PRENATAL CARE AND
CHILDBIRTH
Chapter 5
Child Development 2
SIGNS OF PREGNANCY

A woman cannot feel the sperm and egg unite.
She cannot feel cells divide as the baby begins to
develop. However, her body begins to change
almost immediately. The signs of pregnancy help
a woman recognize these changes.
SIGNS OF PREGNANCY
Presumptive Signscould be the signs of
pregnancy, but they
could be the signs of
something else. A
doctor would
determine their cause.
Positive Signsdefinitely caused by
pregnancy
•Mensturation stops
•Nausea
•Tired/fatigue
•Frequency in urination
•Swelling and tenderness of the breasts
•Skin discoloration
•Internal changes (softening of the uterus,
cervix or uterin enlargement)
•Other signs
•HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadatrophin)hormone levels detected by lab tests.
HCG found in blood and urine.
•Fetal heartbeat
•Fetal movement
•Fetal image-seen on an ultrasound
•Fetal shape-felt through the abdominal
wall
•Uterine contractions
MEDICAL CARE

Medical care is the best way to make
childbearing safe and successful. A woman who
suspects she may be pregnant should make an
appointment with a doctor as soon as possible.
Many pregnant women choose to visit
obstetricians, or doctors who specialize in
pregnancy and birth.
THE FIRST APPOINTMENT







The doctor will first gather information such as the age and
health history of each parent.
Next, the doctor will ask the details about the woman’s
menstrual cycle and any past pregnancies.
The doctor will answer any questions the couple has a bout
pregnancy.
Then a physical exam is usually completed. The woman
will be weighed, her pulse taken, blood pressure, etc. Her
breasts may be checked and a pelvic exam done.
Urine and blood tests will be done. Blood tests check for
blood type, anemia and diseases that may harm an unborn
child. Sometimes a test for blood sugar levels will be done.
The doctor will advise the couple on health habits to be
followed.
At the end of the appointment, the obstetrician estimates
the due date for the baby’s birth. Babies are born about 40
weeks after the beginning of the last menstrual period.
THE UNBORN BABY’S ENVIRONMENT

At the moment of conception, the baby begins to
firm traits from both mother and father. These
inherited traits, or genetic factors are merged
into one unique person. Development is not
determined solely by genetic factors.
Environmental factors are those caused by a
person’s surroundings. The prenatal
environment is the mother’s body.
3 STAGES OF PRENATAL DEVELOPMENT

Complete your worksheet on prenatal
development by week.
FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE BABY’S
HEALTH
Mother’s Age -the ideal time for a woman to have
a baby is between 21-28 years old. Teens and
women over 36 are considered high risk.
 Mother’s Physical Health -women in excellent
health prior to pregnancy are the most likely to
have healthy pregnancies. Healthy weight,
nutrition and activity levels are included in
physical health.

MOTHER’S EMOTIONAL HEALTH
Positive thoughts and feelings are important for
a woman to have a healthy baby.
 Negative thoughts and feelings stimulate the
nervous system and the flow of adrenaline. The
nervous system and adrenaline control heart
rate, breathing, and muscle tension.

CAN STRESS HARM AN UNBORN BABY?

An unborn baby can handle some stress, but if it
is long-lasting, severe r frequent, the mother may
have a more difficult delivery. Emotional support
during pregnancy and delivery is good for the
baby.
HEALTH HABITS DURING PREGNANCY
Nutrition-a nutritious diet is essential during
pregnancy. Cells need proteins, fats, carbs,
minerals and vitamins to help them grow. Diets
for pregnant and nursing mothers should provide
more calcium, iron, folic acid, and protein than
non pregnant women.
 Water should be increased and caffeine should be
decreased to about one cup per day.

HEALTH HABITS CONT.

Weight Gain-to meet the nutritional needs of
themselves and their babies, pregnant women
need to eat 300 extra calories per day, starting in
the 4th month. Weight gain during pregnancy is
not all stored as fat, much of the weight goes to
the growing baby and the tissues that support it.
Hygiene Practices -women should continue their
normal grooming and body care habits.
 Rest and sleep -a mother-to-be needs much rest
and sleep. Many doctors advise 8-9 hours of slept
a bight.
 Physical Activity and Exercise -unless advised
otherwise by her doctor, a pregnant woman can
and should be active. Activity helps with weight
gain, strengthens muscles used in delivery,
increases energy and relieves tension.

