Pregnancy

2. Conception and Implantation
• Fertilization (Conception): Union of male sperm cell
and female egg cell. . At this moment, the genetic
makeup is complete, including the sex of the baby
• Once occurs, then known as zygote. It starts dividing
as it travels through fallopian tube. After a few days, it
attaches to uterine wall (implantation).
• Between 3-8 weeks, these cluster of cells are known as
a embryo.
• After 8th week, the developing cells are called a fetus.

3. Embryonic Growth
• As embryo grows, it continues to divide
forming 3 layers that eventually become body
systems.
– 1 layer: respiratory & digestive
– 2nd layer: muscles, bones, blood vessels, skin
– 3rd layer: nervous system, sense organs, and
mouth.

4. 2 important structures outside embryo:
• Amniotic Sac:
-thin fluid filled membrane
that surrounds and protects
embryo
-insulates embryo from
temperature changes
• Umbilical Cord: ropelike
structure that connects
embryo to mother’s
placenta.
-Nutrients and oxygen pass
through (along w/ harmful
substances through cord).
Blood supplies are kept
separate. Also waste
products from embryo pass
through cord back to
mother for normal waste
product disposal.
Placenta: thick, blood rich
tissue that lines uterine walls
during pregnancy.

5. Development: First Trimester
• 0-2 weeks: spinal cord
grows faster than body.
Brain, ears, and arms
begin to form, and heart
forms and begins to
beat.
Picture above: 4 weeks.
Just when pregnancy test would
show positive.
• 3-8 weeks: 1”: mouth,
nostrils, eyelids, hands,
fingers, feet and toes.
Nervous system responds
and cardiovascular
system functional.
Picture: 8 weeks (about ½”)

6. First Trimester: 0-14 weeks
• 9-14 weeks: human
profile- sex organs,
fingernails/toenails.
Can make crying motion
(no sound) and may
suck thumb.
Picture: 12 weeks. Sex organs
maybe clear for Doctor to
determine gender.

7. Second Trimester
• 15-20 weeks: eyes can
blink, body begins to
grow, head growth rate
slows, limbs reaching
normal proportions,
eyebrows and eyelashes
develop. Fetus can
grasp and kick. About 4” in size and weighing around
3 ounces.

8. Second Trimester: 15-28 weeks
• 21-28 weeks: hear
conversations, regular
cycle of waking &
sleeping, weight increases
rapidly.
- About 12” long and
about 1 pound.
- Quickening: when your
baby is moving around
- May survive outside the
womb after 24 weeks
with special medical care.
Picture: 20 weeks.
The baby can suck a thumb,
yawn, stretch, and make faces.

9. Ultrasound
Use of sound waves to take a moving
picture of a fetus in the uterus. Allows
you to monitor baby’s growth,
determine sex, and listen to heart beat.
Especially important before delivery, to
make sure baby is in correct position.

10. Third Trimester: 29-birth
• 29 to 40: fetus able to
use all 5 senses and
water able to pass
through bladder. Brain
scans have shown that
some fetuses dream.
• Approximately 266 days after
conception, weighing 6-9 pounds…birth
Fat starts to form under baby’s
skin to help fill out wrinkles and
gaining over half the weight,
Mother: a yellowish fluid will
start leaking from your breasts.
That is colostrum, and it happens
to get your breasts ready for
making milk. These are full
immune cells, antibodies, and
proteins.
Full “term” delivery any
time after 40 weeks.

11. Stages of Birth
• Head of fetus moves
closer to bottom of
uterus.
• Mother starts having
weak, irregular
muscular contractions
(weeks to months
before)
• Labor: final stage where
uterus contracts and
pushes baby out.

12. Leaving the womb
• Stage 1:
Dilation.
Contractions of
uterus cause
cervix to dilate.
Contractions
break the
amniotic sac.
• Stage 2: Pass
through birth
canal.
Cervix fully dilated
and baby is pushed
through the birth
canal.
Doctors clean and
suck out mucus
plug and baby cries
to clear lungs of
amniotic fluid.
• Stage 3: Afterbirth
Placenta still
attached to
umbilical cord.
Contractions cont.
until placenta (now
called afterbirth) is
pushed out.
Dad or Dr. cuts the
umbilical cord to
separate baby from
afterbirth.

13. Ch 19 Lesson 2
Prenatal Care

14. Prenatal care
• Steps to take provide health for mother and
her baby
• First decision: find the right obstetrician
• Second: where you plan on delivering your
baby (birthing center, hospital, home with
midwife).
• Planning of prenatal visits: physical to monitor
weight & BP, ultrasounds, etc

15. Proper Nutrition
• Increased amounts of these nutrients:
-Calcium: help builds strong bones & teeth, healthy
nerves & muscles, and developing heart rhythm.
-Protein: helps form muscle and tissues
-Iron: red blood cells and oxygen to cells.
-Vitamin A: aids in cell and bone growth, and eye
development
-Vitamin B: forms nervous system
-1 more important…next slide

16. Folate
• Folic Acid: spinal fluid and helps close tube
that contains CNS (about 17-30 days after
conception). Most neural tube birth defects
occur before female is aware.
Recommended that women consume at
least 400-600 micrograms daily.

17. Caffeine /Diets
• Caffeine present in coffee, tea, chocolate, cola,
etc. can affect fetus.
• High intake has been linked to increased risk
of birth defects and low birth weight.
• Weight Reduction diets during pregnancy can
also harm fetus.

18. Dangerous Substances
• Tobacco- estimated 30% of low birth weight
babies, premature births or infant deaths
accounted for due to pregnant smoker. Also
believed to affect growth, mental and
behavior development.
• Alcohol- Causes fetal alcohol syndrome. Can
cause mental retardation, learning disabilities,
behavior problems, and physical defects.
Alcohol passes

19. Drugs
• Obviously NO illegal Drugs.
• Medications or herbal supplements- even
OTCs need to be carefully assessed and gotten
approval from medical doctor or pharmacist

20. Environmental Hazards
• Lead- linked to miscarriages, low birth weight,
mental disabilities, and behavior problem. Be
careful of childhood toys.
• Smog- air pollution linked to birth defects,
premature birth, stillbirth, LBW, and infant death.
• Radiation- Xrays can affect fetal growth, and
cause mental retardation.
• Cat Litter- cat feces may contain parasites that
cause toxoplasmosis. Can result in miscarriage,
premature birth, and health problems of
newborn.

21. Complications
• Miscarriage- spontaneous expulsion of fetus
before the 20th week.
• Stillbirth- dead fetus expelled after 20th week.
• Ectopic pregnancy- zygote implants anywhere
other than uterus. #1 cause of death of pregnant
women in first trimester.
• Preeclampsia (toxemia)-prevents placenta from
getting enough blood. Symptoms: HBP, swelling,
and protein in urine. Treatment: meds and bed
rest