First trimester of pregnancy
Disease Information
Overview
A healthy first trimester is crucial to the normal development of the fetus. The mother-to-be may not be showing much on the outside, but inside her body all the major body organs and systems of the fetus are forming.
As the embryo implants itself into the uterine wall, several developments take place, including:
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Amniotic sac - A sac filled with amniotic fluid, called the amniotic sac, surrounds the fetus throughout the pregnancy. The amniotic fluid is liquid made by the fetus and the amnion (the membrane that covers the fetal side of the placenta) that protects the fetus from injury and helps regulate the temperature of the fetus.
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Placenta - The placenta is an organ shaped like a flat cake that only grows during pregnancy. It attaches to the uterine wall with tiny projections called villi. Fetal blood vessels grow from the umbilical cord into these villi, exchanging nourishment and waste products with the mother's blood. The fetal blood vessels are separated from the mother's blood supply by a thin membrane.
- Umbilical cord - The umbilical cord is a rope-like cord connecting the fetus to the placenta. The umbilical cord contains two arteries and a vein, which carry oxygen and nutrients to the fetus and waste products away from the fetus.
It is during this first trimester that the fetus is most susceptible to damage from substances such as alcohol, drugs, certain medications, and illnesses such as rubella (German measles).
During the first trimester, both the mother's body and the fetus are changing rapidly.
