BIO 30 FINAL - Pregnancy and Birth

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary and concepts related to pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum experiences, aiding in the understanding of maternal and fetal developments.

pregnancy duration

40 weeks or nine months and

is divided into 3 thirteen-week segments

called trimesters

is divided into 3 thirteen-week segments

called trimesters

Commercial Pregnancy test

work by testing for presence of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) in urine as early as 7 days after conception

Trimester

One of the three segments of a pregnancy, each lasting approximately 13 weeks.

• First Trimester (0-13 weeks)

• Second trimester. begins with 4th month of pregnancy

• Third Trimester month 7-9

First trimester

3 wks: 1/12 inch ling, size of pencil point, grayish, crescent shaped

• Heart starts beating 21 days

  Placenta begins to develop at start if third wk which supplies nutrients & oxygen and removes Waste from embryo and fetus

• 9-10 wks can detect heartbeat with special stethoscope

• 3 inch fetus at end of first trimester

Second trimester

• Begins 4th month 

  • Gonadal differentiation can be seen

  • External body parts distinguished  fingernails, eyelashes, eyebrows

  • Bones develop/harden

  • Fetus begins to kick/move, sleep wake cycle, responds to sound 

  • fetus is cover in vernix 

    • White waxy substance coats/protect skin 

Second Trimester - Changes in Host

• Most enjoyable time 

  • Nausea / morning sickness may have passed

  • Fetus not large enough to cause discomfort 

  • During 4th month host usually feels quickening (first fetal movements), 

• Host may experience increase appetite, heart burn, constipation, and hemorrhoids

• Braxton-Ricks contractions - practice for labor - random contraction 

Third Trimester

The final stage of pregnancy, from week 28 until birth. During this period, the fetus continues to grow rapidly, organs mature, and the mother may experience increased physical discomfort as the body prepares for labor.

Third Trimester - Changes in Host

• becomes increasingly uncomfortable
  • Walking, sitting, breathing, and sleeping become difficult
  • Heartburn, indigestion, hemorrhoids, constipation, headaches, leg cramps, and back pain
  • May develop linea nigra – dark line that runs from navel to pubis
  • 4-7% develop gestational diabetes
  – People experience a number of
  emotions:
  • Joy, fear, and anxiety

  
  

Order of fetal developmental stages

Zygote - Morula - Blastocyst - Fetus

Zygote

The fertilized egg that develops into an embryo.

• forms in one of the fallopian tubes

• First Trimester (0-13 weeks)

Blastocyst

A structure formed in the early development of mammals, consisting of an inner cell mass that will become the embryo and an outer cell layer that will develop into the placenta.

• 3 to 4 days after fertilization morula enters uterus & becomes a

blastocyst by day 6:

Placenta

Disk shaped temporary organ attached to the wall of uterus to nourish the fetus during pregnancy
• Fetus depends on the placenta or delivery of nutrients, oxygen, and elimination of waste, CO2

• Fetus attached to the placenta by umbilical cord

Ultrasound

uses high frequency sound waves to provide a picture of the fetus

• may identify sex, due date, structural irregularities

Amniocentesis

A medical procedure used to obtain amniotic fluid by inserting a needle into the amniotic sac, typically performed to test for genetic disorders and fetal health.

• done week 14-18

• Amniotic fluid surrounds fetus

• fetal cells from amniotic fluid are cultured for chromosomal analysis

Chronic Villus Sampling (CVS)

A prenatal test that involves taking a sample of tissue from the placenta to test for genetic abnormalities, typically performed between weeks 10 and 13 of pregnancy.

• can be done as early as 9 wks

Hospital Births

• 98% of births in U.S. occur in hospital

Vernix

A white, waxy substance that coats and protects the skin of the fetus.

Colostrum

A thick, yellowish fluid produced by the mammary glands in late pregnancy and the first few days after birth, rich in antibodies.

Epidural

A form of anesthesia used during labor that numbs the lower half of the body.

• must stay awake and alert during labor

• left in place throughout labor

• typically has no effects on the newborn

Lightening/Engagement

The movement of the fetus into the lower part of the uterus, usually occurring a few weeks before labor begins

• head of the fetus drops into pelvis until it is positioned against the pelvic bone

Braxton-Hicks

painless uterine contractions that are irregular and occur during pregnancy, indicating delivery is close, often referred to as practice contractions that prepare the uterus for labor.

Stages of Labor

3 Stages

• stage 1 - beginning of uterine contractions, dilation of cervix, and lasts until cervix is fully dilated (10 cm)

• stage 2 - birth of the baby & begins at 10 cm dilation

• stage 3 - delivery of placenta or afterbirth

Stage 1 of Labor

beginning of uterine contractions, dilation of cervix, and lasts until cervix is fully dilated (10 cm)

• longest stage - 8-14 hrs for firth birth ; 4-6 hrs for subsequent births

• Two Phases

  • Latent Phase

  • Active Phase

Laten Phase

the early part of Stage 1 of labor, characterized by mild contractions and gradual cervical dilation up to 3-4 cm.

• one of two phases in stage 1 of labor

Active Phase

the later part of Stage 1 of labor, marked by stronger, more frequent contractions and rapid cervical dilation from 4 cm to 10 cm.

Pain During Labor

-Uterine contractions
-Pressure on cervix
-Pressure on bladder & bowels
-Stretching of birth canal & vagina

Stage 2 of Labor - 20 min to 3hrs

the phase of labor where the baby is born, involving strong contractions and lasting from full dilation (10 cm) until the delivery of the baby.

Crowning

1st sight of baby’s head from birth canal

• in 2nd stage of labor

Cesarean Section or C-Section

A surgical procedure used to deliver a baby through incisions made in the abdomen and uterus, often performed when a vaginal delivery would pose risks to the mother or child.

• Possible reasons

  • fetus is improperly aligned

  • fetal head to large

  • multiple fetuses

  • fetal distress or umbilical cord is compressed

  • certain medical conditions such as active herpes type 2 infection

• can make horizontal or vertical incisions

Third Stage of Labor - 30 min/less

the final phase of labor, involving delivery of the placenta after the baby is born.

• uterine contraction stop briefly following birth of baby

• begin again in regular intervals until placenta is separated and expelled

  • Postpartum - uterus begins to return to original size

Lactation

Breast/mammary glands form secrete and eject milk

• starting 1-3 days after birth

Colostrum

thin, watery fluid rich in proteins, low in sugars and fat and high in infection-fighting antibodies

• breast produce this between birth and beginning of milk production

Loch

bloody discharge from re-growth of uterine lining

Episiotomy

An incision made in the perineum during childbirth to facilitate delivery.

• made late in 1st stage of labor

  • Necessary if:

    • baby’s head to large

    • baby in distress or in a irregular position

    • need for forceps in delivery

• no clear evidence that it will move labor faster/prevent tearing

Lochia

The vaginal discharge following childbirth, consisting of blood, mucus, and uterine tissue.

Crowning

The point during childbirth when the baby's head can be seen at the vaginal opening.

Postpartum depression (PPD)

A type of mood disorder that can affect women after childbirth, characterized by extreme sadness and fatigue.