Pregnancy & Fetal Development

Preparing for Pregnancy

List at least 10 things people need to consider and plan for before having a baby.

Preconception Checklist

Get a complete physicalDiscuss any medical conditionsBe blood-tested for immunityReview job-related hazardsGet a prescription for prenatal vitaminsAssess your eating habitsCut back on caffeine

Have an exercise program Make sure you have medical coverage Be sure your insurance will cover the costs Determine financial needs Find out about company maternal/paternal leave

plans Stop using alcohol, drugs, and nicotine Sleep! Minimize stress Address relationship issues Discuss expectations (care-giving roles, day care,

household duties, etc.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0ZuCilCu3E

Beginning of Menstrual Cycle

• One hormone triggers another starts cycle

• multiple hormones at work – not just estrogen and progesterone.

• Day one: menstruation starts

• Ova starts to mature: hormone activated

Fertile Time • Ova releases: hormone

induced – ovulation around day 14

• Vaginal mucus: changes in thickness - called leucorrhea.

• Sperm cells: live up to five days in the female reproductive tract

• Unfertilized egg lives only 24 hours after release

End of Menstrual Cycle

• After ovulation: uterine lining becomes thicker for fertilized ova implantation

• If ova unfertilized: estrogen and progesterone levels drop and the lining sheds (menstruation)

Sperm Facts• Men produce sperm throughout life• Discovered in 1677 by a Dutchman• About 200 million every ejaculation• Affected by diet• About 1/3 not deformed• Fertilization process discovered 1879• Y sperm swim faster but die more quickly• X sperm are slower but live longer

Ova Facts• Female fetus has all fully-formed ova

she’ll ever have• Born with over a million; down to 300,000

by puberty; down to 30,000 by 30• Largest single cell in female’s body• 15,000 sperm make up size of ovum• Smoking can decrease ova by half

Ovum and Sperm Meet

Quick Quiz

List at least five things you learned about ovulation and/or conception.

Gestation – The period from conception to birth

• Equal thirds of the gestation period– First trimester - months 1 to 3– Second trimester - months 4 to 6– Third trimester - months 7 to 9

Group Activity

Signs You Might Be Pregnant• Swollen and tender breasts• Frequent urination• Fatigue• Nausea or vomiting• Food aversions• Sensitivity to smells• Physical changes• Shortness of breath: need more oxygen• Missed menstrual cycle

Terms to Know• Zygote: Fertilized egg• Morula: Cell division after 4

days • Blastocyst: Ready for

implantation in the uterus• Embryo: Implantation to 8

weeks• Fetus: From 8 weeks to birth

Terms• Placenta - organ formed on the uterine

wall– fetus receives oxygen and nutrients– waste products are removed

• HCG: Human chorionic gonadotropin - hormone secreted by the placenta– detected in pregnancy tests

Terms• Umbilical cord

– the tube connecting the fetus to the placenta• Amniotic fluid

– the watery fluid surrounding a developing fetus in the uterus

• Prenatal– Before birth

• Critical periods – Times during pregnancy when important

growth occurs

Graphic Organizer Trimester Mom Fetus

1st

Month 1

Month 2

(etc.)

You will have one for every trimester.http://www.parents.com/videos/fetal-development.htm

1st Trimester: 1st Month• 1/10 of an inch

long. • The heart, which is

no larger than a poppy seed, is beating

• Arm and leg bumps form

• http://www.parents.com/videos/fetal-development.htm

First Month

1st Trimester: 2nd Month

• ¼ to 1 inch long• Bones begin to form• Heart divided into

right and left chambers.

• Rapid brain development

Two Months

1st Trimester: 3rd Month

• 1 inch long• Nostrils, mouth, lips,

teeth buds and eyelids form

• Fingers and toes are almost complete

• All organs are present

1st Trimester:What’s Happening to Mom?

• Large increase in levels of hormones• Breasts swell and tingle: development

of mammary glands• Frequent urination• Morning sickness• Vaginal discharges may increase• Feelings of fatigue and sleepiness

2nd Trimester: 4th Month

• 3 inches long• Can suck thumb,

swallow and hiccup• Facial features

become clear• May begin to kick

4 months

2nd Trimester: 5th Month • About 6 ½ to 7

inches• Weighs about 4-5

ounces• Hair, eyelashes and

eyebrows appear• Fetus becomes more

active.

2nd Trimester: 6th Month

• Now about 8 – 10 inches and 8-12 ounces

• Fat is deposited under skin, but fetus still looks wrinkled

• Breathing movements begin

• If you talk or sing, he or she can hear you.

• Baby is covered with downy hair called lanugo and a waxy substance called vernix

6 Months

2nd Trimester: What’s Happening to Mom?

