Pregnancy
The Beginning of the Life Cycle
Fertilization/Conception
 The process of sperm meeting with an egg in the
Fallopian tube

Once an egg is fertilized it becomes a zygote
Zygote = fertilized egg (sperm meeting the egg)

The zygote travels through the fallopian tube
and begins to divide
The Beginning of the Life Cycle

The zygote divides many times and becomes a
blastocyst (hollow cluster of cells) by the time
it gets to the uterus

Implantation occurs. Implantation is the
process in which the blastocyst attaches itself
to the wall of the uterus

Zygote is now called an embryo (occurs 7-10
days after fertilization)
Development of the Uterus
 After implantation, development continues in
the uterus
 Three structures form from the dividing cells: the
amniotic sac, placenta, and umbilical cord (All
three serve to protect and nourish the
developing embryo, and later the fetus)
Development in the Uterus
Amniotic Sac
 Fluid filled bag of thin tissue.
The sac continues to
grow in size as the embryo grows.
 Inside the sac, the embryo floats in amniotic fluid
Placenta
 The structure that holds the embryo to the wall of
the uterus
 Within the placenta, oxygen and nutrients move
from the mother’s blood into tiny blood vessels that
lead to the embryo
Development of the Uterus
 Umbilical Cord
A ropelike structure that connects the embryo
to the placenta
This cord is the embryo’s lifeline
It carries nutrients and oxygen from the
placenta to the embryo and wastes from the
embryo to the placenta
Development of a Uterus
 WEEK 1-8 = Embryo
 Week 9-Birth = Fetus
 Pregnancy term= lasts between 38-40
weeks
 Pregnancy Calendar (kids health)
Development of the Uterus
Trimesters
0-13 weeks = 1st Trimester
2nd Trimester
 27-40 weeks = 3rd Trimester
14-26 weeks =
Conception
Developing Embryo (4 weeks)
Developing Embryo (7 weeks)
Developing Fetus (14 weeks)
Developing Fetus (24 weeks)
Developing Fetus (30 weeks)
Week by Week Pregnancy

http://kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_calendar/pregnancy_cale
ndar_intro.html?tracking=79986_G%20-%20cat32
Birth (3 stages)

Stage One (Labor)
Dilation- stretching of the cervix (10cm)
May last for a few hours
Contractions to shorten the uterus
Longest most difficult part of labor
Near the end of this stage, the amniotic sac
breaks and the cervix becomes softer and
wide enough (10 cm) for the fetus to pass
through
Birth (3 Stages)

Stage Two (Delivery of the Baby)
 Birth: muscles of the uterus contract and push baby
out of the body
 Umbilical cord is clamped and cut
 Appearance of the head first, known as crowning

Stage Three (After Birth)
 Afterbirth: contractions continue and push placenta
and umbilical cord out of the mother
Complications during Birth
Premature birth
Delivery of a live baby before the 37th week of
pregnancy
Low birth weight
A newborn that weighs less than 5.5 pounds at birth.
*Premature and low birth weight babies face an
increased risk of health problems
Still Birth
* occurs when a fetus dies and is removed from the body
after the 20th week of pregnancy.
Complications during Birth
 Cesarean
Section
 This
method can be the family’s choice of
delivery or what is called an emergency
“cesarean section” or “C-Section”.
 The
doctor makes an incision in the lower
abdomen into the uterus. The baby and
placenta are then removed.
Complications during Birth
Jaundice
• A common condition in newborns.
• Refers to the yellow color of the skin and whites of the
eyes caused by excess bilirubin in the blood.
Miscarriage
• the death of an embryo or fetus in the first 20
weeks of pregnancy.
Having a Healthy Pregnancy
 Avoid alcohol (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome)
 Causes physical, mental and behavior problems
 FAS babies are:
-Shorter & lighter
-Speech problems
-Slow growth
-Facial abnormalities
- Poor coordination
- Heart defects
- Mental retardation
Having a Healthy Pregnancy
 Avoid drugs (tobacco, OTC, prescription,
and illegal drugs) = Low birth
weight/possible premature birth
 Exercise
 Eat a variety of healthy foods (avoid
uncooked meats, deli meats, fish, seafood,
caffeine)
Signs of Pregnancy
Appear a few weeks or 1-2 months after conception/fertilization
 “Morning Sickness”
 Nipples darken
 Increased fatigue
 Menstruation usually stops
 PMS - type symptoms
 Increased urination
Pregnancy Test
 Reveals hormone HCG in urine about 2 weeks
after missed period - about 95% accurate

A blood test also detects HCG
 Home tests give false negatives and positives.
Should be followed up by a doctor visit