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 (hCG)

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

1st trimester: 0-13 weeks

2nd trimester: 14-26 weeks

3rd 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=jThcEjwLri0

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 for 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