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. NWhile 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 about

how a child breathes in the womb.

Introduction

The role of the umbilical cord and placenta

Mechanism of intrauterine respiration

Hypoxia

Introduction

Tips for momsThe 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 baby floats 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? Baby 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 of attachment ovum 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. Wherein children's placewill change until the very moment of birth, adapting to the needs

fruit 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.

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.

Mechanism of intrauterine respiration

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 is felt for expectant mother. IN modern world very often in the ultrasound room or during examination in 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.

Born ahead of schedule children are forced to be placed in a special care centercial 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 stays 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!

It is a known fact that before being born, a child spends forty weeks in a woman’s belly. There it grows and develops. His heart begins to beat even when it is called an embryo, and not a fetus. But he cannot breathe like an adult, since he is in a bladder with amniotic fluid in the uterine cavity. But then how does a child breathe in the womb?

How a baby breathes in its mother's belly

In order to grow and develop, all tissues and organs of the child require a large number of oxygen. In a newborn baby and an adult, it enters during breathing. But how does the fetus get oxygen if it cannot breathe before birth?

As soon as the fertilized egg attaches to the inner wall of the uterus, the so-called “baby place” or placenta begins to form in this place. She is connected to the baby using the umbilical cord. The umbilical cord is the vessels that go from the placenta to the baby. After birth, it is cut, but the person is left with his navel, which is located on the stomach, as a keepsake.

The umbilical cord contains two vessels: a vein and an artery. It is with their help that gas exchange occurs in the child’s body. The artery carries oxygen-rich blood. It supplies the fetus, its organs and systems with it. Blood, flowing throughout the baby’s body, not only provides him with oxygen, but also takes away all metabolic products, including carbon dioxide. Through the second vessel, that is, a vein, this blood enters the placenta. This is how a child breathes in the womb until he is born.

In general, the placenta is a unique organ. It performs many functions:

supplies the fetus with oxygen.
prevents the blood of mother and child from mixing. Therefore, the baby may be born with a different blood type.
prevents the penetration of various harmful viruses, bacteria, and fungi into the baby. They cannot penetrate into the child and cause him a disease, which can lead to various developmental pathologies and even intrauterine death.
prevents the penetration of various medicinal substances into the fetus that the mother uses during pregnancy, and which could lead to the birth of a child with various congenital developmental anomalies.

To improve blood circulation in the placenta, doctors recommend that a pregnant woman move more. Although the blood of the fetus and mother never mix in the placenta, oxygen from it can flow to the baby. This is why a woman may faint during pregnancy. This happens especially often in the last months of pregnancy, when the baby is already quite large. Therefore, doctors recommend that a pregnant woman go for a walk with someone.

How does a child breathe in the stomach under conditions of developing hypoxia?

The baby needs oxygen, but a woman’s incorrect behavior during pregnancy can lead to the baby becoming oxygen starved, that is, hypoxia.

The following reasons can lead to a state of hypoxia in a child:

taking certain medications;
drug use;
various stressful situations.

Thus, based on all of the above, we can state that the child in the womb breathes through the placenta and umbilical cord. In order for him to have enough oxygen, a pregnant woman must follow a daily routine and spend more time in the fresh air.

In the womb - video

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 a cure 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. Teach children proper breathing Possible from two years old.

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 is age characteristics, providing the required age regime.

Upper and lower respiratory tract infant 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. It's ok for 1-6 one month old baby, but it is necessary to increase the frequency of inhalations and exhalations to 40-60 times per minute to fully provide the child 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 and 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, there is insufficient ventilation Bottom part lungs, in the second ─ apex, as a result of which congestion syndrome is possible. Mixed type respiratory movements due to the expansion of the chest and movements of the abdominal wall ventilate the lungs in all directions.

Violations

Rhythm or frequency disturbances signal pathologies that may be asymptomatic in infants or are signs of some 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. Sign serious problems Difficulty breathing causes blueness around the mouth, drowsiness, and inability to make sounds. Call urgently ambulance, 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. He calms down nervous system, dilates blood vessels, relieves pain, synthesizes amino acids, promotes breathing.

And further. It turns out that with a strong, loud cry, the baby’s lungs suffer - they literally burst. Infant may scream 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.

The growth and development of a baby in the mother’s womb occurs without the conscious participation of a person, and it is almost impossible to influence this process. Nature has provided everything that the baby needs - he is warm, protected from external influence, receives nutrition and grows together with its “house”. One of the baby’s key needs is oxygen saturation of the blood. In order for the fetus to be provided with life-giving gas, its mother’s body has a whole respiratory system.

Mother-placenta-fetus system

To understand how a baby breathes in the womb, it is important to know that the baby’s respiratory system matures before the seventh month. intrauterine development. Up to 12 weeks, the embryo feeds on the reserves of the yolk sac, and from 13–14 weeks, until the moment of birth, developing fetus feeds and breathes through the placenta. This organ performs many tasks, one of which is to prevent the blood of mother and child from mixing.

The placenta consists of dense villi, deeply rooted in the wall of the uterus. The villi constantly communicate with the uterine vessels, receiving nutrition through them. The baby extracts oxygen from the outside through the hemodynamic (i.e., caused by the movement of blood through the vessels) “mother-placenta-fetus” system. In this case, metabolic products and carbon dioxide molecules are transferred in the opposite direction. This means that in the placenta there are simultaneously two interconnected blood flows - mother and child.

Why does the fetus need oxygen in the womb and how does it get it?

All living organisms on our planet need oxygen to function. This chemical element is transported to every cell through the blood circulation. Oxygen plays key role in the process of biochemical reactions - it oxidizes nutrients supplied by the blood and synthesizes ATP (adenosine triphosphoric acid). ATP is the main supplier of energy in the human body, and without it the life of any creature is impossible.

