Week 1

After the egg is successfully fertilized, the ovum starts forming. Before you go to the doctor’s, you’ll need to note the date of your last period.

Week 2
Conception starts here; you may experience mood swings.

Week 3
The embryo attaches to the uterus. Congratulations, you’re pregnant!

Week 4
The placenta, embryo, and amniotic sac continue developing.

Week 5
The embryo is growing fast; the heart and circulatory system are developing. Your hCG hormone levels are high enough to confirm that you’re pregnant through a home test.

Week 6
The fetal heartbeat can be detected through an ultrasound. You feel tired and may want to sleep a lot during the daytime.

Week 7
The left atrium and right ventricles have formed in the heart, which beats regularly at 150 beats per second. The early signs of pregnancy can be felt such as nausea, vomiting, and weakness.

Week 8
The embryo is growing at a rate of about 1mm per day and the organs have formed. It’s recommended to get your first ultrasound.

Week 9
The embryo grows into a fetus. The uterus becomes as big as a fist and starts to press against the bladder, causing frequent urination.

Week 10
The fetus measures up to 40mm and weighs up to 10g. You may experience mood swings due to hormones.

Week 11
The fetus starts sucking, swallowing, and kicking inside the womb. Organs such as the liver, kidneys, intestine, brain, and lungs start functioning. You can hear the fetal heartbeat with some assistance. Because the fetus’ bones will develop quickly from here on, you should consume more calcium.

Week 12
The fetus is about 6cm long. Its fingers and toes have completely separated. From this week on, you should get regular prenatal examinations, including blood tests and ultrasounds.

Week 13
Congratulations, you’ve made it through your first trimester – the most precarious months of pregnancy. From now on, the fetus will grow at an accelerated rate and you’ll need to increase the amount of nutrients you consume.

Week 14
The fetus is 8-9cm long. The hair and eyebrows have grown out. Your uterus will expand more and more, causing the belly to bulge. Your pregnancy is starting to show.

Week 15
The fetus measures 10-12cm long and weighs 50g. The ears develop, allowing the fetus to hear Mom for the first time. There will an obvious bulge 7.6-10cm below your belly button.

Week 16
The fetus’ limbs have formed completely and it will start sucking its own fingers. The screening for Down’s syndrome can be done.

Week 17
The fetus is growing fast, gaining weight rapidly, and starting to twist and kick within the womb. You may experience nasal congestion, nosebleeds, and prominent veins on your limbs. Don’t worry; these are caused by hormonal changes.

Week 18
The fetus is practicing its breathing by squeezing amniotic fluid out of its lungs. Your uterus will continue to grow, causing your center of gravity
to constantly change. You’ll need to adjust yourself frequently to find a comfortable standing and sleeping position.

Week 19
The fetus’ hearing continues to develop. You and your partner should talk to it often to help it recognize your voices.

Week 20
The fetus’ limbs have developed completely. The hair is also growing fast and the kidneys start producing urine. Congratulations! You are halfway through pregnancy.

Week 21
A film of fat called vernix will start covering the fetus, providing protection for its skin. As the growing uterus starts pressing against your lungs, you may find yourself a bit short of breath.

Week 22
The fetus’ eyebrows and eyelids can be clearly seen. Nails have formed on its tiny fingers. Pregnancy discomfort starts to recede; this phase is considered the most pleasant.

Week 23
The fetus’ five sense organs are detectable and its retinas have formed, granting it limited vision. You may experience increased vaginal discharge, which is normal during the second trimester. If the discharge is sticky or yellow, consult your doctor.

Week 24
Fetal movement becomes frequent, active, and regular. Prenatal care for this week should include a blood glucose test.

Week 25
The taste buds on the fetus’ tongue start to form. You may experience dry eyes and sensitivity to light; this is normal.

Week 26
The fetus’ hearing has developed completely and it may be more sensitive to sound. Your belly is growing bigger and bigger. You may experience slight pain in your waist and abdomen as well as numbness in your legs. Your partner can help by massaging them to relieve swelling and discomfort.

Week 27
Fetal sleep patterns are becoming increasingly regular. During late pregnancy, your uterus is closer to the edge of your ribs. As the fetus grows, you may experience more back and leg pain.

Week 28
The fetus is able to turn around in the uterus. From this week on, you should get prenatal examinations every other week. It’s also recommended to attend a prenatal class to prepare for delivery and breastfeeding.

Week 29
Your fetus’ vision has fully developed. If any light comes through the uterine wall, the fetus will open its eyes and turn its head towards the light. You may experience occasional false contractions; this is normal.

Week 30
The fetus responds more and more to sound. Your belly is so big that you can’t see your feet, and it becomes more and more difficult to move. You need regular prenatal exams.

