Warm Up

1. Warm Up • List 5 positive health behaviors that a person should practice each day. Circle any that you think would also benefit a developing fetus.

2. The Beginning of the Life Cycle: Fetal Development Lesson 34

3. Objectives • Explain fetal development from conception through pregnancy and birth • Explain the importance of prenatal care and proper nutrition in promoting optimal health fro both the baby and the mother • Identify the harmful effects certain substances have on the fetus, such as tobacco, alcohol and other drugs • Explain how to access health services early in pregnancy

4. Conception • The entire human body begins as one microscopic cell is formed by the union of an egg cell (‘ovum’ from the female) and a sperm (from the male) • Fertilization: union of a male sperm cell and a female egg cell • Also referred to as conception • Once conception occurs, the resulting cell is called a zygote

5. Implantation • The zygote attaches to the uterine wall • As it travels does the fallopian tubes, the zygote divides many times to form a cluster of cells • The cluster of cells that develop between the third and eighth weeks of pregnancy is called an embryo • After the eighth week the developing group of cells is called a fetus

6. Embryonic Growth • The cells continue to divide, forming three tissue layers that later become various body systems • One becomes the respiratory ad digestive systems • A second layer develops into muscles, bones, blood vessels and skin • A third layer forms the nervous system, sense organs and mouth

7. Embryonic Growth Continued… • As the embryo grows and develops important structures form outside of it • Amniotic Sac • A thin, fluid filled membrane that surrounds and protects the developing embryo • Insulates the embryo from temperature changes • Umbilical Cord • Ropelike structure that connects the embryo and the mother’s placenta • Placenta • Thick, blood-rich tissue that lines the walls of the uterus during pregnancy and nourishes the embryo

8. Blood supply to mother and embryo are kept separate • However, materials diffuse from one blood supply to the other through the umbilical cord • Nutrients and oxygen pass from the mother’s blood to the embryo • Wastes from the embryo diffuse into the mother’s blood and are excreted from the mother’s body along with her wastes • Substances that are harmful to the developing embryo can pass through the umbilical cord as well • Tobacco, alcohol and drugs must be avoided! No amount is safe!

9. Fetal Development • Time from conception to birth is usually around 9 full months • 9 months divided into trimesters, each 3 months long

10. The First Trimester (0-14 weeks)

11. The First Trimester

12. The Second Trimester (15-28 weeks)

13. Second Trimester

14. The Third Trimester (29 weeks to birth)

15. Third Trimester

16. Preparing for Birth • In the final weeks of pregnancy, the fetus becomes more and more crowded in the uterus, putting increased demands on the mother’s body • Baby’s head moves to the lower part of the uterus (MOST of the time) • Many females experience weak, irregular muscular contractions of the uterus weeks or months before the baby is born • These become regular, stronger and closer together as time approaches for the baby to be born • Stronger contractions induce labor • Final stage of pregnancy in which the uterus contracts, pushing the baby out of the mother’s body

17. Stages of Birth: Leaving the Womb

18. Prenatal Care • Steps that a pregnant female can take to provide for her own health and the health of her baby • Should begins as soon as pregnancy is confirmed

19. Decision 1: Who Will Provide Your Prenatal Care? • Obstetrician: doctor who specialized in the are of female and her developing child • Certified Nurse-Midwife: advanced practical nurse who specializes in prenatal care and delivering babies

20. Decision 2: Where Will the Birth Take Place • Hospital • In the US most births take place here • Home • Birthing Center • Facility in which women with low-risk pregnancies can deliver their babies in a homelike setting • Regardless of where the birth takes place, a doctor or certified nurse-midwife should be present

21. Prenatal Visits • Complete physical exam of mother • Blood tests • Pelvic exam • Purpose is to identify problems so that they can be corrected or treated as early as possible • Monitor the mother’s weight and blood pressure • Baby viewed with an ultrasound machine

22. Proper Nutrition During Pregnancy • Calcium: • helps build strong bones and teeth • Helps build healthy nerves and muscles • Important in developing heart rhythm • Protein • Helps form muscle and most other tissue • Iron • Makes red blood cells • Supplies oxygen to cells • Vitamin A • Aids in cell and bone growth • Aids in eye development • Vitamin B Complex • Aids in forming the nervous system • Folic Acid • Critical part of spinal fluid • Helps close the tube that contains the central nervous system • Neural tube forms 17-30 days after conception, so defects can occur before a female even knows she is pregnant. Health care providers suggest that all females of childbearing age consume 400-600 micrograms of folic acid daily to prevent these defects

23. Weight Gain • Only 300 additional calories per day needed • Females at a healthy pre-pregnancy weight should gain only between 25-35 pounds during pregnancy • Overweight individuals will have to gain less • Underweight individuals should gain more • Physical activity can be beneficial during pregnancy • Make sure to consult with your doctor before going on any exercise program

24. Fetal Health: Dangers • Tobacco • Accounts for up to 30% of low birth weight babies • 14% of premature births • 10% of infant deaths • Can affect growth, mental development and behavior of child until 11 years old! • Low birth weight, which is a leading cause of death for children under 12 months • These risks apply to pregnant women exposed to second hand smoke as well • Alcohol • Alcohol passes through umbilical cord to fetus • Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS): group of alcohol-related birth defects that includes both physical and mental problems • Serious consequences of FAS: mental retardation, learning disabilities, behavior problems, slowed growth, physical deformities, heart defects • No amount of alcohol is safe • Medicines and Other Drugs • Illegal drugs pose a serious health risk to mother and fetus • Birth defects • Miscarriage • Baby born addicted • Over the counter medication should only be taken with the approval of a doctor

25. Environmental Hazards • Lead • Linked to miscarriages • Low birth weight • Mental disabilities • Behavior problems • Found in paint of house built before 1978 and old pipes may leach it into tap water • Smog • Air pollution • Linked to birth defects • Low birth weight • Premature birth • Stillbirth • Infant death • Greatest risk occurs during the second month of pregnancy when most organs and facial features develop • Radiation • Type found in X-rays can affects fetal growth • Mental retardation • Cat litter • Cat feces may contain a parasite that can cause toxoplasmosis • Miscarriage • Premature labor • Other health problems in a newborn • Pregnant females should wash hands after petting a cat, have others clean the litter box and wear gloves if gardening where cats may be present

26. Complications During Pregnancy • Miscarriage • Spontaneous expulsion of a fetus that occurs before the twentieth week of a pregnancy • Still birth • Dead fetus expelled from the body after the twentieth week • Ectopic Pregnancy • Result when the zygote implants in the fallopian tube, abdomen, ovary or cervix • Fetus can’t get nourishment it needs to grow normally • Threat to pregnant female’s life • Number one cause of death of females in the first trimester of pregnancy • Treatment is removal of fetus from the female’s body • Preeclampsia • Also called toxemia • Can prevent the placenta from getting enough blood • Condition may result in low fetal birth weight and problems for mother • Symptoms: • High blood pressure • Swelling • Large amount of protein in the urine • Treatment • Reducing blood pressure through bed rest or medicine • Hospitalization may be necessary