Normal fetal weight gain during pregnancy

As gestational age increases, the mother's stomach will get bigger and bigger. This indicates that the fetus continues to grow and develop in the womb. However, have you ever wondered whether the fetal weight in the womb is ideal for gestational age? The following is an explanation of the ideal fetal weight that needs to be understood.

The ideal fetal weight according to gestational age

The length and weight of one fetus and another must be different even though the age of the fetus is fairly the same.

This is because the level of growth and development of each baby can be different because it is influenced by many factors.

There are various factors that affect the development of the baby in the womb, from food intake to your own health.

So, don't worry too much first if the ultrasound results during pregnancy show that your fetus's weight is smaller or greater.

The following is an estimate or estimate of the ideal fetal length and weight according to its development in the womb:

Development of fetal weight in the first trimester

The development of the estimated ideal fetal weight in the first trimester is as follows:

Week 1 to week 6

During the first two weeks after conception, you may not feel significant changes.

This is because the fetus's body is still not formed at all in the early weeks of the first trimester of pregnancy.

New formation starts at week 4 to week 5 after conception (when your periods stop).

Even at this time, your future baby is still an embryo the size of a sesame seed. One sesame seed weighs about 0.00364 grams (gr).

However, at that age the embryo already has the embryo layer of the skin, nerves, vital organs (liver, heart, lungs and intestines), eyes and ears, and the circulatory system, although not yet perfect.

Week 7 to week 9

Around weeks 7 to 8, the ideal fetal weight is about 1 gram with a body length of 1.6 centimeters (cm).

This weight gain occurs because the fetus has begun to develop limbs, head, and facial parts.

Launching from the Mayo Clinic page, in the 7th week, the fetus's brain and face have generally begun to form.

The forerunner of the arm also begins to grow, starting with the emergence of small shoots resembling a paddle.

Then at the 8th week of pregnancy, the fingers begin to form, accompanied by small parts of the fetal ears, eyes, lips and nose.

Arriving at the 9th week, the fetal arm has grown to form the elbow. Not only that, the toes and eyelids of the fetus are more developed and visible.

The size of the baby's head is also bigger at this gestational age. That is why, the size of the fetus's body weight has increased compared to the previous week.

At this 9th week, the estimated ideal fetal weight is about 2 grams with a fetal length of about 2.3 cm due to the development of other limbs.

Week 10 to week 12

Entering the 10th week of fetal development, the baby's head is round and there are already limbs.

The baby's head will become rounder and fingers will be more perfect at this 10th week.

This development will be followed by a more pronounced development of the outer ear and umbilical cord.

In this period, the length of the fetus reaches 3.1 cm with a normal fetal weight of about 4 grams.

At the 11th week of fetal development, the baby's face is fully formed, but new teeth will grow.

The genitals will also form into the penis or clitoris and labia majora.

Interestingly, at the age of 11 weeks, the baby's face looks wider with the right proportions of the five senses.

This is evidenced by the two eyes that have been separated in their respective positions, the eyelids together, and the position of the ears that are already lower.

The body weight of the fetus has now doubled, which is about 7-8 grams with a length of 4.1 centimeters.

At the 12th week of pregnancy, the nails will grow and the estimated fetal length will be 5.4 cm with an ideal fetal weight of about 14 grams.

Fetal weight development in the second trimester

The development of the estimated ideal fetal weight in the second trimester is as follows:

Week 13 to week 15

Entering the second trimester of pregnancy, the fetus becomes more real. At week 13, the fetus has started to excrete urine into the amniotic sac so that it mixes with the amniotic fluid.

The bones and skeleton of the baby have started to harden, especially in the head and long bones. Then the fetal skin, which is still thin and transparent, will soon thicken.

Currently, the length of the baby is about 7.4 cm with an ideal fetal weight of about 23 grams. At week 14, the neck and lower legs will be more pronounced.

Red blood cells form the spleen in the fetus and reproductive organs will be visible in this week or the next few weeks.

That means, the sex of the baby can be seen at 14 weeks of gestation or a few weeks after this.

So, when you do an ultrasound, know how to read the ultrasound results so you can clearly identify the shape and appearance of the fetus in the womb.

The length of the baby at week 14 is 8.7 cm with a normal fetal weight of approximately 43 grams.

Meanwhile, when entering fetal development in the 15th week, the scalp hair pattern will be formed and the length of the fetus is about 10.1 cm with an ideal fetal weight of about 70 grams.

The development of the baby's body bones will still continue in the 15th week of pregnancy, accompanied by hair patterns on the scalp that begin to form.

Week 16 to week 19

The development of the fetus in the 16th week, the baby's head is upright and the ear formation is almost complete.

The movement of the fetal limb can already be detected by ultrasound, but it is still too little to be felt.

The estimated fetal length at week 16 is about 11.6 cm with an ideal fetal weight of 100 grams.

Then at the 17th week, the fetal toenails have appeared and he becomes more active with the heart organ that can pump about 100 liters of blood per day.

The length of the fetus at 17 weeks of gestation is about 13 cm with an estimated normal fetal weight of about 140 grams.

At the 18th week, the shape of the ears starts to protrude from the sides of the head, the eyes are facing forward, and the baby's digestion has started to work.

The length of the fetus is about 14.2 cm with a fetal weight of 190-200 grams.