Week 31
The fetus’ lungs and digestive system are almost fully-formed. The base of your uterus has risen to the diaphragm, leading to shortness of breath.

Week 32
The fetus starts to practice urinating. This week, your prenatal care should include routine examinations and an ultrasound.

Week 33
The fetus measures around 48cm and weights about 2kg. The development of its reproductive organs is almost complete. You may need to urinate more frequently, as the head of the fetus is descending and pressing against the bladder.

Week 34
The head of the fetus has descended to the pelvis; it’s getting ready for birth. It’s time for a routine prenatal examination.

Week 35
The fetus’ lungs and central nervous system are fully developed. It continues to grow and descend. You may feel heavy in the belly, slight pain in your waist, numbness in the muscles behind the pelvis, and difficulty moving.

Week 36
The fetus’ circulatory, respiratory, digestive, and reproductive organs are fully developed. Time for another routine prenatal examination.

Week 37
By the end of this week, the fetus can be considered a full-term baby. Prenatal care for this week includes routine examinations and an ultrasound.

Week 38
The fetus is fully-developed and can survive outside of the womb. During this week, you should pay close attention to your body’s changes and prepare for delivery. There will be another routine examination.

Week 39
The fetus’ weight is increasing and the vernix will help regulate its body temperature. You may experience irregular contractions, a sign that your body is ready for delivery. And you guessed it – yet another routine examination.

Week 40
Before the birth, you’ll get one last examination. When the baby is ready to come out, you’ll experience stronger and stronger contractions. When they happen every five minutes and last one minute each, get to the hospital for delivery. Congratulations! You have a brand-new baby.

Say What?
Here are some of the prenatal tests you’ll encounter and what they screen for.

PT/PTT: Both of these tests determine how quickly your blood clots, which is important for the doctor to know before any potential surgery.

Blood group (ABO+RH): This test determines your blood type (O, A, B, or AB) and Rh antigen (Rh-positive or Rh-negative). If an Rh-negative mother carries a Rh-positive baby, it can result in a serious condition called hemolytic disease in which the red blood cells break down. This can be prevented by giving Rh-negative mothers RhoGAM after delivery.

Screening for Down’s syndrome: The first screening is usually done in the first trimester, between 11 and 13 weeks of pregnancy. The results are given as a percentage of likelihood that you’ll have a baby with Down’s syndrome. If the likelihood is high, the doctor will order a diagnostic test to confirm the results.

Fetal heart doppler: This monitors fetal heartbeat, which varies in rate depending on the phase of the pregnancy.

Group B streptococcus screening: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a normal bacterium found in the intestinal tract; around 30 percent of women have it. However, it can cause complications like sepsis, pneumonia, or meningitis when transmitted from mother to baby. This screening determines whether the mother is a GBS carrier.

Special thanks to New Century Women and Children’s Hospital for providing the timeline.

This article originally appeared on page 12-14 of the beijingkids Health Guide 2014. To get your free copy, email distribution@truerun.com or view it online at Issuu.

Photo: Phalinn, Nogwater (flickr)

The 2013-2014 beijingkids Health Guide is the latest resource for Beijing families dedicated to providing information on family health care, maternity, eating and breathing safety, mental health, emergency care and traditional Chinese Medicine. Articles from the guide will be featured twice a week on our website. Find the full version here.

A recent study from The Chinese Society for Environmental Sciences revealed that the average incidence of asthma amongst children in China is a staggering 6.8% and rising. With asthma now being stated as the leading cause of hospitalization amongst infants in China, expats need to be well prepared for the pollution that they and their families are inevitably going to be exposed to in Beijing.

Dealing with Beijing’s pollution can be a big enough challenge for anyone. A dry cough, congested throat and feeling short of breath are common complaints for Beijing residents. But how does one cope when you add asthma to all of these problems? Dr. Pauline Tan, Chief of Pediatrics at Vista Medical Clinic, believes asthma is becoming increasingly common here in the capital. “It’s definitely gotten worse over time,” she announces. “Even in the seven years I’ve been at Vista, I can see a larger number of children coming to the clinic seeking treatment for asthma or related breathing issues.”

For families looking to protect their kid(s) from the Beijing smog she offers the following tips: “The first thing to be aware of is the triggers of asthma,” she advises. “Contrary to popular belief, exercising is not actually the biggest trigger for children. Nor are emotionally stressful situations,” she adds. “As they move into adulthood, exercise becomes more and more of a factor, but for very young children it has minimal impact,” she points out, adding that “Viral infections are what parents should watch out for the most as these can very often induce asthma in children. If your child is sick you should be keep him as far away as possible from places harboring a lot of bacteria, do not send him into school and most importantly, do not smoke in his presence. Studies have shown that children whose parents smoke are at a particularly heightened risk to developing asthma.”

