drink alcohol;
- The use of narcotic substances by the mother is extremely dangerous for the mother and the fetus;
- if a woman smoked before pregnancy, then this habit should be abandoned during pregnancy and later during feeding;
- avoid stressful situations, stay calm and not expose yourself to stress;
- Take medications with caution. Before you start, you need to read the instructions to see if it is approved for use by pregnant women. It’s better to contact a specialist at a medical institution for advice on what is best to take.
It is also worth avoiding bad habits and stress in order to avoid placental insufficiency and early aging of the placenta, which occurs due to exposure to harmful substances, due to the lack of proper lifestyle in the mother.
Fresh air, trips to nature, hiking, breathing exercises, sleep in a ventilated room are the key to the absence of problems both in the health of the mother and the health of the unborn baby.
Child's breathing.
In fact, a pregnant woman breathes for two, that is, for herself and, of course, for her baby. It is for this reason, as mentioned above, that a woman may not have enough oxygen, to the point where she will begin to avoid closed, stuffy rooms. But even if a woman is close to fainting, she should not feel afraid for the fetus, since thanks to the placenta, nothing will happen to the baby, and he will not experience any discomfort. While in the woman’s belly, the baby slowly prepares to breathe through the lungs, even taking into account the fact that the fetus’s mouth is closed. With the onset of the second trimester of pregnancy, the fetus tries to make breathing movements, along with the acceleration of the rate of its development. At this stage, the baby is gaining weight and height, and is even able to hear his mother’s voice. Along with such achievements, the first skills and attempts to breathe are acquired.
And when approaching the end of pregnancy (the total period is forty weeks), the expectant mother gets the impression that her baby often hiccups inside, but in fact this is not hiccups in the fetus at all, he is simply trying to use breathing movements, so to speak, mastering breathing training . The final formation of the lungs in the fetus occurs by the 34th week of pregnancy. It is at this time that the most important component is produced - surfactant, which is responsible for the complete opening of the lungs at the birth of a baby.
In conclusion, I would like to add that knowing how a child breathes in the womb, you can calmly enjoy your interesting position, with awareness of what a pregnant woman should do, and what is strictly contraindicated during the period of bearing a child, in order to avoid problems for the woman that could have a bad influence on the unborn baby.
Many people wonder what a child breathes in the womb? Women who become pregnant for the first time think about this especially often. It has to do with fear of the unknown and curiosity.
Therefore, in order to understand the issues of pregnancy and baby development, they consult with doctors and read useful articles.
It's no secret that a baby takes a full breath immediately after birth, but how does the breathing process occur before birth?
Maybe, but not in the usual way for everyone. The thing is that the lungs fully mature only by the 7th month of development, and the first independent breath occurs after birth. In this regard, breathing occurs through the placenta and umbilical cord.
From the first days of conception, all necessary components, including oxygen, are supplied to the embryo through the yolk sac, which nourishes and protects the future fetus.
However, its resources are very limited, so after 10 weeks it begins to become covered with villi.
They allow the embryo to attach to the wall of the uterus. By this time, a new organ is formed in the uterus - the placenta.
It is she who will be responsible for life in the future. Connecting with the placenta, the embryo receives all the nutrients and necessary substances through it.
Thus, the process of fetal respiration represents gas exchange in a living organism. At the same time, carbon dioxide is removed from the cells and replaced with oxygen. This allows all emerging and developing systems to function fully.
In this regard, the concept that the expectant mother breathes for herself and for the fetus is not entirely correct. The breathing process is not simple inhalations and exhalations, but rather the process of gas exchange. Therefore, the unborn child breathes in the womb, but in an unusual way.
Tips for full and proper fetal breathing.
- You need to spend more time outdoors.
- Quit smoking or avoid being around people who smoke.
- Oxygen cocktails should be introduced into the diet.
- From about the 20th week, it is necessary to monitor the baby's activity time.
If activity or periods of wakefulness decrease, you should consult a doctor. This is the first sign of oxygen starvation. The doctor will prescribe the necessary medications and procedures to normalize gas exchange.
For full development, it is necessary to visit a doctor, take prescribed tests and undergo all procedures. They will allow you to identify hypoxia at an early stage and remove it without harm to the growing organism.
Umbilical cord
The umbilical cord is a kind of transport channel that transfers all the necessary nutrients and oxygen to the baby.
It also removes all waste products in the opposite direction.
The placenta and umbilical cord work as one unit, thanks to which the fetus is supplied with all the substances it needs.
