Chapter 19, lesson 2 objective: October 20, 2016 bell ringer: list 5 positive health behaviors that a person should practice each day. Circle any that you think would also benefit a developing fetus. Chapter 19, lesson 2 objective:

Words to know: Prenatal care: refers to steps that a pregnant female can take to provide for her own health and the health of her baby. Birthing center: facility in which women with low-risk pregnancies can deliver their babies in a homelike setting Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS): group of alcohol-related birth defects that include both physical and mental problems Miscarriage: the spontaneous expulsion of a fetus that occurs before the twentieth week of a pregnancy Stillbirth: dead fetus expelled from the body after the twentieth week

Importance of prenatal care One of the first decisions a pregnant female must make is who will provide her prenatal care. An obstetrician is a doctor who specializes in the care of a female and her developing child. A certified nurse-midwife is an advanced practical nurse who specializes in prenatal care and delivers babies. The mother-to-be must also decide where the birth will take place. In the U.S., most births take place at a hospital, but some women choose to have the delivery at home or in a birthing center but they must be low-risk pregnancies.

Importance of prenatal care cont’d During prenatal visits the female will have a complete physical that includes blood test and pelvic exams. The purpose of the exam is to identify problems so that they can be corrected or treated as early as possible. The doctor/mid-wife will monitor the weight of the mother and blood pressure. Often the developing baby will be viewed with an ultrasound machine. These visits will give the parents-to-be the opportunity to ask questions and to learn about important behaviors that can help ensure the health of the baby.

Proper nutrition during pregnancy An unborn baby depends on its mother for nourishment. For this reason, a pregnant female needs more nutrients than any other time in her life. To ensure the optimal health of the developing fetus, increased amounts of many nutrients like these are needed: Calcium: helps build strong bones and teeth and healthy nerves and muscles. Proteins: helps form muscle and most other tissue Iron: makes red blood cells and supplies oxygen to cells Folic acid: critical part of spinal fluid and helps close the tube that contains the central nervous system. This neural tube forms 17 to 30 days after conception, so neural tube defects can occur before a female knows she is pregnant.

Proper Nutrition during pregnancy Although a pregnant female’s nutritional requirements may increase, she must be careful not to gain too much weight. Most pregnant females need only 300 additional calories each day- about the number of calories found in two and a half cups of low fat milk. Most doctors suggest that females who are at a healthy pre-pregnancy weight gain between 25-30 pounds during pregnancy. Excess weight can be a health risk for both mother and baby.

The Health of the Fetus Tobacco and Pregnancy Smoking during pregnancy is estimated to account for up to 30% of low birth weight babies, 14% of premature births and 10% of all infant deaths. Studies suggest that a pregnant female's smoking may also affect the growth, mental development and behavior of her child until he or she is 11 years old. The responsibility to provide a smoke-free environment extends beyond the expectant mother. Even pregnant females exposed to secondhand smoke also have an increased risk of having a low birth weight baby. Low birth weight is a leading cause of death for children under 12 months old.

DID YOU KNOW Children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome suffer life long consequences: Mental retardation Learning disabilities Serious behavior problems Slowed growth Physical deformities, including small skull, abnormal facial features and heart defects

Alcohol and Pregnancy Any alcohol consumed during pregnancy quickly passes through the umbilical cord to the fetus. The fetus breaks down the alcohol much more slowly than an adult does, so the level in the fetus’s blood can be higher than that of the mother and remain higher for a longer period of time. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is/can: Cause birth defects Entirely preventable (you are choosing to harm your unborn child) It can affect a child's entire life

Medicine, other drugs and pregnancy Using drugs when pregnant can have serious consequences… during pregnancy, even prescription and over-the-counter medicines should be taken only with the approval of a doctor or other qualified care provider. Use of illegal drugs when pregnant poses a serious health threat to both the mother and fetus. Use of illegal drugs during pregnancy can cause: Birth defects Premature labor An addicted baby (this means the infant will suffer withdrawal when it no longer receives the drug after birth. The baby may be irritable, cry for hours, shaking uncontrollably, tremble and jerk)

Brain Break The manufacturer doesn’t need it, the buyer doesn’t want it, and the user doesn’t know that they’re using it. What is it? Now get up, touch your toes, spin twice to the left, touch your toes again, spin twice to the right and jump on your left foot 5 times.

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Environmental Hazards Harm to the fetus can result when a pregnant female is exposed to some common substances in the environment such as: Lead paint: this has led to miscarriages, low birth weight, retardation. Lead can be found in paint of houses built before 1978 and can leach from old pipes into tap water. Smog and pollution: birth defects, low birth weight, still birth or death. Greatest risk occurs during the second month of pregnancy when organs are developing Radiation: type found in X-rays, can affect fetal growth and cause mental retardation. Cat Litter: cat feces may contain a parasite that can cause a disease called toxoplasmosis. This results in miscarriage, premature labor, and health problems. Always wash your hands after handling or petting a cat.

Complications during pregnancy Most pregnancies proceed without problems. However, complications can arise, some more serious. Miscarriage: fetus passes away before the 12th week of pregnancy Stillbirth: fetus passes away after the 20th week. Women who use tobacco/drugs during pregnancy are more likely to experience a miscarriage/stillbirth. These do not necessarily mean the mother did something wrong. Receiving proper prenatal care during pregnancy can reduce the risk of any problems to arise.

Ectopic pregnancy This results when the zygote implants in the fallopiantube, the abdomen, the ovary or the cervix. This can occur when the fertilized egg cannot pass to the uterus, sometimes because of inflammation/scar tissue that could have resulted from sexually transmitted diseases. The fetus now cannot get the proper nourishment it needs to grow normally. It is a threat to the pregnant females life. It is also the #1 cause of death of females in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Preeclampsia Also called toxemia, can prevent the placenta from getting enough blood. The condition may result in low fetal birth weight and problems for the mother. Symptoms include high blood pressure, swelling and large amounts of protein in the urine. Treatment include reducing blood pressure through best rest or medicines. Sometimes, hospitalization is necessary.

DID you know In the united states, 2 to 5% of pregnant females are diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus, or GDM. It usually disappears after birth. At 28 weeks, you have to drink a very sweet drink in less than 5 minutes and get your blood drawn to check the sugar content. If you fail, you move on to a 3 hour test with a much sweeter drink. It is NOT fun!

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