Dean Phelan is 23 year old Irishman living in Beijing who suffers from asthma. He describes his asthma as quiet severe at home in Ireland but says that it has been a lot worse since coming to Beijing. “As an English teacher I have to avoid running around with the children during playtime completely if it’s a very polluted day. I can’t do it without gasping for breath,” he says. “Even running for a bus or climbing a flight of stairs was completely out of the question for me this winter when the pollution was at an all time high.” Phelan also stated that during the winter over 1/3 of his class was absent because of the pollution. “A lot of the parents actually took their children out of Beijing and back to their hometowns just to get them away from the pollution.” he says.

Dr. Tan explains that pollution levels are generally higher in the winter because there is more coal being burned, especially indoors. “People are actually exposed to the majority of pollutants indoors,” she explains. “If you think about it logically it’s where people spend most of their time.”

Dr. Tan advises Beijing resident to buy air purifiers and make sure their houses are properly ventilated. “Many homes in Beijing use gas cookers so this is particularly important. You should also avoid carpets, stuffed toys and any other items that can contain hypo allergens, and I would advise patients to shower in the evenings before they go to bed, especially girls with long hair,” she adds. “You collect so much debris and pollutants throughout the day and it can cling to your skin and hair. It’s better to wash it away before you go to bed so that you aren’t being exposed to it in your sleep.”

And although masks can help reduce pollution intake, they can be somewhat impractical because people just aren’t committed to wearing them. “Of the 24 children in my class, only one wears a mask on a daily basis and these will include many children that come in coughing and wheezing on a regular basis,” says Dean.

Wheezing is cited as one of the main symptoms of asthma and will often become more predominant during the onset of an asthma attack. Abdominal restriction (which can cause chest pain) is another telltale sign, as the abdomen contracts in an effort to draw in more oxygen. According to Dr. Tan, in these types of situations “everyone should have an asthma action plan.”

Asthma can be divided into either intermittent or persistent cases. “For the intermittent cases we provide patients with what we call inter-control medication,” she explains. “The most common thing prescribed for these patients is Salbutamol which taken by an inhaler.”

Persistent cases, the more serious of the two, are defined as a patient having two or more hospitalizations as a result of asthma in one month. “Maintenance meds are prescribed for these types of patients,” Tan elaborated. “A course of steroids is what is mostly used. The word “steroids” will often scare patients and parents,” she says, “but trust me they are necessary severe cases.”

In cases where the patients prescribed medication isn’t effective enough, patients should be brought to the hospital ASAP. “In some cases I’ve seen patients take two or three rounds of a nebulizer before being responsive,” Dr. Tan explains. “I know some parents who bring their child to a clinic everyday to get a dose of a nebulizer,” she adds. “If a child really needs it that much, you can rent the nebulizer from a hospital. Check with your local clinic.”

Dean says that aside from his doctor in Ireland telling him it was a bad idea to go to Beijing in the first place, he prescribed him with steroids before he left, in anticipation of the pollution affecting him badly. “It is actually worse than I was expecting” he confesses. “I take my reliever a lot more over here than I did at home and I have a supply of steroids at the ready just in case.” Phelan said that for him it’s about knowing what his own personal triggers were and what works best for him. “For me, Vicks Vaporub helps a lot,” he says. “It’s best to just stock up on what you need before you come over because you won’t always be able to find it over here. I’ve had friends bring over at least three tubs of Vicks for me since I got here.”

He also cites the lack of smoking ban in China as a problem for him. “Shisha pipes are definitely a personal trigger of mine. When I’m going out I would actually take the smoke levels of a bar into consideration, especially if they sell shisha pipes. Any incidents I have had over here have occurred after being exposed to smoke from shisha pipes. I just can’t be around them,” he says.

When asked if she had ever advised any patients to leave Beijing, Dr. Tan responds by saying that “she would give them the option. You can’t say it to a patient outright,” she said, “and it depends on their priorities because many parents have very high-paid jobs here. I would however, present the facts to them and tell them what it would mean for them and their family’s health if they were to stay in Beijing.”

Dean says that he “could never live in Beijing permanently. I can already see how badly it has affected my health,” he declares.

Every city has its ups and downs, but in Beijing’s case there is little one say to downplay the severity of its air pollution. It can be bad as people say it is and is a serious consideration for people who suffer from breathing problems. No matter how long you are committed staying in Beijing you should be proactive and practical about protecting your lungs while you’re here.

This article originally appeared on page 40-41 of the beijingkids Health Guide.

Click here to see the Health Guide in full.

Some of the articles covering the seven areas (family health care, maternity, eating and breathing safety, mental health, emergency care and traditional Chinese Medicine) within the guide will be featured twice a week on our website.

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