A pregnant woman should take special precautions throughout all nine calendar (10 obstetric) months - after all, from the moment two strips appear on the test and until the first cry of the baby in the delivery room, it is she who is completely responsible for everything that happens to the baby. Careless actions can lead to sad consequences. However, during pregnancy, the most dangerous periods are distinguished when the likelihood of various threats increases. What are these terms and how to minimize risks, we will tell in this article.
What is the danger?
Experienced gynecologists and obstetricians have long noticed that for the entire period of gestation in a woman, even if her pregnancy proceeds without complications, there are periods of increased danger. If complications and dangerous periods coincide, pregnancy can be terminated.
Most often, in the first trimester, a woman is threatened by a spontaneous miscarriage, as well as a frozen pregnancy, in which the fetus dies, stops development, but continues to remain in the uterus for some time. In the second trimester, there are certain weeks in which the likelihood of seizures and gestosis increases. The second half of pregnancy has its own alarming "frontiers", when crossing which increases the likelihood of premature birth.
Critical periods are not a folk myth or a fiction, but a reality that must be learned about in advance in order to be careful and not endanger the life and health of the baby.
Let's take a look at each of these periods.
First trimester
The first trimester ends with 13 weeks of pregnancy inclusive. This period is without exaggeration the most important stage. From several cells, an embryo grows, which gradually turns into a fetus. It is during these three months that all organs and systems are laid in the child, limbs, brain, blood circulation, genitals are formed. Any negative impacts in the first trimester (for example, uncontrolled intake of medications, SARS or other viral infection, high fever, etc.) can lead to irreversible consequences - from pathologies of the child's development to his death and rejection.
A little later, in the second trimester, the placenta will protect the baby from toxins, medications taken by the mother - this is the best natural barrier, but while the placenta is still forming and does not function, which means that the child is completely defenseless against numerous threats from outside.
The first trimester itself is one big dangerous period. But in it, nevertheless, experts distinguish three most dangerous periods. The very first falls on the implantation of a fertilized egg into the functional layer of the uterine endometrium. This happens about a week after ovulation, which corresponds to 2-3 obstetric weeks of pregnancy.
The main risk factor at this time is the lack of implantation or rejection of the ovum within a few days after it still managed to attach to the uterine wall. In most cases, this happens unnoticed by the woman. Just on time or with a slight delay, the next menstruation comes, but the woman does not know that there was a pregnancy.
Implantation can fail due to a variety of reasons, including exposure to toxic substances (smoking, alcohol, drugs), stress and emotional upheaval, hormonal disorders in the woman's body, congenital fetal abnormalities incompatible with life (natural selection), a high level of physical the loads that the woman is experiencing at this moment, as well as the presence of changes in the endometrium of the uterus (endometriosis, scars on the uterus after operations).
Quite often, with the implantation of a fertilized egg, difficulties arise in women who suffer from uterine fibroids, have congenital or acquired anatomical anomalies in the structure of the uterus, as well as in women who have had several abortions, because each scraping thinns the endometrium.
The second dangerous period in the first trimester is 4-6 weeks of pregnancy. At this time, a delay begins, the tests are already "striped", but this is in the event that pregnancy is expected. If a woman is unaware of her "interesting position", then during this period she is waiting for menstruation and does not always take care that the same nicotine or alcohol, as well as a couple of headache tablets, do not enter the body. At this time, the rudiments of the internal organs of the embryo are laid. The risks of pathologies and abnormalities are highest.
The third critical period of the first trimester is 8-11 weeks of pregnancy. During this period, the placenta is intensively formed. There may be sudden hormonal "surges" that can lead to miscarriage. Also, this period is considered one of the most dangerous in terms of the likelihood of freezing of fetal development in the womb.
Second trimester
The middle of pregnancy is deservedly considered a quieter period. There are fewer dangers, the future mom's health is better. The baby begins to move, but while its size is small and these movements do not cause unpleasant sensations to the woman, rather, they delight and surprise her. During this period, the baby begins to actively grow, all the internal organs of the baby are already formed.
The placenta now not only nourishes the baby and provides him with oxygen, but also protects him from unwanted substances that she retains according to the principle of a living barrier.
In the second trimester, there is one dangerous period during which a woman should be careful and careful. It starts at 18 and ends at 21 weeks of pregnancy (inclusive). It is at this time that the so-called "late miscarriage", the discharge of water, can occur. The risk of a missed pregnancy is usually limited to 21-22 weeks. Non-developing pregnancies after this obstetric week are very rare.
