A–Z Glossary

Surfactant

Surfactant is a substance in the lungs that helps keep the air sacs open after birth and increases as pregnancy advances.

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What happens if baby is in distress and management

What happens if baby is in distress and management

What distress means around birth Baby distress is not a single diagnosis. It is a clinical signal that the baby may be under physiological stress and needs prompt assessment. Before birth, clinicians may describe fetal distress or, more precisely, nonreassuring fetal status when monitoring suggests possible impaired oxygen delivery or reduced fetal reserve. After birth, […]

Baby development month by month during pregnancy

Baby development month by month during pregnancy

Understanding pregnancy months and gestational age Pregnancy is usually dated from the first day of the last menstrual period, not from the exact day of conception. Because ovulation and fertilization typically occur about two weeks later in a 28-day cycle, a person who is “6 weeks pregnant” may have an embryo that has been developing […]

Month 6 of pregnancy: fetal growth and second trimester changes

Month 6 of pregnancy: fetal growth and second trimester changes

Where month 6 fits in pregnancy dating Pregnancy is usually dated from the first day of the last menstrual period, so the embryo or fetus is biologically about two weeks younger than the gestational age used in clinical care. Month 6 generally corresponds to the late second trimester, often around weeks 23 through 27. Exact […]

Month 8 of pregnancy: final growth and preparing for labor

Month 8 of pregnancy: final growth and preparing for labor

Where month 8 fits in the third trimester Month 8 is usually considered part of the later third trimester, approximately weeks 32 through 35 or 36. Gestational dating is more precise by weeks than by months, so your estimated due date, ultrasound dating, and clinical history are more useful than the month label alone. At […]

Baby size and fetal development milestones by trimester

Baby size and fetal development milestones by trimester

Understanding pregnancy dating and fetal size measurements Pregnancy is usually dated from the first day of the last menstrual period, even though conception typically occurs about two weeks later. This is why a person who is described as 8 weeks pregnant has usually had about 6 weeks of embryonic or fetal growth. Early ultrasound can […]

Key milestones and baby development by trimester

Key milestones and baby development by trimester

Why trimester milestones matter Trimester milestones help organize a complex biological process into clinically meaningful phases. In the earliest weeks, the embryo establishes essential body plans and organs. By mid-pregnancy, fetal structures are large enough for detailed assessment, and many parents begin to feel movement. In late pregnancy, the fetus gains weight, refines neurologic function, […]