All About Pregnancy Prenatal Development and Pregnancy Signs

All About Pregnancy Prenatal Development and Pregnancy

Signs that May Mean Pregnancy �Amenorrhea (Missed menstrual cycle) �Nausea �Tiredness �Frequent urination �Swelling or tenderness of the breasts �Skin discoloration �Internal changes

Signs that Mean Pregnancy �Human chorionic gonadotropin (h. CG) �Hormone produced during pregnancy �Fetal heartbeat �Fetal movement �Fetal image �Fetal shape �Uterine contractions �Motion of the uterus

Typical Pregnancy Facts � 38 weeks from the day of conception � 40 -41 weeks from the mother’s last menstrual period � 3 trimesters � 1 st trimester: 0 -13 weeks � 2 nd trimester: 14 -26 weeks � 3 rd trimester: 27 -40 weeks

Who Takes Care of the Mother? �Doctors specialize in many different fields of medical study. �Obstetricians are those who specialize in pregnancy and birth.

The First Visit �During the first visit to the obstetrician, the doctor will do the following things to set a good foundation for the baby: �Gather health history �Complete a full physical exam �Lab work �Give an estimate of the due date �Give advice on health habits to follow during pregnancy Video about the First Visit: https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=j. Thc. Ejw. Lri 0

Factors that Affect the Baby �Three major factors affect the baby’s health �Mother’s Decisions �Mother’s Physical Health �Mother’s Emotional Health

Mother’s Good Decisions �Hygiene practices �Have a dental checkup �Avoid very cold or very hot baths and hot tubs �Wear comfortable clothes with low-heeled shoes �Replace tub baths with showers or sponge baths during the last four to six weeks of pregnancy �Rest and sleep �Eight to nine hours of sleep a night �One 15 - to 30 -minute rest (with or without sleep) during the day

Mother’s Bad Decisions �Smoking �Lower the amount of oxygen to baby �Increases the chance of miscarriage �Increases chance of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) �Drinking �Raise risk for having problems with learning, speech, attention span, language, and hyperactivity. �Increases the risk of miscarriage

Mother’s Physical Health �Healthy weight �Good eating habits �Regular physical activity �Avoid contact sports �Helps strengthen muscles used in delivery �Relieves tension

Why is Nutrition Important? �The baby completely depends on the mother food by the twelfth week. �The baby needs proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins to grow. �Healthy Choices: What to eat during pregnancy Video �Tips: �Drink eight 8 oz. glasses of water per day �Limit your caffeine intake

Mother’s Emotional Health �It is important that a woman be in a relaxed and calm emotional state while pregnant. �When the mother is calm, happy, and relaxed: �Adrenaline level is low �Heartbeat and breathing are slow �Muscles are relaxed �When the mother is stressed and has negative emotions: �Heartbeat increases in mother and baby �Muscle tension increases in mother and baby

Weight Gain During Pregnancy �It is normal to gain between 25 -35 lbs during a pregnancy. �If there are multiple births, expect more weight gain. �Too much or too little weight gain can be harmful to the baby’s development. �Sudden weight gain and unusual swelling are serious conditions that require prompt medical attention

Possible Complications �Congenital Abnormalities �Physical or biochemical problem that developed during the development of the baby in the uterus. �Follow this hyperlink to learn more �Pre-term Birth �Baby is delivered before Week 37 of pregnancy �Miscarriage �A pregnancy ends on its own within the first 20 weeks of birth �Stillbirth �Fetal death occurs after 20 weeks of pregnancy

Other Complications �Ectopic pregnancy in fallopian tubes �Too much amniotic fluid �Too little amniotic fluid �Bleeding in late pregnancy �Placenta abruptio (placenta detaches from uterus) �Placenta previa (placenta over cervix) �Pregnancy-induced hypertension

Monitoring the Baby �Mother is given a blood test given at 12 weeks. �This is known as a triple screen: �measures AFP (alpha-fetoprotein), HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), and estriol (protein found during pregnancy) �screens for neural tube defects, Down syndrome, and severe abnormalities �Other blood tests screen for STIs and gestational diabetes

Monitoring the Baby �Ultrasound produces an image of the fetus inside the womb �checks for structural abnormalities �used at any time �safe and routine

Monitoring the Baby �Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) tests a small sample of the chorion �Used between weeks 10 and 12 �Tests for chromosomal conditions and genetic conditions �Amniocentesis checks amniotic fluid for over 100 congenital problems �cannot be done until the fetus is 15 to 18 weeks old � 99% safe