Reproductive Review
• How many mature eggs are released from the ovary every
month?
• One
• What is a mature egg called?
• Ovum
• Where does the mature egg go once it leaves the ovary?
• Into the Fallopian Tube
• What is conception? Where does it occur?
• When a sperm meets an egg
• In the upper-third potion of the Fallopian Tube.
Pregnancy and Childbirth
Objective
• Content Objective: The students will be able to describe the
process of pregnancy from the first step of ovulation and
becoming pregnant through delivering the baby by taking notes
on a notes outline provided by the teacher and answering
discussion questions at the end of the lesson.
Ovulation
• When a mature egg is released from the ovary, pushed down the
Fallopian tube and available to be fertilized.
• The average menstrual cycel lasts 28-32 days and begins on the
first day of the menstrual period.
• Ovulation is most likely to occur between days 11 and 21 in the cycle
which is considered the “fertile time”
Key Facts on Ovulation
• An egg lives 12-24 hours after
leaving the ovary
• Implantation of the fertilized
egg usually takes place 6-12
days after ovulation
What Happens Immediately Following
Fertilization (Conception)
1. The fertilized ovum
continues to divide and
continues to move through
the Fallopian tube.
2. The cell divisions form a
cluster of cells by the time
they reach the uterus and
attach to the endometrium
(uterus lining)
Once Implanted in the Uterus
• The placenta attaches the fertilized
egg to the wall of the uterus
• The umbilical cord attaches to the
placenta and the developing
baby’s navel
• The umbilical cord is how the mother
and developing baby exchange
oxygen, nutrients, and waste.
• The umbilical cord contains two
arteries and one vein
• The amniotic sac is a thin
membrane filled with fluid in
which the baby floats providing
protection and a constant
temperature.
Zygote vs. Embryo vs. Fetus
Zygote
Embryo
Fetus
• Single cell that is
formed from the
union of the sperm
and the egg
• Divides to form two
cells, then four cells,
then eight cell etc.
• Conception to the
2nd month of growth
• The mass of cells
dividing during the
first 8 weeks after
conception
• Developing baby
from the 8th week
after conception
until birth
Pregnancy
• The time period from conception to birth
• First Signs of Pregnancy:
• The absence of a menstrual period (does not 100% mean you are
pregnant can also occur because of stress, diet, physical activity and/or
illness)
• Enlarged or tender breasts
• Frequent urination
• Fatigue
• Morning Sickness – nausea and vomiting that can occur at any time
during the day
• Change in appetite
9 Months of Pregnancy
• Divided into trimesters or three three-month periods
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First Trimester – 1st month to end of 3rd month
Second Trimester – 4th month to end of 6th month
Third Trimester- 7th month to end of 9th month
Video
The First Trimester
• End of First Month:
• Heart, brain, nerves and
lungs form
• Has a heart beat and spinal
cord
• Digestive system forms
• Eyes and ears can be seen
• Length is 1/3 inch
• The baby is called an
embryo
• End of Second Month:
• Arms, fingers, legs, ears
and toes form
• Heart becomes four
chambers
• Head becomes larger
• Facial characteristics
appear
• All Major organs begin to
form
• Length is 1 inch
• The baby is called a fetus
• End of Third Month:
• First external signs of sex
appear
• Some movement begins
• Eyelids close
• Weight is about 1.5
ounces
• Length is about 1.5
inches
What the Mother May Experience:
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Extreme tiredness
Tender/swollen Breasts
Morning Sickness
Cravings/Distaste for Certain Foods
Mood Swings
Constipation
More Frequent Urination
Headache
Heartburn
Weight Gain/Loss
The Second Trimester
• End of Fourth Month:
• Teeth and lips
• Skin is developing
• Fetus kicks its legs and
moves its arms
• Muscle tissue/tone
continues to form
• Makes sucking motion with
mouth
• Weight is about 6/7 ounces
• Length is about 4-5 inches
• End of Fifth Month:
• Fine hair develops
• End of Sixth Month:
• Eyelashes and nails
• Fetus responds to noise
appear
and pressure with
movement
• Baby can hear/swallow
• Heartbeat increases
• Fetus can bend its arms
and make a fist
• Fetus moves vigorously
• Heart beat detected by a
• Footprints/fingerprints
stethoscope
• Lungs form-do not work
• Rate of growth slows
• Sleeps/wakes regularly
• Weight is about 1 pound
• Head hair forms
• Length is about 9-10
• Weight is about 1.5 pounds
inches
• Length is about 11.5 – 12.5
inches
What the Mother May Experience:
• Body Aches
• Stretch Marks
• Patches of Darker Skin
• Numb/Tingling Hands
• Itching in the
Abs/Palms/Soles of Feet
• Swelling of
Ankles/Fingers/Face
The Third and Final Trimester
• End of Seventh Month:
• Eyes open
• End of Eighth Month:
• Legs and arms move often –
• Almost all organs are
forcefully
complete
• Bones fully formed
• Less space to move
• Eyes can open/close and
around so movements
sense light
become stretches and
wiggles instead of
• Lungs are not fully formed –
forceful
practice “breathing
movements” occur
• Weight is about 4
pounds
• Weight is about 3 pounds
• Length is about 18
• Length is about 15 inches
inches
• If the baby is born here it
has 20% chance of survival
• End of Ninth Month:
• Skin is smooth and
polished
• Eyes are slate-colored
• Birth weight is about 6-9
pounds
• Birth length is about 1921 inches
• **Weeks 37-40
considered full term
What the Mother May Experience:
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Shortness of Breath
Heartburn
Hemorrhoids
Tender Breasts/Leak Watery
Pre-Milk Called Colostrum
Belly Button May Stick Out
Trouble Sleeping
The Baby “Dropping” or Moving
Lower in the Belly
Contractions (may be real or
false labor)
Problems During Pregnancy
• Miscarriage:
• About one in ten pregnancies ends in miscarriage
• It is a natural ending of a pregnancy before a baby is developed enough
to survive on its own
• Usually occurs before the 12th week of pregnancy
• May be due to:
• Uterine lining not grown properly
• Baby may have health problems
Problems During Pregnancy Cont.