With an incorrect (unhealthy) lifestyle of the expectant mother, the placenta and umbilical cord begin to age prematurely.
In this case, they begin to function defectively, and nutrients begin to flow to the fetus in a smaller volume.
What can trigger premature aging of the placenta:
- smoking (active and passive);
- severe, prolonged stress;
- some medications if taken incorrectly.
To prevent such an unpleasant and detrimental phenomenon for the fetus, you should avoid people who smoke, give up this habit personally, walk more in the fresh air, try not to be nervous and not experience stressful conditions. You should also eat properly, fully and take the necessary vitamin complexes. As a rule, they are prescribed by a gynecologist taking into account the needs of the body of the woman carrying the baby. It is also necessary when taking any medications to take them only with the permission of a doctor and strictly follow the instructions for use.
The umbilical cord is a full-fledged link between mother and child. Through it, oxygen and nutrients are exchanged, and it also removes carbon dioxide and other metabolic breakdown products during fetal development.
Placenta
The placenta is the whole world for a little person, because it not only allows him to breathe, but also provides him with nutrients. It also performs the functions of removing carbon dioxide and other waste products.
If we consider the process of breathing through the placenta, it looks like this. The placenta and umbilical cord contain a large number of vessels, veins and 2 arteries. It is through them that blood enriched with oxygen is supplied, and through the veins there is an outflow of carbon dioxide.
In order for a sufficient amount of oxygen to reach the baby, a woman should walk more in the fresh air. Parks are best suited for such walks.
You should also avoid places where the air is particularly polluted with harmful substances. After all, when they enter the body of a pregnant woman, they also penetrate to the child. This could worsen his health.
If there is a lack of oxygen, the baby may develop chronic hypoxia. This is a very serious condition in which oxygen starvation occurs. With such a long-term condition, the formation of important organs in the fetus may be disrupted, and some systems may begin to function incorrectly. However, a growing child in the womb is able to accumulate the necessary amount of such an important component not only for breathing within a couple of minutes.
Structure of the placenta
In other words, he stores it for future use. But, nevertheless, this does not mean that the development of such a condition can be allowed. The main danger is that if some systems malfunction, the baby seems to go into energy-saving mode. At the same time, the formation and growth of all organs slows down, and in this case they are not able to survive.
The placenta is a special organ. It can compensate for the lack of useful and necessary components even when there is a deficiency in the mother’s body. This occurs due to the accumulative function.
Around the 35th week, a substance called surfactant begins to be produced. It allows you to open up your lungs at birth and take your first independent breath.
How does a child breathe?
As is known, fetal respiration in the womb occurs through gas exchange. He does not have the usual inhalations and exhalations.
Breathing occurs according to the following pattern:
- a pregnant woman inhales air;
- oxygen enters the blood through the lungs and is distributed throughout the body;
- having reached the placenta, it lingers in it;
- oxygen and useful substances are supplied to the fetus through the umbilical cord;
- fetal cells are saturated with oxygen and convert it into carbon dioxide;
- it goes through the umbilical cord to the placenta and is removed from it;
- the woman exhales the returned carbon dioxide.
This is repeated throughout the entire period of gestation.
The baby's mature lungs begin to develop at the 37th week. The fetus begins to breathe, drawing amniotic fluid into them and releasing it after a short period of time. This is how the respiratory organs try to adapt to independently saturate the small body with air.
Because of such training, pregnant women feel as if the baby is hiccupping in the womb.
This is how the fetus breathes in the womb. This process is very different from the usual inhalation and exhalation. In order to properly and timely prepare light babies for independent work after birth, a pregnant woman should move more, breathe fresh air, and avoid stuffy and unventilated rooms.
Such simple rules will allow you to correctly and timely saturate the developing and growing body with oxygen in the required quantity, and will also help the lungs to open and function properly after birth.
You and I, people, are aerobic creatures, i.e. Our life depends entirely on the presence of oxygen in the air. We breathe with our lungs, and the oxygen entering the blood is carried by a special protein to every organ and cell of our body, we live.
The fruit located inmother's womb, will be born, and will also breathe oxygen. N While his respiratory system is in its infancy, it develops, oddly enough, in need of this very oxygen. a little todaylet's uncover the veil of Mother Nature's secrets and talk abouthow a child breathes in the womb.
