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Baby’s First Heart Beat: The Development of the Heart

February 11, 2016

The development of the heart is fascinating, but extremely complex. Without the heart survival is nearly impossible. The heart is responsible for pumping blood to the brain, lungs and every other organ, supplying the oxygen they need to function.

Precursor of the Heart: Endocardial Tubes

Precursors to the heart’s development occur 2 weeks after conception. Until now development has been a flurry of rapidly dividing cells that will protect and nourish the baby. While the heart’s final structure is comprised of four chambers and valves, it begins as two separate cords. These cords are called endocardial tubes. Shortly after their formation in week 2, the endocardial tubes fuse together (around day 18 or 19).

First Heart Form: Primitive Heart Tube

The fusion of the two separate tubes creates the tubular or primitive heart tube. This marks the earliest stage of  the heart’s development. The heart develops during the embryonic period, which occurs in week 3 post conception.1 At this stage of pregnancy the embryo is now made up of three layers and implanted in the uterus. The heart is formed in the middle layer, called the mesoderm.

Sound of Joy: The First Heart Beat

Around day 21 after conception the heart begins to beat for the very first time. The heart beat begins spontaneously in the heart muscle fibers. Electrical pulses move throughout the primitive heart tube to begin a life-long duty to sustain other critical organs and the brain. While the heart begins to beat in week 4-5, moms typically won’t be able to hear their baby’s heart beat on an ultrasound until week 9 or 10 and with a stethoscope until week 20. 

Taking Shape: Cardiac Folding & Chamber Formation

Between day 23 and 35 the primitive heart tube elongates, loops twists, and divides to form the four chambers and valves. Each chamber and valve has a different function to support life. The two atria and two ventricles (which make up the four heart chambers) are responsible for receiving oxygen-poor blood and transferring it to the lungs and receiving oxygen-rich blood from the lungs and transferring it out to the rest of the body. The valves control the blood flow to and from the heart chambers.

Prenatal Vitamins with DHA: Support Baby’s Heart Development

Within the first month of pregnancy the foundation for the heart and other organs occurs. It’s important for women who are pregnant or thinking abbot becoming pregnant to practice good nutrition leading up to and during pregnancy.

Taking a daily prenatal vitamin can help cover nutritional gaps. The Prenate® Vitamin Family offers nutritional support for mothers and their babies for every step of pregnancy and after delivery. Ask your doctor if a Prenate® Vitamin is right for you. Click here to learn more about the Prenate® Vitamin Family.

THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. THIS PRODUCT IS NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, CURE OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE.

REFERENCES: 1. Fetal Development: The First Trimester. 2014. Mayo Clinic Website. Retrieved on February 5, 2016 from http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/prenatal-care/art-20045302

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WARNING: Accidental overdose of iron-containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under 6. Keep this product out of reach of children. In case of accidental overdose, call a doctor or poison control center immediately.

WARNING: Ingestion of more than 3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids (such as DHA) per day has been shown to have potential antithrombotic effects, including an increased bleeding time and International Normalized Ratio (INR). Administration of omega-3 fatty acids should be avoided in patients taking anticoagulants and in those known to have an inherited or acquired predisposition to bleeding.

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IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

More Less

WARNING: Accidental overdose of iron-containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under 6. Keep this product out of reach of children. In case of accidental overdose, call a doctor or poison control center immediately.

WARNING: Ingestion of more than 3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids (such as DHA) per day has been shown to have potential antithrombotic effects, including an increased bleeding time and International Normalized Ratio (INR). Administration of omega-3 fatty acids should be avoided in patients taking anticoagulants and in those known to have an inherited or acquired predisposition to bleeding.

This site and its contents are an information resource only, and are neither intended to nor should be used in replacement of your doctor or other prescribing professional’s medical guidance, recommendations or advice. Neither this site nor its information should be used or relied upon for any diagnostic, medical, treatment, nutritional or other purpose. All aspects of pregnancy, including whether pregnancy is right for you, and the nourishment and care of your child, should be made with your doctor and other appropriate medical professional, and in consideration of your and your child’s particular medical history. Avion Pharmaceuticals, LLC (“Avion”) makes no representation, warranty or other undertaking that this site or its information are appropriate for you or your child’s specific needs or issues, and further expressly disclaims all damages, losses, injuries or liability whatsoever incurred or alleged to have been incurred in consequence of your reliance on the information on this site. Avion does not endorse any test, procedure, treatment, remedy, therapy, cure, nutritional regimen, method or other activity or undertaking that you and/or your doctor or other medical professional may elect or recommend. By visiting this site you agree to these terms and conditions and acknowledge that you have read and understand the same. These terms and conditions, together with any information on this site, may be amended, restated or otherwise changed from time to time and at any time by Avion within the sole, absolute and uncontrolled exercise of its discretion. You acknowledge and agree that Avion has no duty or obligation to keep you informed of any amendments to, restatements of or other changes to these terms and conditions or this site, and that you are solely and exclusively responsible for apprising yourself of the same.

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