Activity from the A & E unit © upd8 wikid, built by cracking science 2009 This page may have been changed from the original Birth Activity 4: Labour Student sheets Copymasters cracking science! Contents Student Sheet 1Survival Student Sheet 2Safe Student Sheet 3Intensive care Student Sheet 4FAQs Version 1.0

Activity from the A & E unit © upd8 wikid, built by cracking science 2009 This page may have been changed from the original Student Sheet 1aBirth 4 Labour: Survival 1 Mass of fetus (g) Chance of surviving (%) < Fetal growth What to do: What are the twins’ chances of surviving if they are born now? Plan what to say to your home group. Scanned photo of twins (half actual size) head rump

Activity from the A & E unit © upd8 wikid, built by cracking science 2009 This page may have been changed from the original Babies born 6 weeks or more before their due dates often suffer from a breathing problem called respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). If premature babies are given steroid injections before they are born their RDS is less severe. RDS affects about 10 of every 100 premature babies each year. All babies born before 30 weeks develop RDS. Lung development What to do: Take turns to read out the cards. What lung problems could the babies have if they are born now? What could you suggest your home group does to help them? Steroids may slow brain growth and cause long-term side effects like diabetes and high blood pressure. Very premature babies have a low survival rate because they can’t take enough oxygen in. Lung development finishes very late in pregnancy. A fetus has most parts of its lungs by week 24, so breathing is possible. But they struggle to survive even if air is blown into their lungs using a ventilator. C E B A D F Student Sheet 1bBirth 4 Labour: Survival 2

Activity from the A & E unit © upd8 wikid, built by cracking science 2009 This page may have been changed from the original Medicines can be used to delay or stop labour. Brain damage is less common when labour-stopping drugs are used than when no treatment is given. When labour-stopping medicines are used, infections of the uterus are more common. Labour-stopping medicines often cause side effects, in both baby and mother, like digestion problems and internal bleeding. Labour-stopping medicines can stop labour completely if it has not gone too far. C A D Labour-stopping medicines What to do: Take turns to read out the cards. Should Chloe take labour-stopping medicines? Plan what to say to your home group. BE Student Sheet 1cBirth 4 Labour: Survival 3

Activity from the A & E unit © upd8 wikid, built by cracking science 2009 This page may have been changed from the original Background information A premature baby’s brain is smaller and more easily damaged than that of a full-term baby. Many premature babies have disabilities such as: poor eyesight hearing problems cerebral palsy, which includes stiffness, twitches and poor coordination and balance clumsiness (dyspraxia), a poor attention span (attention deficit disorder), speech problems and learning difficulties. Babies born before 33 weeks cannot suck, so they need to be fed through a tube. Diameter of widest part of head (cm) Eyesight problems (%) Hearing problems (%) Cerebral palsy (%) Brain development What to do: What are the twins’ chances of developing brain problems if they are born now? Plan what to say to your home group. Chance of developing… head Scanned photo of twins (half actual size) Student Sheet 1dBirth 4 Labour: Survival 4

Activity from the A & E unit © upd8 wikid, built by cracking science 2009 This page may have been changed from the original SS2Birth 4 Labour: Safe Life before birth A fetus collects nutrients, oxygen and water from its mother’s blood using a placenta. It lies in an amniotic sac full of fluid, so it has freedom to move and protection from injury; and its mother’s body keeps it warm. 1Add the labels below to the diagram. Match up these sentences to the correct parts: 2Carries blood to and from the placenta. amniotic sac Allows nutrients and oxygen to move from umbilical the mother’s blood to the baby’s blood. cord Filled with amniotic fluid. placenta SS2Birth 4 Labour: Safe Life before birth A fetus collects nutrients, oxygen and water from its mother’s blood using a placenta. It lies in an amniotic sac full of fluid, so it has freedom to move and protection from injury; and its mother’s body keeps it warm. 1Add the labels below to the diagram. Match up these sentences to the correct parts: 2Carries blood to and from the placenta. amniotic sac Allows nutrients and oxygen to move from umbilical the mother’s blood to the baby’s blood. cord Filled with amniotic fluid. placenta

Activity from the A & E unit © upd8 wikid, built by cracking science 2009 This page may have been changed from the original The risk of infection is reduced by… Student Sheet 3Birth 4 Labour: Intensive care The ventilator is to…Baby is kept warm by… Sensors monitor… The tube in the baby’s nose is to…

Activity from the A & E unit © upd8 wikid, built by cracking science 2009 This page may have been changed from the original Student Sheet 4Birth 4 Labour: FAQs QI’ve been told by my midwife that I am at risk of having a premature baby – what is a premature baby? A Q I’ve heard that babies born before 36 weeks may not survive. Why is this? A Q I’m pregnant with triplets and they will almost definitely be born early. How will they be taken care of at the hospital? A Q I’ve heard that my baby is surrounded by liquid when it is inside my womb. How does it breathe? A Student Sheet 4Birth 4 Labour: FAQs QI’ve been told by my midwife that I am at risk of having a premature baby – what is a premature baby? A Q I’ve heard that babies born before 36 weeks may not survive. Why is this? A Q I’m pregnant with triplets and they will almost definitely be born early. How will they be taken care of at the hospital? A Q I’ve heard that my baby is surrounded by liquid when it is inside my womb. How does it breathe? A