The reasons that can lead to miscarriage at such a late date (this phenomenon occurs in 1-2% of cases) are most often associated with the development of cervical insufficiency, as a result of which the cervix is too weak to hold the growing fetus further. The internal pharynx opens, a miscarriage occurs. Also, the reason often lies in the incorrect location of the "child's place" (presentation, detachment) or in genital infections, which women could get sick after pregnancy.
Third trimester
The main danger of the third trimester of pregnancy is the possibility of the onset of premature birth, because it is not a fact that the baby will be ready to appear in our world - he may not complete the process of maturation of lung tissue, be low in weight. These are the two main causes of neonatal mortality in premature babies.
The most dangerous in the last third of the gestation period is the period from 28 to 32 weeks. At this time, premature birth does not necessarily end well for the life and health of the baby. Gestosis (late toxicosis), premature aging or detachment of the "child's place", as well as isthmic-cervical insufficiency, which was diagnosed earlier, can provoke labor at this time.
Hormonal abnormalities in the body of the expectant mother, severe stress, excess weight gain are all risk factors.
How to avoid complications?
In the first trimester, a woman should be especially attentive to her well-being. You should say goodbye to cigarettes and alcohol at the first signs of the second strip on the test, or better - at the planning stage of pregnancy six months before conception. Any medications during this period will not benefit the baby. The exceptions are hormones, vitamins, folic acid prescribed by a doctor.
A woman should refrain from contact with household chemicals, varnishes and paints, acetone, gasoline, nitrates and heavy metal salts. If her work is related to activities in hazardous work, a certificate from the antenatal clinic at the place of work should be provided - according to the law, the woman will be transferred to less hazardous work.
A pregnant woman should sleep well, eat normally. Sex is not contraindicated if there is no threat of miscarriage. You can fly by plane, but carefully, again in the absence of the threat of termination of pregnancy. In the first trimester, you need to take care of early registration, pass all tests and undergo examinations. If you experience any pain, unusual discharge from the genitals, you should immediately consult a doctor.
In the second trimester, the recommendations are the same, but some medications may be allowed for a woman, because the placenta is already performing its barrier functions. It is important to visit the doctor according to the planned schedule, not to miss the visit to the consultation. Timely diagnosis will help to identify problems and minimize them in case of problems with the cervix, with the threat of late miscarriage. In 95% of cases, the threat of pregnancy can be saved if a woman consults a doctor in a timely manner, and does not sit at home expecting that "everything will go away by itself."
In the third trimester, it is important to monitor weight, note fetal movements and prevent the development of preeclampsia. A woman should be prepared for the fact that she can be hospitalized at any time during the dangerous period of the third trimester in order to carry out safe therapy. Some of the expectant mothers at risk are hospitalized “just in case” so that they can survive the “crisis period” under the supervision of doctors. The risk group includes women after IVF, with isthmic-cervical insufficiency, gestosis, multiple pregnancies, severe oligohydramnios or polyhydramnios.
If you experience any atypical pain, abnormal discharge, you should immediately contact a doctor. Better to be safe than overlooked. From 32 weeks, it is better to avoid air travel, rest more, and do not burden yourself with household chores.
Individual hazards
There are also individual dangerous periods, which are rather difficult to explain in the dry language of medical science, but every doctor knows about their existence. If a woman's previous pregnancy ended in miscarriage or fetal freezing, for example, at 16 weeks of gestation, then exactly 16 weeks of subsequent pregnancy will be the most dangerous for a particular woman. Quite often, a negative scenario repeats itself within a week. Therefore, when registering, be sure to remember in as much detail as possible, at what time and how your previous pregnancies ended. This information will help your doctor plan how to protect you and your baby during your own “critical time”.
For women who have not managed to get pregnant for a long time, it is usually more difficult to carry a pregnancy - practice shows that in 20% of cases, after a long-awaited conception, an early miscarriage occurs. In 15-20% of cases, it is not possible to bring pregnancy to birth and women who were helped to get pregnant by fertility doctors during the IVF protocol.
The higher the age of the expectant mother, the more likely it is that dangerous periods of pregnancy will be more difficult, with complications. Oddly enough, but not only "age" pregnant women, but also too young expectant mothers who are barely 18-19 years old, fall into the age risk group.
In the next video, you will hear important information about the critical periods of fetal development.
