Learning About Pregnancy and Childbirth

Unit 4, Lesson 21National Health Standards 1.1, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.9, 2.10, 3.3, 3.4, 8.1

Conception and Heredity Conception

Also called fertilization Union of an ovum and a sperm

Hereditypassing of characteristics from biological parents to children

Chromosomes Thread-like structures that carry genes

Gene Unit of genetic material

Females 3 pair of identical chromosomes

Males One pair is not made of identical chromosomes

Sex chromosomes One pair in each sex called this Females – XX Males - XY

Sex of child determined by male Inherited characteristics

2 genes for each trait Dominant

Gene that overrides the expression of the other gene

Recessive Gene overridden by the other gene

Genetic counseling Trained professional interprets medical

information concerning genetics to prospective parents

Amniocentesis Needle inserted through the uterus to extract

fluid from the amniotic sac Amniotic sac – pouch of fluid surrounding the

fetus Cells analyzed to detect birth defects; sex can

also be revealed

Ultrasound High-frequency sound waves used to provide

image of developing fetus Physician analyzes image

Confirm pregnancy Confirm pregnancy within the uterus

Ectopic pregnancy – when baby attaches to Fallopian tubes

Assess size and growth of fetus Takes place in 1st trimester Done for safety of mom and baby

Pregnancy Embryo

Name given to developing baby through the end of the 2nd month

Fetus Name given to the developing baby from the 9th

week after conception until birth

Placenta Organ that anchors the embryo to the uterus

Umbilical cord Rope-like structure connecting the embryo to

the placenta Mother’s body carries nutrients and oxygen to

and waste away from embryo

1st Trimester At end of 1st month

Embryo has heartbeat, two-lobed brain and a spinal cord

At end of 2nd month Recognizable as a human and is

called a fetus Began arm, leg, fingers, ears,

and toes formation

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By end of trimester Heart has 4 chambers

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2nd Trimester

By end trimester Fingernails, toenails, eyebrows, and eyelashes

formed Teeth begin to form, lips appear, and head hair

begins to grow Movement can be felt

Can bend its arms and make a fist Can be detected by a stethoscope

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3rd Trimester If baby born at beginning of 7th month, 20%

chance of survival Optimum development occurs at about 40

weeks after conception Premature birth is any baby born before the

37th week of pregnancy

Baby born between 37 and 40 weeks is considered full term

Usually 19 – 21 inches long Weigh between 6 and 9 pounds

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Low-birth weight Birth weight less than 5.5 pounds

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Presence of severe birth defects in babies born

to mothers who drink alcohol while pregnant

Miscarriage Natural ending of a pregnancy before the baby is

developed enough to survive outside the womb

Childbirth Process of childbirth – LABOR 3 stages

Stage 1 – Dilation of cervix Longest stage 2 to many hours Widening of the cervix occurs – 8-10 centimeters

Stage 2 – Delivery of baby Begins with completely dilated cervix and ends with

birth of the baby Crowning – appearance of baby’s head Umbilical cord cut when baby out of canal and

breathing on its own

Stage 3 – Delivery of the placenta Should occur without physician’s help About 20 minutes after delivery of baby

Apgar scale

Rating of baby’s characteristics at 1, 5, and 10 minutes after birth

Heart rate, color, respiratory effort, and reaction to sucking

Score 7-10 – normal 4-7 – may need some resuscitative measures 3 and lower – require immediate resuscitative

measures

Post-partum period Span of time after birth of baby Mother’s body changes Breasts secrete hormone to begin milk

secretion of milk Mom’s milk helps babies have fewer respiratory

illnesses, skin disorders, constipation, and diarrhea

Multiple births Identical twins

Develop from same ovum and sperm One fertilized ovum divides at an

early stage of development and two cells divide and develop separately

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Fraternal Twins Two ova released from an

ovary and are fertilized at the same time by different sperm

May or may not be same sex and may or may not look alike

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3 children at once – triplets 4 children at once – quadruplets 5 children at once – quintuplets 6 children at once – sextuplets More than 3 children at once rare

Complications during pregnancy and childbirth

Rh incompatibility Mom’s Rh is positive and developing baby’s is

negative Toxemia of pregnancy

Rise in mom’s blood pressure, swelling, and leakage of protein into the urine

Can result in death of mom or baby

Cesarean section Surgical incision to remove baby from mother’s

uterus Stillbirth

Fully developed baby is born dead caused by a defect, medical condition of the

baby or the mother