Ch. 11: Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Parenthood

nuclear family

female-male couple with children

extended families

group of related individuals, across several generations, live in close proximity

artificial insemination

male ejaculates, semen is collected, and then placed into the vagina or directly into the uterus

in vitro fertilizations (IVF)

ova are mixed with sperm cells in a petri dish and several days later embryos are re-implanted in the uterus

intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)

sperm cell is directly injected into a single egg cell using a microscope

gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT)

harvested ova are immediately re-introduced into the fallopian tube and exposed to concentrated, specially treated sperm cells inside the fallopian tube

selective reduction

selectively aborting implantations so that only one or two fetuses are carried to term

preimplantation screening

done in conjunction with fertility problems or high risk of heritable disease

DNA microarray testing

utilizes ultra-sensitive computer chips which respond to the presence of very small quantities of DNA that pass from the fetus to the mother’s bloodstream

sampling of fetal cells

done for individuals where there is a family history in the father or mother of heritable disorders

gestational carrier

a woman is hired to carry an embryo with genetic material that is not her own

foster parenting

temporary arrangement, often of an older child, but may extend to a permanent arrangement.

international adoption

infant is adopted from another country, typically a developing economy

open adoption

biological parent or parents remain in contact with the adoptive family, even though they have renounced legal rights of custody

genetic sexual attraction (GSA)

theorized attraction between biological siblings who did not grow up together

westermarck effect

sexual attraction does not occur in individuals who grow up together

fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)

physiological manifestations of wide-set eyes, mental retardation, and/or attention problems, and other deficits

gestational age/last menstrual period (LMP)

counted from the date the last period began

placenta

complex organ which will sustain and nourish the embryo

umbilical cord

develops between the placenta and the fetus

amniotic sac

envelopes the embryo and fetus

amniotic fluid

secreted by the placenta that fills the amniotic sac, fetus floats in this, allowing fetus to move

morning sickness

nausea or actual vomiting that occurs when the embryo is 2 to 8 weeks old

teratogens

all substances that can interfere with embryonic development

amniocentesis

method of testing for fetal disorders

quickening

mother first feels the fetus moving

Rh incompatibility

if the father is Rh-positive and the mother is Rh-negative, an incompatibility results in which the mother’s immune system may react to the Rh-positive fetus

preeclampsia

potentially fatal but easily treated complication marked by elevated blood pressure and protein in the urine

surfactants

facilitate the fetus in reducing the surface tension of the fluid in the lungs

linea nigra

line, several millimeters wide, running from the navel to the mons

eclampsia

life-threatening and sudden onset of seizures

fraternal or dizygotic twins (DZ)

occur when two egg cells are fertilized and implanted

monozygotic twins (MZ)

occur when a zygote splits into two discrete entities sharing the same DNA

couvade syndrome

vicarious experiencing by a woman’s partner of many of the physiological symptoms of pregnancy

doula

labor coach, who helps with relaxation

midwifery

includes all aspects the delivery that would be performed by an obstetrician

parturition

technical term for childbirth, called labor

engagement/lightening

initial lowering of the fetus in the uterus accompanied by Braxton-Hicks contractions

colostrum

thick, yellow liquid which has less fat and sugar but is high in protein and immune system antibodies

milk let-down reflex

triggered by the infant sucking on a nipple

assistive reproductive technologies (ARTs)

a broad range of techniques to help with fertility issues, including artificial insemination, IVF, ICSI, and GIFT

zygote

cell formed after fertilization occurs from which an embryo develops

conceptus

the zygote as it develops in the first few days after fertilization

Lamaze method

method to reduce pain in childbirth through education, mindful focusing techniques, and breathing

natural childbirth

childbirth outside of a medical care setting, or incorporating nonmedical professionals and techniques in a medical setting

lochia

a vaginal discharge that may continue for several weeks after birth, containing blood, mucus, and uterine tissue

postpartum depression (PPD)

clinically significant depression, which occurs in approximately 10%-15% of women after childbirth