Developmental Psychology Chapter 4

countdown

couple of weeks before delivery

-dropping
-increased pelvic pressure can impact mom's gait
-harder and harder to move the baby yourself
-indigestion, diarrhea, lower back pain
-water breaking

is every birth experience the same?

no, every experience is unique

dropping/lightning

the baby is upside down, and its head presses against the cervix, which can cause spotting

Braxton-Hicks contractions

-false labor
-first uterine contractions
-can start 6 months before delivery
-not debilitating
-can be relieved by walking, while real labor cannot be

prostaglandins

hormones that stimulate uterine contractions

-main culprits when women experience cramps during their period

oxytocin

a pituitary hormone that stimulates labor contractions

term

the typical period of time between conception and the birth of a baby

blood right before birth

increased pelvic pressure from the fetus may rupture blood vessels in the birth canal so that blood appears in vaginal secretions

water breaking

-not super common (10% of women)
-the mucous tissue that plugged the cervix and protected the uterus from infection becomes dislodged
-amniotic fluid is released
-could be leaking/feel like you have to pee, can be a rush, can not happen at all
-time to go to the hospital because the baby's protective environment has been breached

what happens if your water doesn't break?

the doctor will have to rupture the amniotic sac

placenta

-secretes hormones to support the pregnancy
-secretes hormones that initiate the first contraction
-secretes hormones to prepare the breasts for nursing
-starts stage 1

how many stages of childbirth are there?

three

stage 1

-longest stage
-contractions efface and dilate your cervix

efface

thin out

dilatation

widen

-responsible for most of the discomfort during childbirth
-the rapider dilation occurs, the less discomfort

subsequent births

take less time than the first birth

birth prep

meant to reduce the chances of infection during labor

electronic sensing device across the woman abdomen

measures the fetal heart rate and the frequency, strength, and duration of the mother's contractions

contractions at the beginning of the 1st stage

every 15-20 minutes, lasting for 20-30 seconds

forceps

curved instrument that fits around the baby's head and makes it possible to pull the baby out of the mother's body

vacuum extraction tube

relies on suction to pull the baby through the birth canal

transition

the head of the fetus begins to move into the birth canal when the cervix is almost fully dilated

-30 minutes or less

what do contractions do?

efface and dilate the cervix

when is dilation done?

at 10 cm (about 4 inches)

relaxin

-relaxes ligaments in mom's body so the cervix can dilate
-released weeks before labor

contractions at the end of stage 1

4-5 minutes apart, lasting for 4-5 seconds

how long does the 1st stage last?

can last hours, days, or longer

dilation

can happen without much pain before labor even begins

climax

-transition
-end of stage 1
-getting you to 10 cm

when do the most painful contractions occur?

during climax

stage 2

-baby's head is visible at the birth canal
-doctors won't allow this stage to keep going

crowning

the baby's head is visible at the birth canal

how long does stage 2 last?

20-80 minutes

contractions during stage 2

-must be sufficient enough to expel the baby
-1-1.5 minutes apart, lasting 60-65 seconds

when do you push?

with every contraction

why won't doctors allow stage 2 to keep going?

-birth is traumatic on mom and child
-blood flow is cut to baby during contractions

what happens during contractions?

blood flow is cut to baby

how does baby survive the loss of blood flow/oxygen during contractions?

by secreting lots of epinephrine and adrenaline to raise blood glucose levels

-highest these hormones will ever be

why might doctors use their fingers during birth?

-to check dilation
-loosen tissue
-check for umbilical cord

umbilical cord location

can wrap around the baby's neck, doctor will move with fingers

how is breathing started?

mucus is suctioned from the baby's mouth as soon as the head emerges from the birth canal to clear any obstructions from the passageway for breathing

when does the rest of the umbilical cord fall off?

