In the first months of fetal life, 6-7 million eggs are formed and placed in the ovaries of the female fetus. Then, from about the fifth month onwards, many of them are destroyed, so that their number gradually decreases, resulting in approximately two million eggs being present at birth. At the age of 12, approximately 300-400.000 eggs remain. Subsequently, the destruction of a large number of eggs continues naturally, resulting in approximately 30-40.000 eggs at the age of 37, and all of them are gone by the age of 45-50. During the reproductive age, i.e. from 12 (puberty) to 50 (menopause), one egg matures in each cycle (or more in the case of multiple pregnancy) and is ready for fertilization. If it is not fertilized within about 24 hours, it will be destroyed because that is its normal lifespan. However, if it is fertilized, it will enter another life program and live 80-100 years, which is what its destiny has in store for it.
The fact that eggs are laid in a woman's ovaries in the first weeks of fetal life and are not formed new ones, explains why a woman's fertility decreases with age and ends definitively with menopause. This is also a fundamental difference from a man whose sperm are formed in the testicles throughout his life.
This difference between man and woman is pointed out by Aristophanes in Lysistrata, who writes: <<But a woman's time is short, even this one is not touched, no one wants to marry her>>.
It seems that this is a provision of nature that children are not born to old mothers.
From about the age of twelve (puberty), an egg begins to mature in each monthly cycle and prepares for fertilization. It is released from the ovary and, entering the fallopian tube, meets the sperm and the two unite into one (fertilization).
When a mature egg meets a sperm and the fertilized egg (zygote) is formed, the life of a new independent organism with its own characteristics begins.
At that moment, it has been determined whether it will be a boy or a girl, whether it will have A or B blood type, whether it will have black or blue eyes, and all those traits that characterize an independent organism, which is simply hosted within its mother's womb. It is independent of its mother's organism, it is not part of her body.
The fetal blood does not mix with the mother's blood, they simply approach each other in the placenta, where, through a membrane, the exchange of essential elements necessary for the development of the fetus (oxygen, nutrients, etc.) takes place.
A few hours after the union of the egg with the sperm, the cell begins to multiply. One becomes two, two becomes four, four becomes eight, and so on. Already on the third day, it is in the moridium stage, that is, a set of 12-16 cells, a formation that resembles a berry, hence the name moridium. Then, a cavity is formed in the center of the moridium filled with fluid and we are now talking about the blastocyst stage. Meanwhile, during these 5-6 days from fertilization (which occurs at the distal end of the fallopian tube) it has traveled the entire length of the fallopian tube and has reached the uterine cavity, where it finds soil suitably prepared for settling (implantation, nesting) where it continues to develop until the end of life. The lining of the uterine cavity (endometrium) has been properly prepared by the influence of hormones.
At the blastocyst stage (second week) cells divide into groups (until that stage all cells are the same, pluripotent or totipotent). Each group is instructed to form a tissue of the body. There are about 200 different tissues in our body. This process, which begins at the end of the second week, lasts up to 10-12η week where the formation of all organs (organogenesis) has finished and from there on they simply mature until the end of pregnancy at 38η week (40η from the last period) when childbirth occurs.
At the end of 4th At the end of the sixth week, the fetus is 4-5 millimeters long and has a functioning heart. At the end of the sixth week, the fetus is 22-24 millimeters long.
The first weeks after conception are the period of the most dynamic phase of human development.
If the fetus were to grow at the same rate as in the first weeks of pregnancy, it would weigh 1,5 tons at birth.
At the end of the 12th At week 10, the fetal head length is approximately five to six centimeters.
With modern technology, especially ultrasound, we have the ability to monitor the intrauterine development of the fetus throughout pregnancy.
Pregnancy is an exceptional period in a woman's life and requires special attention to her lifestyle so as not to adversely affect the fetus. Intrauterine life is very important for the fetus because it is then that the foundations of its physical, as well as mental and spiritual health are laid. Poor nutrition, alcohol, smoking, drugs, medications and all kinds of abuse, as well as anxiety, stress, and distress, directly affect the fetus, since all these situations bring about hormonal changes in the woman's body, which are transferred to the placenta and from there to the child through the bloodstream (endorphins, oxytocin, adrenaline, catecholamines).
The ancient Greeks were aware of this and were pioneers here too. The Pythagorean philosophers advised couples to approach childbearing with prudence and by observing the rules of health, as well as by avoiding excessive food, bad habits and drunkenness. (Iamlichus, Pythagorean Life, 211). Plato (Laws, 792-E) writes: One must pay special attention to women during their pregnancy, so that the pregnant woman does not live with many pleasures, nor with passions, nor with sorrows, but lives during this time, honoring it with joy, with gentleness and a good mood.
The Chinese count age from conception, since the child is already nine months old when born. But in the Christian Orthodox calendar we also find the Conception of many Saints celebrated.
Bibliography
- Williams Obstetrics 19th Edition 1993, Appleton & Lange
- Alexander Tsiaras. From Conception to Birth
3.C. Baraklis. Proverbs and sayings, Hestia Bookstore, Tenth edition
photo Greek Radio FL