- Introduction
- The role of the umbilical cord and placenta
- Mechanism of intrauterine respiration
- Hypoxia
- Tips for moms
The role of the umbilical cord and placenta
The first minutes of a newborn baby’s life are always marked by a piercing cry, during which the lungs open and the respiratory system “starts up.” Being in the cozy mother's tummy, the babyfloats in the amniotic fluid, naturally, without using familiar to us breathing mechanism. But he still needs oxygen and does breathe, but in a slightly different way. How?The baby's place (placenta) plays the most important role in providing the fetus with necessary nutrients and oxygen, including which enter the body of the future person through the ornate umbilical cord. These two organs– the key to successful pregnancy and fetal development.
The placenta is formed from the moment the fertilized egg attaches to the wall of the uterus, developing and gaining strength. Already at the beginning of the second trimester R and she completely “takes over”, replacing the temporary structure - the yellow body. At the same time, the baby’s place will change until the very moment of birth, adapting to the needsfruit and passing through four degrees of maturity.
What functions does the placenta perform?
- barrier– prevents entry into the body fetal anism of harmful substances, toxins and foreign agents;
- endocrine - produces hormones to maintain pregnancy, as well as for the growth and development of the baby;
- immune - does not allow and immunity mothers perceive the fetus as a foreign organism;
- nutritious– nutrients pass through the placenta via the umbilical cord from blood mothers, and also gas exchange occurs.
That is why the intrauterine breathing process of a baby is often called placental.
The umbilical cord plays the role of a kind of connecting link, a “wire” through which nutrients and oxygen enter the child’s body, as well as intodecomposition products are removed. That is, if you thinkdoes the baby breathe on its own in the womb?, then no – in in the usual understanding, such a process s doesn't happen. The fetus breathes, but literally through the placenta.
Mechanism of fetal intrauterine respiration
At first glance, it may seem that a pregnant woman should breathe more, because in fact she providestwo organisms with oxygen. In reality, this logic does not work: the woman breathes as usual, using her lung capacity, but the volume of blood in her body increases, and a placental circulation occurs.Blood protein - hemoglobin - is known to be a carrier of oxygen, and from the lungs, molecules of the “life-giving” gas travel through the bloodstream through the placenta and umbilical cord to the baby.That is, most of the portion of oxygen received with each mother’s breath goes to the needs of the organism growing in the womb, and, as they say, what is left goes to the needs of the woman’s body. A mother spends a truly colossal amount of resources while carrying a child under her heart.
So, oxygen molecules pass through the bloodstream through the placenta through the umbilical cord into the fetus’s body, and there they feed the cells through a network of small vessels and capillaries. The carbon dioxide resulting from metabolic processes returns through the bloodstream to the umbilical cord, reaches the maternal bloodstream through the placenta, is sent to the woman’s lungs and is excreted from the body. In a similar way, nutrients are supplied to and removed from the fetus.
Hypoxia
Now, having a rough idea of what how and with what baby breathing in the womb mothers, the value of oxygen and fresh air in general for the expectant mother is felt. In the modern world, very often in an ultrasound room or during an examination in a antenatal clinic you can hear the word “hypoxia”.Hypoxia is commonly understood as a state of acute or chronic lack of oxygen. Roughly speaking, in relation to the fetus, it simply cannot breathe. This condition is considered extremely serious and can have irreversible and dire consequences if measures are not taken in a timely manner or if they are not taken at all.
Moreover, as we remember, insufficient oxygen supply to the body is fraught with problems not only for the unborn baby, but also for the mother herself, because her body gives the lion's share of the incoming gas to the child.
Dizziness, bluish skin, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing should not be ignored by doctors.
How do babies born prematurely breathe?
There are situations when labor begins ahead of time, some time before the planned date. The baby is not ready, but due to certain circumstances he is forced to leave his mother’s warm and cozy tummy. But he has not yet “ripened”; his respiratory system is not ready to work independently. What do you do in such cases?The baby's lungs are ready to makeoh first breath at about 34-36 weeks, not earlier, the lung tissue is completely clearwas mired, there is su in the lungs r f actant is a substance that helps them open and function in the future.
Babies born prematurely are forced to be placed in a nurserycial box, providing close to intrauterine conditions, and connect to the device art With photic breathing, administering medicationotic stimulators of su maturation r f actant and lung tissue.
More oxygen and more fresh air! This is roughly how it should be h learn the motto everyplease the expectant mother, understanding the importance enough new supply of this vitalimportant gas into her body and into the body of the unborn baby.Naturally, the maximum distance from environmentally unfavorable areas and industrial zones is very desirable, smooth as well as walks in forests, parks and frequent exposure to fresh air.