We get oxygen from the air and in the process of breathing we saturate our blood with it. The fetus, while in the mother's belly, also breathes. In this case, the vital chemical element reaches him through the placenta through the main artery of the umbilical cord. In this way, gas exchange occurs between the body of a woman and her child. At this time, the baby’s respiratory system is being formed, the lungs are just getting ready to perform their main function.

What happens to a child when there is a lack of oxygen?

If the baby in the womb experiences a lack of oxygen, this can cause disturbances in the process of its growth. The main danger is the development of hypoxia - a condition when organs and tissues do not receive enough oxygen. Hypoxia can be chronic, and at first it is compensated by the child’s body’s own resources, then a number of pathologies begin to develop. Among the most severe are disorders of the central nervous system and brain functions. An acute lack of oxygen can cause asphyxia, cause suffocation, and lead to death.

How to provide your baby with the necessary gas?

If the placenta matures in a timely manner, there are no disturbances in the flow in the umbilical vessels - the fetus will be fully provided with oxygen.

Define oxygen starvation the doctor can based on the results of studies - ultrasound, dopplerography, electrocardiography of the fetus, analysis of amniotic fluid. If abnormalities are detected, the doctor prescribes therapy to improve blood circulation or slow down the aging process of the placenta.

Prevention of intrauterine oxygen starvation

To ensure that your baby does not experience a lack of oxygen, it is important to follow the recommendations of the gynecologist. Basic rules that a pregnant woman must follow:

Spend at least two hours a day outdoors. Hiking in the forest, park, and near natural reservoirs is good.
You should not spend a lot of time immobile (unless specifically recommended by a doctor). During movement, the blood is more efficiently saturated with oxygen, and the mother gives the baby the right amount of life-giving gas, the fetus breathes fully.
It is important to periodically ventilate the room, especially before going to bed.
Quit smoking completely and do not be near a smoker.
Regularly visit an obstetrician-gynecologist, take tests, undergo an ultrasound. Timely detection of circulatory disorders or placental abruption and competently prescribed therapy guarantee the absence of negative consequences for a child.

When does the baby begin to breathe through the lungs and how does this happen?

Until the moment of birth, the fetal respiratory organs are only preparing to perform their functions. It is known that the baby inside the fertilized egg makes movements that simulate inhalation and exhalation. At the same time he sniffs amniotic fluid, which do not reach further than the nasopharynx. This process is clearly visible in the video, and it may seem to the mother that the baby is hiccupping.

According to various estimates, the baby’s lungs are finally formed at 34–37 weeks of intrauterine life. By this time, the placenta is aging, its resources are depleted, and by the end of the period it can no longer fully function. The respiratory organs of the fetus are filled with a special substance - surfactant, which is necessary for breathing. The baby will take its first breath only after birth, which can occur at 38–42 weeks of gestation.

How does a baby breathe in his mother's belly? Such questions may arise when you see a pregnant woman. Let's figure it out in order.

Placenta

The question arises: how does a child breathe in the womb, since he swims in water? The placenta provides “transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide.” This unique temporary organ is specially conceived by nature and is formed only for the fetus. The placenta is responsible for the life and nutrition of the embryo; even in cases of lack of nutrients in the mother’s body, it receives them.

The outer membrane of the placenta prevents the blood of mother and baby from mixing. Therefore, the child and mother may not match.

Umbilical cord

Let's consider how a child breathes in the womb with the help of the umbilical cord?

The fetus is connected to the mother's body by the placenta and with the help of vessels that connect to form the umbilical cord. This organ is formed from the 2nd week and increases as it grows. At birth, the umbilical cord is the same length as the overall height of the baby.

The organ is responsible for providing the fetus with all nutrients. The umbilical cord is also responsible for removing products resulting from metabolism.

It is based on two arteries and a vein. These vessels are a tourniquet well protected from rupture and compression. saturated with nutrients and oxygen, it passes through the vein to the fetus, and the waste from the vein enters the placenta, which has the ability to be cleansed. The umbilical cord can bend in different directions and provides a comfortable position for the baby in the mother's womb.

Why fresh air is necessary

To understand what a child breathes in the womb, you need to know that modern medicine strongly recommends that a pregnant woman move more and more actively, breathe clean air and be outside as often as possible.

Oxygen from the mother's blood flows to the fetus, which is why the woman is so sensitive to its lack and may lose consciousness. As a woman, it is better to protect yourself and walk with someone close to you.

The expectant mother should know that oxygen deficiency occurs because the woman leads an incorrect lifestyle. You should exclude from your life during pregnancy:

Alcohol.
Drugs.
Tobacco products.
Stressful situations.
Medicines.

What is he like inside?

Any woman is interested in what a child looks like in the womb as it grows. From the very first weeks of the fetus’s life, all internal organs and systems.

The second month is characterized by the development of the nervous and cardiac systems, the eyes, ears, nose and mouth are determined, as well as the formation of muscles and the spine.

Already from the 16th week, the placenta is functioning, and at the 20th week, the mother can feel the baby’s tremors as he moves or changes his position.

How does a baby breathe in the womb in the 2nd half of pregnancy? There is a rapid pace of development. You can already determine the sex of the baby. He begins to actively gain weight and height, reacts to his mother’s voice, performs his first breathing movements, and his skin thickens.

At week 32, the immune system is formed, which is responsible for the baby’s health after birth.

At the 9th month, he is rapidly gaining weight, and by the 38th week the head drops down, that is, the baby is ready for birth.

In total, 40 weeks are needed for full-fledged pregnancy. Childbirth from 38 to 40 weeks is considered timely, and the newborn weighs about 3 kg or more, with a height of 50 cm.

Now you know how a baby breathes in the womb, and you can safely enjoy your pregnancy!

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