7-10 days after birth

reasons for a cesarean section

-baby may not be safe to deliver vaginally
-position of the baby
-placenta previa
-baby or mom may be in distress
-baby may be too large
-mom's pelvis may be too small
-mom may be HIV positive
-mom may request it

what does stage 2 end with?

delivery

umbilical cord

-2-3 ft long
-cut after delivery
-blood may be stored and banked because it has stem cells

stage 3

-uterus takes a break and stops contracting for a few minutes
-starts again so the placenta and fetal membranes can be passed
-bleeding is normal
-uterus begins to shrink after
-episiotomy is stitched up

afterbith

includes the placenta, uterine lining, and amnion

episiotomy

-surgical incision of the perineum
-avoids tearing
-the body heals better from a tear than from an incision

perineum

tissue between bottom of vagina and anus that tears during childbirth

does the body heal better from a tear or episiotomy?

a tear

is there an easier recovery from vaginal or cesarean delivery?

vaginal delivery

midwife

an individual who helps women in childbirth

birth plan

-individual choice
-have a plan B for worst-case scenario

anesthesia

crosses the placenta and minimal amounts reach the baby

pudendal block

the mother's external genitals are numbed by local injection

epidural block and spinal block

anesthesia is injected into the spinal canal or spinal cord, temporarily numbing the body below the waist

natural childbirth

a method of childbirth in which women use no anesthesia and are educated about childbirth and strategies for coping with discomfort

Lamaze method

-prepared childbirth
-a method of childbirth in which women are educated about childbirth, learn to relax and breathe in patterns that conserve energy and lessen pain, and have a coach (usually the father) present during childbirth

doula

an experienced but not a professional mentor who furnishes emotional support and information for a woman during labor

epidurals

could not work

hospital birth

hospitals are trying to make the delivery room more homey

placenta previa

placenta is at the birth canal first

birth problems

-oxygen deprivation
-low-birth weight
-preterm birth

why is the baby monitored so closely?

to check more oxygen deprivation

oxygen deprivation

can cause cerebral palsy and early onset schizophrenia

-anoxia and hypoxia

anoxia

lack of oxygen

hypoxia

less oxygen than is required

low-birth weight

2020: Kwak Yu Xan- 7.5 oz, 24 wks 6 days

US in birth weight

21st in low-birth weight full-term babies

low birth weight (LBW)

5 lbs 8 oz or less

very low birth weight (VLBW)

3 lbs 5 oz or less

extremely low birth weight (ELBW)

2 lbs 3 oz or less

what two common birth problems are often coupled?

low-birth weight and preterm birth

preterm birth

babies often need assistance with development

baby Curtis

July 2020
14.5 oz
21 wks 1 days

baby Lila

July 2014
14.5 oz
21 wks 4 days

premature

born before 37 weeks

micropreemie

born before 28 weeks

mom postpartum period

-body has gone through major changes gradually, now many abrupt changes occur
-quick loss of 12-15 lbs
-hormones drop sharply

postpartum hormones

stay low until ovaries produce them again (4-8weeks) and the menstrual cycle (bleeding) returns

breastfeeding

-causes a release of prolactin and oxytocin
-helps uterus shrink back down
-keeps bleeding away for months-year
-the rest of the cycle (ovulation) still occurs

size of uterus at birth

2-2.5 lbs

oxytocin

causes short-term uterine contractions

lochia

the postpartum vaginal discharge that typically continues for 4-6 weeks after childbirth

-light bloody discharge

bonding

-encouraged early on, but can happen at any point
-adopted families are often there for the birth for early-on bonding

postpartum depression

-major depressive episode after delivery
-requires treatment
-drug use, marriage/relationship issues increase the risk of ppd
-affects 10-20% of women after delivery

baby blues

-shorter than ppd
-caused by low hormone levels
-transient
-no treatment required
-some women experience psychosis
-lasts about 10 days

perinatal onset

period just before or after birth

postpartum psychosis

a rare and severe form of depression that occurs in women just after giving birth and includes delusional thinking and hallucinations

maternal-sensitive period

during which the mother is particularly disposed, largely because of hormone levels, to form a bond with the neonate

father-newborn bonding

affected by the father's relationship with the mother as well as by the father's own psychological well-being

neonate

newborn baby

average weight and length of neonates in the US

7.5 lbs 20 inches

-boys are slightly heavier and longer than girls

weight loss after birth

common for a baby to lose 10% of body weight days after birth; most gain back by two weeks

baby features at birth

-often have long, cone-shaped heads
-can have baby acne
-can have scratches from fingernails
-facial features can be flat

newborn heads

-often long and cone-shaped
-head is malleable and rounds out in a few days
-skull is not fused until 18 months
-about 1/4 length of their body

why is a baby's head 1/4 of the length of their body at birth?

because of cephalocaudal development

baby's first stool

-can be during or right after delivery
-meconium

meconium

-first stool, first time the digestive system passes something directly
-very thick, sticky, and very dark greenish/black

newborn assessment

-assessed immediately after birth for overall neurological state
-APGAR test