Separately, it is worth mentioning the dangers of smoking during pregnancy. It has been proven that in the vast majority of cases, women who smoke give birth to children with low weight, chronic hypoxia, and are born prematurely and insubsequently have problems with health, concentration and perseverance.
Therefore, it is extremely important to give up this unpleasant habit not only for aesthetic reasons (a pregnant woman with a cigarette looksrepulsive, you will agree), but also for the benefit of the health of the unborn child.
Be healthy!
Mom is leaning over the crib, looking at the sleeping baby and can’t get enough of it. This is her baby, her little one, her little blood. Mom examines cute features, kisses tiny fingers, listens to the baby’s breathing...
Without breath there is no life
Respiration is an important physiological process through which oxygen enters the body and carbon dioxide exits. Breathing gives a person energy for life. Without breathing, not a single living creature on our planet can live. A person lives without air for a maximum of 5-9 minutes. World records have been set for staying in airless space for up to 18 minutes, and only after special training.
The human breathing process is divided into two stages. When you inhale, air enters the lungs through the airways, which is divided in the blood into oxygen and carbon dioxide. The second stage involves saturating the body with oxygen. Oxygen is carried by arterial blood from the lungs to all organs. Venous blood collects carbon dioxide in the lungs, which is released during exhalation.
Biologists and doctors have proven the possibility of curing various diseases with the help of special breathing exercises. In Russia and countries around the world, the methods of V. F. Frolov, A. N. Strelnikova, K. P. Buteyko, I. P. Neumyvakin, V. N. Khrustalev are known, which proved that correct frequent breathing helps overcome illnesses and improve well-being and even gain weight. Children can be taught proper breathing from the age of two.
Respiratory system of infants
In infancy, this system is of particular importance. Not all organs have yet developed and are functioning fully, so the breathing of a newborn becomes a life-sustaining moment in the baby’s body.
Almost all systems of an infant, including the respiratory system, differ from the corresponding systems of an adult; their work has age-related characteristics that provide the desired age-related regime.
An infant's upper and lower airways are too small for full deep breathing. The nose and nasopharynx are short and narrow, so even a small speck causes the baby to sneeze, and a slight runny nose becomes dangerous due to hyperemia of the mucous layer and a decrease in the lumen of the nasal passages and larynx. Not only diseases, but also dust and small specks, getting into a tiny nose, cause sniffling, whistling, and snoring.
That is why it is necessary to clean your baby’s nose on time and make every effort to prevent colds and viral diseases. Rhinitis, bronchitis, laryngitis, pharyngitis and any other inflammations are dangerous at this age. The best proactive action to protect against diseases, as well as to develop the respiratory muscles and improve breathing, is massage and gymnastics.
Specifics of infant breathing
All the tiny systems and organs of the newborn work in an enhanced mode. At birth, the body is not formed, the respiratory organs are anatomically and physiologically immature, but the child’s body works, grows, and develops. Even the heart rate of an infant is about 140 beats/min, that is, almost twice that of an adult.
The respiratory system of a newborn is not yet mature and works in an enhanced mode. Normally, the heart rate in infants reaches 140 beats/min.
The muscles at birth are weak, the air passages are narrow, small ribs do not help breathing, and babies cannot take deep breaths. Therefore, babies have to use rapid breathing to provide themselves with oxygen. Babies do not know how to breathe smoothly; their rapid breathing is shallow and uneven.
Underdevelopment of the structure of organs makes the baby's breathing shallow, short of breath, irregular, jerky, tense, with possible respiratory failure. But with every day of the first years of life, the department grows and improves, and at about 7 years these organs are fully formed.
Pace
Most often, the baby takes two or three short breaths, then one deep breath. This is normal for a 1-6 month old baby, but the frequency of inhalations and exhalations must be increased to 40-60 times per minute to fully provide the baby with oxygen. At 9-12 months, the baby’s inhalations and exhalations become uniform, rhythmic, and calm.
If the baby breathes without strain, without noises or groans, and does not flare out the wings of his nose, then this is the norm. Otherwise, show the baby to the doctor.
The norm is the child’s smooth breathing, without noise, wheezing, or strain. The nose does not swell, it should not be stuffy
Frequency
The number of respiratory movements in one minute is calculated by the movement of the chest when the baby is at rest. The resulting respiratory rate of the child is checked against a table that sets out the norms for children under one year of age.
