Power Points on Pregnancy I learned

Parental Influences: I learned what Teratogen is, it is a toxic agent in the environment that are capable of causing developmental abnormalities or birth defects. I learned about drugs and chemical agents. Social drugs: alcohol, smoking, cocaine, marijuana. Medications: Accutane, thalidomide, Echinacea + St. Johns wart, aspirin, Tylenol, and ibuprofen. Some diseases are: rubella, syphilis, genital herpes, fifth disease, toxoplasmosis, AIDS, chicken pox and CMV. Some other factors are: stress, mercury, rodents, radiation, maternal and paternal age. Prenatal Development: I learned about the reproductive cells, the ovum is female egg cell, it is the largest cell in the human body, it travels to the fallopian tube, fertilization can occur from 10-24 hours. Sperm is the male reproductive cell. Millions are produced, they are shaped like a tadpole, travels through the vagina, cervix, and uterus then into the fallopian tube to fertilize the egg. Fertilization, the joining of the sperm to the egg. The moment of fertilization is conception. I learned about the germinal stage. Zygote is the cell that is formed by the ovum and sperm uniting- the beginning of child development. Blastula is the hollow ball of cells filled with fluid. Outer layer is the umbilical cord, placenta and amnion. The inner layer becomes the baby. The end of stage is 10-12 days long. I learned about the embryonic stage it is about 7 weeks long. Ectoderm is the outer layer, skin and nervous system. Mesoderm is the muscles, blood, and excretory system. Endoderm is digestive system, lungs and glands. The physical growth of this stage is 11/8 long, head is total body length, facial features present and 95% of all body parts are developed. Some facts about the 3rd month are fingers and toes are forming, teeth form under gums, sex organs appear and internal organs start to work. Some facts about the 4 th month are: they are 6 long, mother feels fetal movement, and vocal cords and taste buds form and teeth are formed. The 5th month, one foot in length, weighs to 1 pound and fetus develops rhythm of sleeping and waking. 6th month, fetal eyes open, irregular breathing movements, grasping reflex and fetal hiccups. The 7th month they begin to slowdown in growth, they weigh about 3 pounds and their nervous system can control breathing and swallowing. The 8th month the increase in length to 17 to 18 inches and forms fatty layers under skin for use after birth. And the 9th month they continue to grow, they can turn in head-down position, they lose fuzzy body covering, weight gains slowly and they drop. Stages of Pregnancy: I learned about the first trimester in pregnancy. It is the first to 3 months, menstruation stops, the uterus enlarges, and morning sickness, you go to the bathroom more and your breast

are tender and swollen. The second trimester is 4 to 6 months, you start to show, nipples darken, you can get a dark line on your stomach, you can also get dark patches on your face, you get stretch marks, and you can get Braxton-Hicks contractions. And the last trimester is the third and its from 7 months to 9 months. Your uterus enlarges more, pelvic joints relax, and Braxton-Hicks contractions increases and breasts may secrete colostrum. I learned about the stages of labor, pre-labor the baby drops: and Braxton-hicks increases and become irregular. The average length of labor is 12 hours long, the amniotic sac may rupture, mucous plug may discharged, and your cervix dilates to 10 centimeters. Birth, the average time is 30 minutes to 2 hours, the mother pushes the baby through birth canal and the umbilical cord is clamped. After birth is about 30 minutes, the placenta is delivered and its checked for abnormalities. I learned about complications, one complication is anoxia, the lack of oxygen. The placenta detaches too soon, mother is anemic or smokes, occurs during birth process. The results can be fatal, brain damage, learning disabilities or behavior difficulties. Another complication is unusual birth positions, the baby is breeched (butt first), forceps or suction and posterior presentation facing toward Moms abdomen instead of towards back. I learned about different childbirth methods. One method is Lamaze it was developed in 1950s, trained in breathing techniques, a coach is present, reduces pain, the women f eels in control and usually result in less drugs. Another method is Leboyer, it is a gentle birth, the room is dimly lit, a quiet environment, the baby is placed on womens stomach and the umbilical cord is cut in time. And the last method is birthing centers, it uses techniques from both Lamaze and Leboyer, it has family room, a birthing chair may be used and labor and birth are in the same room.