• Toxemia:
• A condition in which blood pressure, sudden weight gain, blurred vision,
headaches and swelling of the hands and feet occur.
• Usually occurs after the 24th week of pregnancy
• Can harm both the mother and baby
• Possible Causes:
• Heredity
• Poor Nutrition
Problems During Pregnancy Cont.
• Premature Birth:
• The birth of a baby before it is fully developed
• Considered premature if born less than 38 weeks from time of
conception
• Effects:
• They have low birth weight – the lower the birth rate the less chance of survival
• They typically have underdeveloped lungs
Labor and Delivery
Three Stages of Labor and Delivery
• Childbirth is the process by which a baby moves from the uterus
to the outside world
• Labor is a series of three stages that result in the birth of the
baby
• Stage 1 – Dilation of the cervix
• Stage 2 – Delivery of the baby
• Stage 3 – Delivery of the placenta
Stage 1 – Dilation of the Cervix
• Effacement – The thinning and
shortening of the cervix
• Contractions of the uterus cause
the cervix and the cervical
opening to dilate or stretch
• This stretching allows the babies
head to enter the birth canal
• It stretches 8-10 centimeters
• Near the end of this stage,
contractions can last as long as a
minute and a half
• This stage can last from one hour
to fifteen hours or more
Stage 2 – Delivery of the Baby
• The baby moves out of the
uterus and into the birth canal
• The mother pushes during
contractions to move the baby
through the birth canal
• Once the babies head is seen it
is delivered
• Crowning – The appearance of
the babies head during delivery
• Once the baby begins to breathe
on its on the umbilical cord is cut
• This stages lasts about 30
minutes – 1.5 hours
Stage 3 – Delivery of the Placenta
• The afterbirth is expelled
during this stage
• Afterbirth – The placenta and
other membranes that support
the fetus
• This stage lasts about 10-30
minutes
Overview of Labor Stages
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Uterus Contractions Occur
The Water Breaks (amniotic sac)
The Cervix Dilates
The Baby’s Head Crowns
The Baby is Delivered
The Afterbirth is Delivered
Complications During Childbirth
1. Ectopic Pregnancy
2. Cesarean Section
3. Stillbirth
Ectopic Pregnancy
• Is a pregnancy that occurs
outside of the uterus
• The embryo becomes implanted
in the Fallopian tube or another
location in the abdomen
• Symptoms: Cramping, severe
abdominal pain and spotting
• Causes: Tissue scarring from
STDs
• Surgery is often needed to
remove the embryo and can be
fatal to the female
Cesarean Section
• The baby is removed from the
mother by making an incision
through the mother’s abdomen
and uterus and then removing
the baby
• Performed if:
• Unborn baby is too large to pass
through the mother’s pelvis
• If the baby is not positioned
correctly
• The delivery may be dangerous to
the health of the mother or the
baby
• Recovery for the mother is
longer
Stillbirth
• A fully developed baby that is born dead
• May be caused by:
• Defect in the baby
• Medical condition of the baby
• Medical Condition of the Mother
Types of Childbirth
1. Caesarean Section
• The baby is removed from the mother by making an incision through
the mother’s abdomen and uterus and then removing the baby
2. Breech
• The baby exits with the buttocks or feet first instead of the usual head
first
3. Natural Birth
• Un-medicated birth of the child
4. Normal Birth
• The head comes out first
Once the Baby is Delivered
Apgar Score
• The baby’s health is rated based on physical characteristics of the
infant
• They are rated at one minute and five minutes
• If problems are noticed with the baby they are rated again at ten minutes
• It Grades:
• Heart rate, breathing rate, muscle tone, reflexes, reaction to sucking and skin
color
• Scoring:
• 7-10 = Normal
• 4-7 = Might need some resuscitative measures
• 3 and below = Needs immediate resuscitative
Postpartum Period
• The span of time that begins after the baby is born
• Six to eight week period after the birth of a baby
• Hormones produce changes in the mother’s body
• Prolactin is the hormone that is released and allows the mother to produce milk
• Breast-feeding gives the baby antibodies to fight infections
• Drugs/Alcohol/HIV can pass from the mother’s breast milk to the infant
Multiple Births
*Some pregnancies result in the birth of two or more babies at the
same time
Identical Twins
• Develop from the same ovum and sperm
• Develop when one fertilized ovum divides at an early stage of
development and the two cells divide and develop separately
• Results in twins of the same sex who have identical
chromosomes and are very similar in appearance
Fraternal Twins
• Develop when two ova are released from an ovary and are
fertilized at the same time by different sperm
• Results in the twins may or may not be the same sex and they
usually do not look alike
• Three = Triplets
• Four = Quadruplets
• Five = Quintuplets
• Six = Sextuplets
• *More than three is rare
Discussion Questions
1. In what ways is a pregnant female’s diet important to the health of the
fetus?
2. Explain the concerns you may have about a baby being born prematurely
3. During which trimester can the sex of the baby be determined and how is
determined?
4. What is the correct sequence of baby development (embryo, fetus,
zygote, fertilization, birth)?
5. Up to how long can the egg be fertilized after ovulation?
6. What are some signs that a female may be pregnant?
7. Describe the 3 stages of labor and delivery
8. What may cause a female to have a caesarean birth?
9. How are a miscarriage and stillbirth different?