Then at week 19, the baby's growth begins to slow down but the skin vernix caseosa (an oil layer that protects the baby's skin from blisters) has formed.

The length of the fetus is about 15.3 cm with an estimated normal fetal weight of about 240 g.

Week 20 to week 22

By the 20th week, you may be able to feel fetal movement. The fetus has also started sleeping and waking up regularly.

You can do an ultrasound to see the gender of the baby more clearly at this gestational age. The length of the fetus is about 16.4 cm with an estimated normal fetal weight of about 300 grams.

Entering the 21st week, the scalp is covered with fine hair (lanugo) and it is possible that the baby's ability to suck is also more developed.

The length of the fetus this week is about 25.6 cm and the ideal fetal weight is approximately 360 grams.

At the 22nd week of fetal development, eyebrow hair has started to grow and the testes in male fetuses have started to fall. The length of the baby is currently about 27.8 cm and the weight of the fetus is about 430 grams.

Week 23 to week 27

At 23 weeks of fetal development, the fetus already has the ability to move its eyes and hiccups in the womb.

The hiccups experienced by the fetus sometimes make the mother feel like there is a jolt. The length of the fetus is now about 28.9 cm with a fetal weight of 500 grams.

Then at the 24th week of fetal development, fingerprints on the palms and soles of the feet have also been formed. In addition, the fetus's skin begins to wrinkle and turn pink due to the presence of capillaries.

The length of the fetus is currently about 300 cm with a fetal weight of 600 gr.

The baby's ability to respond to sound to movement occurs at the 25th week of development accompanied by changes in body length 34.6 cm and fetal weight reaching 660 grams.

The development of the fetus at the 26th week of gestation is marked by the eyes that have begun to partially open, quoting the Louisiana Department of Health.

The size of the fetal body length at the 26th week of pregnancy has reached 35.6 cm with a normal fetal weight of approximately 760-820 grams.

Furthermore, at week 27, the development of the lungs increases (expanding and contracting movements), the fetal nerves can work properly, and the skin becomes smoother.

At the 27th week of pregnancy, the length of the fetus is about 36.6 cm and the estimated ideal fetal weight should be around 875 grams.

Development of fetal weight in the third trimester

The development of the estimated ideal fetal weight in the third trimester is as follows:

Week 28

After the development of the lungs has increased, by the third trimester of pregnancy at 28 weeks, the central nervous system is able to direct rhythmic breathing movements and control the body.

This is also accompanied by the growth of the fetus's eyelashes and partially open eyelids.

Estimated measurements of the length and weight of the fetus are currently around 37.6 cm and 1005 grams or have reached 1 kilogram (kg).

Week 29 and week 30

At week 29 and week 30, fetal movements progressively develop such as kicking, stretching, and making grasping movements.

In addition, the hair on the head has grown properly and red blood cells have formed in the fetal bone marrow.

Estimates of normal fetal length and weight at 29 weeks were 38.6 cm and 1.2 kg.

Meanwhile, the estimated size of the fetal body length at the 30th week of pregnancy is approximately 39.9 cm and 1.3 kg.

Week 31 to week 33

By week 31 to week 33, the fetus has largely completed its development and continues to gain weight rapidly.

Subsequently, the bones in the fetus will harden, but the skull bones are still soft and supple.

The fetus has also developed the pupil's ability to respond to light. Estimates of the length and weight of the ideal fetus have reached 41.1 cm and 1.5 kg.

Entered at week 33, the estimated fetal body length was 42.4 cm with a normal fetal weight of 1.7 kg.

Week 34 to week 36

Furthermore, the development of the fetal nails and skin is perfect. This causes the fetus's body to become fat so that it begins to show creases.

This condition can make the mother's uterus full and may make it difficult for the fetus to move.

All of these things usually take place between the 34th and 36th week of pregnancy.

Furthermore, the length of 45 cm and the fetal weight of about 2.1 kg at gestation is at the 34th week.

Arriving at 35 weeks, the length of the fetus reaches 46.2 cm and normal body weight should be approximately 2.4 kg.

Meanwhile, at 36 weeks of gestation, the fetus's body should have reached a length of 47.4 cm with an estimated normal weight of 2.6 kg.

Week 37 to week 39

To prepare for birth, the fetus's head will begin to descend into the pelvic area and the circumference of the head is almost the same as the fetal belly.

Most babies will also shed all the lanugo (fine hair) on their bodies and fat will continue to build up throughout the fetus's body to keep them warm after birth.

This development occurs at week 37 to week 39. At 37 weeks, the estimated normal fetal weight was 2.9 kg with a body length of 48.4 cm.

Entering the 38th week, the size of the baby's body length which is around 49.8 kg with normal body weight should be 3.1 kg.

Furthermore, at the 39th week of pregnancy, the estimated body length of the baby is 50.7 cm and normal body weight is about 3.3 kg.

Week 40 to week 42

Arriving at the 40th week of fetal development or some mothers give birth at 42 weeks, the fetus is in perfect shape with a size that is ready to be born.

The size of the baby's body length at the 40th week of pregnancy to the 42nd week ranges from 51.2-51.7 cm with an estimated fetal weight ranging from 3.5-3.67 kg.

The seconds to birth are indeed an exciting time for pregnant women. You can give birth normally or by caesarean section later.

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