HEALTH HAZARDS TO AVOID
Diabetes-a disorder caused by the body’s inability
to use sugar properly. Another kind of diabetes
can occur during pregnancy called gestational
diabetes-this appears in women who did not have
diabetes before pregnancy and usually it goes
away after pregnancy ends.
 Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH)- the
name for high blood pressure caused by
pregnancy. Sometimes this is called toxemia or
preeclampsia. It includes a sudden increase in
blood pressure, protein in the urine, swelling. If
untreated it can lead to damage of death of the
mother, baby or both.

HEALTH HAZARDS TO AVOID CONT.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases- infectious
diseases that are passed primarily through
sexual intercourse. Some STDs can enter the
bloodstream of the mother and cross the placenta
to reach the unborn. Others infect the mother’s
reproductive tract and can be passed to the baby
during delivery.
 See pg. 142 in your textbook for STDs and their
effect on the baby.

HEALTH HAZARDS TO AVOID CONT.
Drugs-this includes all medications, over the
counter and prescribed my a doctor.
 Alcohol-Doctors advise women to never drink
alcohol during pregnancy. Taking even 1 drink
can cause the baby to be abnormal. Almost 3 in
every 1000 babies are born with Fetal Alcohol
syndrome.
 Nicotine-babies of smokers are usually smaller
than average or premature. Wile a mother is
smoking, the baby’s oxygen is greatly reduced.
Smoking can cause a baby’s brain to develop
abnormally.

HEALTH HAZARDS TO AVOID CONT.

Illegal Drugs -can cross the placenta quickly and
reach the baby. If a woman is addicted to drugs,
changes are her baby is too. Pregnant women
who use drugs often have low birth weight and
are premature. Pregnant women who use illegal
drugs often neglect their own health by eating
poorly, smoking or abusing alcohol.
HEALTH HAZARDS TO AVOID CONT.
Radiation -X-rays should be avoided during
pregnancy, as the increase the likelihood of
childhood cancer. Some also link X-rays to
congenital disabilities in the fetus.
 Environmental Pollution -lead, chemicals,
pesticides, and herbicides all pose risks to the
unborn baby.

COMPLICATIONS OF PREGNANCY
PGS. 146-148
Congenital Problems -is a physical or biochemical
that is present at birth. It may be inherited or
caused by environmental factors.
 A miscarriage - is the expulsion of the baby from
the mother’s body before week 20 of pregnancy.
 Stillbirth is the loss of the fetus after 20 weeks of
pregnancy. In a stillbirth, the baby is born dead.

MONITORING THE BABY’S DEVELOPMENT
 Warm
Up: What emotions might these
complications (from your research) cause
a couple to experience? What resources
could help them resolve these emotions?

Identify the complication with your response
 Complete
your graphic organizer from
today’s notes
MONITORING THE BABY’S DEVELOPMENT

What does the term monitor mean?
check, track, or observe
WHAT DOES MONITORING A BABY’S
DEVELOPMENT HELP DOCTORS DETERMINE?






The baby’s health
The baby’s exact age
Size of the baby
Gender of the baby
More than one baby?
The position in the mothers uterus
MONITORING THE BABY’S DEVELOPMENT

Ultrasound-a test that is done to monitor an
unborn baby. This test bounces sound waves off
the fetus to produce an image of the fetus in side
the womb.


The technician holds a transducer over the mother’s
abdomen.
This device emits sound waves. The waves are
absorbed at different rates, depending on whether
they hit bone, organ tissue, blood or water
ULTRASOUND

These differences are changed into electrical
impulses. This then produces a visual image of
the fetus on a computer monitor
ULTRASOUNDS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6U_MjwNAL
4
Twins??
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EStMIHpFow

CHRONIC VILLUS SAMPLING (CVS)
Chronic Villus Sampling (CVS)- is a procedure
for finding abnormalities in the unborn by testing
a small amount of chorion. This is used between
8-12 weeks of pregnancy.