• Morning sickness disappears• Constipation and nosebleeds

sometimes occur• Edema - water retention and swelling• Colostrum may come out of the

nipple• Heartburn

3rd Trimester: 7th Month

• 10-12 inches long, weighs 1 ½ to 2 pounds

• Begins pattern of rest and activity

3rd Trimester: 8th Month• Rapid weight gain –

about half a pound per week

• About 2 ½ to 3 pounds• May react to loud

noises with jerking reflex motions

• probably turned head-down in preparation for birth

3rd Trimester: 9th Month• hefty 6 to 9 pounds and

between 19 and 22 inches• crowding makes baby

move around less• Skin becomes smooth as

fat deposits increase• baby acquires disease-

fighting antibodies from mom’s blood

• descends into pelvis ready for birth

3rd Trimester: What’s happening with Mom?• Breasts get ready to produce milk• Braxton-Hicks: False labor where the

uterus tightens and releases. (Rehearsal for labor – starts after 20th week)

• Frequent urination

Anatomy of the Breast

Things to watch for• Pre-eclampsia:

–Pregnancy related form of high blood pressure causing swelling, weight gain and possibly organ damage

• Eclampsia: –Late stages of pregnancy related form

of high blood pressure causing convulsions or coma

Trimester/Months # of phrases # for mom

1st trimesterMonth 1

3 6

Month 2 4Month 3 4

2nd trimesterMonth 4

4 5

Month 5 4Month 6 5

3rd TrimesterMonth 7

2 3

Month 8 4Month 9 5

Labor Signs• Lightening:

– Baby drops into pelvis– Lower belly

• Bloody show:– Release of mucus plug from cervix

• Diarrhea• Ruptured membranes

– Amniotic sac breaks– Leaking fluids

• Contractions

Labor and Delivery• Bradley Method: Natural childbirth using

no drugs• Lamaze Method: Childbirth method using

a particular breathing pattern• LaBoyer Method: Childbirth method

featuring water birth.

Normal Labor Process – Stage 1

• Regular contraction of uterus muscles• Effacement (thinning of cervix)• Dilation (opening of cervix)• Divided into 3 stages:

– Early first-stage labor (0-5 cm dilation)– Late first-stage labor (5-8 cm dilation)– Transition phase (8-10cm dilation)

Normal Labor Process – Stage 2

• cervix is fully dilated • urge to push or bear down• crowning

– top of the head is visible• episiotomy may be performed• baby born

Normal Labor Process – Stage 3

• Placenta detaches uterine wall and is delivered (afterbirth)

• Several contractions may accompany placental expulsion

• Episiotomy and tears are sewn up

Cesarean Section• A method of delivering a baby surgically

by an incision in the abdomen• Reasons to have a C Section:

– Baby is too large, mother’s pelvis is too small

– Cervix is not dilating

– Umbilical cord prolapses

– Excessive bleeding

– Placenta previa

Write

• Explain what you know about the placenta.

• Explain the difference between vaginal birth and cesarean birth.

Normal Weight Gain – 24-30 poundsAverage baby weight at birth 7-8 pounds

Placenta 1-2 pounds

Amniotic fluid 1 ½ - 2 pounds

Increased size of uterus & supporting muscles

2 pounds

Increase in breast tissue 1 pounds

Increase in blood volume 1 ½ - 3 pounds

Increase in fat stores 5 pounds

Increase in body fluids 5-7 pounds

A Healthy Pregnancy• Regular doctor’s visits for:

– Blood pressure, weight, pulse and respiration

– Pelvic measurements– Urine checks for kidney function– Blood tests (anemia, blood type)– Medical history

• Once a month check-ups until 6th or 7th month, then twice a month, then once a week

Critical Factor: Nutrition• Protein for growth• Vitamin A for baby’s eyes• B Vitamins to release food energy, build nervous

system, healthy skin• Vitamin C – healthy teeth and gums, material to hold

cells together• Vitamin D – development of strong bones and teeth• Iron – prevents anemia in the mother and helps baby

build blood supply, stores iron for baby’s first months• Calcium & Phosphorus – health bones and teeth• Best sources to get all needs: lean meats, dairy,

whole grains, fruits and vegetables plus prenatal vitamins

Normal:• Nausea• Sleepiness• Heartburn• Shortness of breath• Varicose veins• Muscle cramps• Lower back pain• Hemorrhoids• Stretch marks

Cause for concern:• Vaginal bleeding• Unusual weight gain• Excessive thirst• Painful urination• Severe abdominal pain• Persistent headaches• Severe vomiting• Fever• Swelling• Blurred vision or dizziness

Complications

• Molar Pregnancy• Miscarriage• Edema (swelling)• Placenta abruptio• Placenta previa

Problems with Pregnancy• Miscarriage – natural ending of a pregnancy

before the fetus could possibly survive• Happens in about 20% of pregnancies• Reasons:

– Abnormal implantation– Fetal abnormalities– Chromosome problems– Infections or nutritional deficiencies

• Stillbirth – the natural ending of a pregnancy after 20 weeks

• http://video.pbs.org/video/1841157252/

“Life’s Greatest Miracle”• After watching the movie, what things

do you understand better about fetal development? Explain with details:

A. 9 or more

B. 7 or 8

C. 5 or 6

D. 4

F. Less than 4 or any amount with no details