- from birth to two weeks ─ 40-60 breaths per minute;
- from 2 weeks to 3 months - 40-45;
- from 4 months to six months - 35-40;
- from 7 months to a year - 30-36.
For comparison: the respiratory rate of an adult is 16-20 per minute, during sleep ─ 12-14.
By calculating the respiratory rate, or respiratory rate, the pediatrician determines the type, depth, rhythm of breathing, as well as whether the chest, abdominal wall, and the cardiovascular system as a whole are working correctly. It makes sense for parents to calculate whether the frequency corresponds to medical indicators, since a failure may indicate the onset of a disease.
Breathing type
Defined as thoracic, abdominal and mixed:
- the chest type is characterized by movements of the chest;
- abdominal ─ movements of the diaphragm and abdominal wall,
- mixed ─ the chest and diaphragm work.
In the first case, the lower part of the lungs is insufficiently ventilated, in the second - the apex, as a result of which congestion syndrome is possible. The mixed type of respiratory movements, due to the expansion of the chest and movements of the abdominal wall, ventilates the lungs in all directions.
Violations
Rhythm or frequency disturbances signal pathologies that may be asymptomatic in infants or are signs of some kind of disorder.
Thus, respiratory distress syndrome can occur on days 1-3 of a baby’s life while still in the maternity hospital. But here neonatologists, pediatricians, and obstetricians will undoubtedly help the newborn.
Sometimes the mother is frightened by the sounds that the baby makes through the nose, throat, nasopharynx, and lungs.
The baby is wheezing, breathing with difficulty, his breathing is rapid, while he is capricious, he has no appetite - show the child to the doctor
If the baby is healthy, breathes effortlessly, silently, then the respiratory tract is functioning normally. Discuss all extraneous sounds with your treating pediatrician to avoid big problems.
- The baby wheezes, whistles, moans - this means that the breathing tubes are narrowed, the air passes through with difficulty. In addition, such sounds appear as a result of inflammation, spasms, infections, swelling, or foreign body entry. Signs of serious problems with difficulty breathing include blueness around the mouth, drowsiness, and inability to make sounds. Call an ambulance immediately, don’t delay.
- Along with wheezing, a cough and runny nose appeared - which means the baby has a cold. Rapid breathing, it is difficult for the baby to inhale and exhale, he is capricious, does not eat ─ call your local doctor, perhaps this is a bronchial disease.
- Difficulty nasal breathing syndrome results in nasal congestion and can be a disorder.
- Sometimes gurgling is heard from the respiratory tract. This saliva, which the baby does not have time to swallow, accumulates in the neck and creates gurgling sounds as air passes through. This syndrome soon goes away.
- A fairly common disorder, when a child snores in his sleep, inhales through his mouth more often than through his nose, ─ this is another disorder and also a reason for a visit to the doctor; the adenoids may be enlarged.
- The child suffocates if he chokes, or breathes very quickly and freezes. This is normal for babies under 6 months, but be sure to tell your doctor about it.
- Stopping breathing for a few seconds happens quite often in tiny children. This scares mothers, they don’t know what to do, but everything usually goes away on its own. Take the baby upright, splash cold water on his face, give him fresh air, pat him on the back and butt.
- Apnea syndrome is a frightening pause in breathing for 10 to 20 seconds, then breathing is restored.
Short pauses during sleep often occur in infants, but it is imperative to warn the doctor.
Norm
- The frequent appearance of extraneous sounds when inhaling while the baby is developing normally and gaining weight, do not frighten you, the baby will outgrow this by 1.5 years.
- In a joyful excited state, with strong interest or during physical activity, the baby begins to breathe quickly. This is a natural state.
- In a dream, a newborn can wheeze, gurgle, purr, grunt, sing like a bird, and all these normal breathing sounds do not cause disorders, but are caused by the still imperfect structure of the nasopharynx.
We know that people and animals on Earth breathe oxygen, but we consider carbon dioxide unnecessary; we exhale it. In fact, carbon dioxide is no less important than oxygen, because oxygen gives us energy, burns organic matter, and carbon dioxide is involved in regulating metabolism. When breathing, carbon dioxide is involved in the vital functions of the body before being released into the air as you exhale. It calms the nervous system, dilates blood vessels, relieves pain, synthesizes amino acids, and promotes breathing.
And further. It turns out that with a strong, loud cry, the baby’s lungs suffer - they literally burst. A baby may cry if he is hungry or cold and unwell. Let's take care of the little ones so they don't have to tear their lungs.
