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26 Weeks of Fetal Development

Fetal Heartbeat and Maternal Emotions

• At 26 weeks, the fetal heartbeat can be heard by placing an ear on the mother's abdomen. The fetal heart beats twice as fast as the mother's.

• The mother's emotional state directly affects her heart rate and blood pressure; calmness leads to a slower heartbeat, while stress increases both metrics.

• Stress in the mother can lead to low birth weight or premature birth, and prolonged anxiety may affect the child's long-term health, including chronic conditions like coronary diseases or diabetes.

Fetal Movements and Diaphragm Function

• Mothers will feel daily movements from their fetus, which may include involuntary contractions known as hiccups.

• Unlike adults, fetal hiccups are silent due to the absence of air in their lungs; they occur because the diaphragm is still developing.

Lung Development in Fetuses

• During gestation, fetal lungs are filled with amniotic fluid and do not function for breathing; oxygen is supplied through maternal blood via the placenta.

• Most fetuses reach full term without issues but some may develop complications such as a diaphragmatic hernia that can hinder lung development.

Surgical Interventions for Complications

• A diaphragmatic hernia can cause intestines to grow into the lung cavity, preventing proper lung development at birth.

• Professor Kiproz Bicolides has pioneered a unique intrauterine surgical technique using an inflatable balloon to reposition intestines for normal lung growth.

Intrauterine Surgery Process