Written by Gayathri Lakshminarayanan
The embryo develops into a fetus after the eleventh week of pregnancy, and it is after that stage that the digestive system of the baby proliferates. The fetal receives all the nutrients it requires from the mother during pregnancy.
The baby does not require a fully functioning digestive system until born. But, the moment after the birth, they need a fully backed up, properly working digestive system. When the baby gets the first feed after birth, the digestive system begins to function by digesting the milk and segregating the waste into wees and poos. Get ready for nappy time. In this article, let us discuss more about the early stages of your baby’s digestive system and all that you need to know as they grow up. Let us get started.
In This Article
The digestive tract begins to develop from the fifth week of pregnancy. A long tube runs along the underside of the embryo, which gets stronger between the eighth and tenth weeks. Until the thirteenth week of pregnancy, the fetus receives the required nutrients from the placenta.
After the thirteenth week, the fetus starts to swallow the amniotic fluid. The waste from any fluid the baby swallows is extracted through the placenta. Until your baby is born, the digestive system does not begin functioning because the necessary nutrients for growth and development are infused into his bloodstream through the placenta.
There are three primary parts in your baby’s digestive system – Foregut, Midgut, and Hindgut.
The Foregut consists of Esophagus, Stomach, Liver, and Pancreas. All of these begin to develop during the seventh week of pregnancy.
The Midgut consists of small intestines and two-thirds of large intestines.
The Hindgut consists of the rest of the large intestine, Rectum, and Anus.
The baby does not use the digestive system until he is born, but that does not stop the organs from developing rapidly. The amniotic fluid swallowed by the baby is excreted through the urinary system. Consuming the amniotic liquid helps maintain adequate fluid in the amniotic sac.
If there is too much amniotic fluid, the baby is not swallowing enough fluid, and there might be some problems associated with the digestive tract.
If there is too little amniotic fluid, it indicates that the baby’s urinary system is not functioning correctly by returning the fluid to the sac.
Swallowing is just a practice, and the baby becomes an expert at it even if there is no actual food to move.
Your baby’s first bowel movement begins when they are just born. As already mentioned, the baby starts swallowing the amniotic fluid by the thirteenth week, resulting in the formation of a substance known as Meconium in the intestines.
Meconium accumulates amniotic fluid, skin cells, mucus, and other substances the baby might have swallowed in the womb. The Meconium stays inside the baby until his birth as the baby’s first bowel movement.
[Read : Second Trimester Anomaly Scan For Your Growing Baby]
Ultrasound is the best option to oversee the growth of the fetus inside the womb. Make sure you take an ultrasound scan between 18 to 21 weeks of pregnancy. With the help of the scan, the sonographer will get an idea about the baby’s digestive development.
In sporadic instances, the digestive system might not develop correctly. The level of fluid surrounding the baby could indicate either of the following two conditions:
Your doctor might also prescribe further procedures to ensure things are fine with the mother and the baby.
[Read : Polyhydramnios- Excessive Amniotic Fluid During Pregnancy]
Once your baby begins feeding after birth, the digestive system will start processing the food and excretes the waste. The following table gives a complete glimpse of the fetus’s digestive milestones to be achieved.
Pregnancy Week | Milestone |
5 Weeks | Digestive Tube starts forming. |
7 Weeks | The stomach, Esophagus, liver, and pancreas develops. |
8 to 10 Weeks | The digestive tube becomes strong by developing cells before becoming a tube. |
7 to 11 Weeks | Loops and Villi are formed, and the intestine occupies the umbilical cord. |
11 Weeks | Rectum and Anus develop. |
12 Weeks | The intestine moves from the umbilical cord to the abdomen. |
13 Weeks | Baby can suck and swallow amniotic fluid, and meconium begins to form in the gut. |
26 Weeks | Low-level absorption begins. |
28 Weeks until Birth | Absorption and Peristalsis develop more efficiently. |
Pregnancy and childbirth are unique yet the most crucial phases of everyone’s life. As parents, the development of the digestive system of the babies is always a serious concern and most commonly consulted with the doctor. We have discussed all you need to know to fully understand the baby’s digestive system from conception to birth. Ensure you get your ultrasound checkup at regular intervals to determine if the digestive parts are developing correctly—happy pregnancy and parenting.
[Read : Low Amniotic Fluid (Oligohydramnios) During Pregnancy]
The embryo develops three layers of cells during the early weeks of pregnancy. The innermost layer, also known as the endoderm, is the digestive system of babies during prenatal development.
The digestive system of the fetus begins to develop during the seventh week of pregnancy.
The fetus’s gastrointestinal tract is fully developed by 20 weeks of pregnancy. However, it does not start functioning until birth.
Read Also: Fetal Development – Know Everything About Your Baby’s Genitals and Urinary System
Gayathri’s passion for writing had its foundation at the very early stages of her life when she was on her college editorial board and also won several awards for writing events and book review competitions. She combines her corporate experience with her writing skills and her experience as a homemaker makes her an empathetic contributor in the parenting domain . Her shift from full-time accounting professional to a homemaker gave her career a new direction.Read more.
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