Chorion: the membrane that surrounds the baby in
the uterus
AMNIOCENTESIS

Amniocentesis-a prenatal test used to check for
the presence of over 100 congenital problems. A
medical professional inserts a needle through the
abdominal wall into the uterus. Ultrasound is
done at the same time to position the needle. The
professional withdraws a small amount of fluid
from the amniotic sac. This is done between 1416 weeks of pregnancy.
REFLECT



If you were a parent to be, would you request or
agree to have CVS or amniocentesis done?
Why or why not?
What would your reaction be if you had the tset
done and problems were discovered with the
baby?
ACTIVATE
Interviewing a parent: If you were to interview a
parent, what are some questions that you would
ask regarding childbirth?
 Compile a list of your top 5 questions that you
would ask if you had the chance. Make sure to
include at least one question for a father to be

THE ROLE OF THE FAMILY
FAMILY INVOLVEMENT


Today’s Fathers-to-be take a more active role
than they have in the past. Fathers can be an
emotional support for the pregnant women
What are some ways that husbands can support
their wives throughout pregnancy? List as many
as you can with your partner
FATHERS-TO-BE
Reassure their wives about their health and
baby’s health
 Decorate the nursery together
 Read books
 Attend classes
 Doctors appointments

LABOR

When fathers are involved in childbirth, there
are many benefits:





Calm mothers
Reduce their feelings of anxiety
Shorter labor (in some cases)
More enjoyable labor
Bonding for fathers
ACTIVITY:
Draw cartoons showing the “traditional” role of
fathers during pregnancy and childbirth.
 Draw cartoons showing today’s role of fathers
during pregnancy and childbirth


Describe how traditional and today’s practices
differ
FAMILY DECISIONS CONCERNING
CHILDBIRTH
Where will the birth take place?
 Method of delivery?

Parents should base their decision on their
doctors advice as well as their own preferences.

HOME VS. HOSPITAL
Rotating Stations:
What are the benefits of home deliveries? What is
a CNM? Where do CNM’s work and why have
home deliveries begun to increase in popularity
again?
 What are the benefits of hospital deliveries?
What is a birthing room? Which method of
delivery has a higher infant death rate and why?

CHILDBIRTH DECISIONS: CHOOSING A
METHOD OF DELIVERY IS A PERSONAL CHOICE
Natural childbirth: the woman learns
about the birth process so she knows
what to expect. She is trained to
breathe and relax in a way that helps
the birth process. The woman delivers
without the aid of medications or drugs.
 Lamaze method- the mother is taught
to focus on something other than pain.
She uses breathing patterns to keep her
mind off of the pain. She attends
Lamaze classes to help prepare her
mentally and physically.

CHILDBIRTH DECISIONS


Leboyer method -focuses on the comfort of the baby and
mother. This method assumes that delivery is painful for
the baby as well as the mother. This method uses low
lights, nose is kept at a minimum, and the doctor supports
the baby after the head appears. After birth the baby rests
on the mother’s body then lowered into water that is near
body temperature. Finally the baby is dressed and
wrapped in a warm blanket.
C-Section- in some cases, traditional methods of delivery
are unsafe. In cesarean section, the mother’s abdomen and
uterus are surgically opened and the baby is removed.
 Mother’s
pelvis is too small
 Baby or mother are at risk
 Baby’s head is too large
 Contractions are weak or absent
 That baby is in the wrong position for birth
 The doctor feels that the previous c-section scar could rupture
ACTIVITY: CHOICES FOR DELIVERY


Complete the chart of advantages and
disadvantages for each method of delivery.
When completed, write a paragraph summarizing
the variety of delivery methods.
What factors must be considered when choosing a
delivery method?
 Which method do you feel is the best and why?
 How can fathers to be stay involved in their baby’s
birth?

STAGES OF LABOR- TIME TO BE BORN

Stage 1
Dilation of the cervix
 Contractions every 15-20 minutes
 Uterus narrows


Stage 2
The baby’s head enters the birth canal
 The mother’s muscles push to move the baby down
 Episiotomy may be made to widen the birth canal to
prevent tearing.
 Baby is delivered


Stage 3

About 20 minutes after birth the mother has a few
irregular contractions. These cause the placenta to
completely detach from the uterus and descend. This is
commonly called the afterbirth.
WRITING ASSIGNMENT:
Analyze the emotions shown from the mother to
be and from the father to be. Compare and
contrast the emotions felt by the father and by
the mother before labor, during labor and after
labor. What could be the possible causes of these
emotions? Explain the process of this woman’s
labor experience. Were there any complications?
What was the procedure before, during and after
birth?
 Peer Review Activity

COMPLICATIONS OF DELIVERY
PG. 161

Writing Assignment: Analyze the emotions
shown from the mother to be and from the father
to be. Compare and contrast the emotions felt by
the father and by the mother before labor, during
labor and after labor. What could be the possible
causes of these emotions? Explain the process of
this woman’s labor experience. Were there any
complications? What was the procedure before,
during and after birth?