Fetal physical development
Four months into pregnancy, the fetus\’s body begins to develop rapidly. It is about 13.5 centimeters long and weighs about 140 grams. At this point, your baby\’s head is fully developed and takes up proportion of the body, but over time other parts of the body will continue to grow, especially the hands, feet, and organ systems. At four months, the fetal heart is fully developed and can distinguish a stethoscope like an adult. The heart beats about 150 times per minute. In addition, the fetal nervous system also gradually develops, producing reflex actions such as the stretch reflex and swallowing reflex. The tissues of the eyes and ears also begin to differentiate and work together so that the fetus can hear the mother\’s voice.
Baby nutritional needs
During the four months of pregnancy, maternal nutritional intake is very important for the growth of the baby. The mother needs adequate intake of nutrients such as protein, calcium, iron and folic acid. Protein is the basic component of muscles, bones, skin, hair, etc. in the baby\’s body. Calcium and iron are needed for healthy bone and blood development. Folic acid is a key trace element in preventing developmental malformations of the brain and spinal cord. In the dietary combination of pregnant women, we must not only pay attention to the quantity of nutrients, but also require a moderate combination of various types of food, and avoid excessive intake of salt, sweets, high-fat foods and coffee.
Confirmation of fetal gender
After four months of pregnancy, some pregnant women will want to know the sex of their fetus, but doctors and technological tests will not be performed at this stage. The confirmation of fetal gender can usually be done after the 20th week of pregnancy. It is also assisted by technological methods such as B-ultrasound and amniocentesis. These methods can also assess the health of the fetus and detect the presence of congenital diseases and malformations.
Health care needs during pregnancy
The fourth month of pregnancy is one of the most comfortable stages of pregnancy, but pregnant women still need to strengthen their health care, especially to avoid exposure to harmful substances such as radioactive substances, toxic environments, and hormones. Increase physical exercise and oxygen intake, avoid smoking, drinking and stress, and maintain adequate sleep and adequate rest.
Summary
The baby\’s development standards during the fourth month of pregnancy are very important. It not only affects the condition of the fetus, but also directly affects the smooth delivery and healthy growth of the baby in the later period. During this period, the mother should ensure adequate nutrition and a reasonable diet, and at the same time, pay attention to avoiding the effects of harmful substances and irregular work and rest. The gender of the fetus can only be determined around the 20th week of pregnancy, but reasonable prenatal care can lay a good foundation for the baby\’s health.
