For weeks a six-year old boy kept telling his first-grade teacher about the baby brother or sister that was expected at his house. One day the mother allowed the boy to feel the movements of the unborn child. The six-year-old was obviously impressed, but made no comment. Furthermore, he stopped telling his teacher about the impending event. The teacher finally asked, “Tommy, whatever has become of that baby brother or sister you were expecting at home?” Tommy burst into tears and confessed, “I think Mommy ate it!”

Fetal Development

The traveling egg…meets sperm= FERTILIZATION

Genetics Chromosomes – Each cell in the body contains 46 identical chromosomes, the only exception is the sperm and egg cells, which contain only 23

Fertilization Conception – Single sperm cell penetrates the ovum and new life begins Fraternal twins – 2 different eggs and 2 different sperm Identical twins – Fertilized egg splits = 2 individuals

IDENTICAL TWINS FRATERNAL TWINS

Day 1: Ovulation and Fertilization: The birth of human life begins at fertilization. The sperm “swims upstream” 3 inches an hour The egg is 30,000 times larger than the sperm Sperm & egg meet form a single cell with 46 chromosomes

First Trimester 7-9 Days: Group of cells attach to uterine lining. Called an “EMBRYO” 18 Days Heart muscle pulsates 20 Days Nervous system : foundation laid down

First Trimester 25 Days (One month) Heart beats regularly Eyes & ears visible Digestive system forms 6 weeks Brain waves and body movements are visible

First Trimester 8 weeks (2 months) All body parts are present: large head with brain & facial features; fingers & toes appear. Hiccups, kicks, waves Now called a FETUS 10 weeks All organs are functioning – stomach, liver, brain Swallows, sucks, yawns 3 inches long

Second Trimester 16 weeks (3 ½ -4 months) 20-24 weeks (5 months) Face clearer, first signs of gender appear. Excretory system develops rapidly; skin develops Hearing is fully developed 6 ½ inches long Mother can start to feel kicks, movement 20-24 weeks (5 months) Growth rate slows Open eyes, fine hair develops Heart beat can be heard by stethoscope Approx. 1 pound, 10 inches

Second Trimester 26 weeks (6 months) Earliest age of survival outside of mother’s uterus; 50% chance About 1 foot long Outside sound or pressure can increase the fetus’s heart rate Growing and maturing

Third Trimester 28 weeks (6 ½ - 7 months) Fetus recognizes voices Approx. 2 lbs 4 oz, 14 inches Fully developed but not enough fat cells to maintain body temp; incubator if prematurely born 80% chance of survival 32 weeks (7 ½ - 8 months) Growing and maturing 3 pounds 11 ounces

Third Trimester 37 weeks (8 ½ -9 months) Birth prior to this time is considered “pre-mature” 5 pounds 9 ounces 40 weeks (9-10 months) Full term Average : 7 lbs 6 oz, 20 inches long

Nutrition in Pregnancy Eat from the 5 food group. You need more iron, calcium, vitamins, and minerals A pregnant woman needs 200-300 extra calories a day

Anatomy of Pregnancy Uterus – “womb;” hollow muscular organ that provides a home for the baby during pregnancy Amniotic sac – “bag of water” a seal to protect the fetus from infection Amniotic fluid- shock absorber, keeps temperature constant Umbilical cord – life line, carries blood, oxygen, nutrients, and waste products between the fetus and placenta. About 2 feet long and contains 2 arteries and 1 vein Placenta – picks up nutrients & oxygen from the mother’s blood & removes waste products from the baby; holds embryo to wall of uterus

Placenta Umbilical Cord Vagina Uterus Amniotic fluid Amniotic Sac Cervix Umbilical Cord Vagina

Labor and Delivery Labor: Uterine muscles contracts and relaxes causing cervix to dilate (8-12 hours) Normal – 40 weeks after last period Premature labor – 37 weeks or less

STAGE 1: 2-24 hrs Contractions cause the cervix to DILATE or widen from 2.5 cm-10 cm Amniotic sac breaks which releases the amniotic fluid (water breaks)

STAGE 2 : ½ - 2 hrs Continued contractions push baby out through the cervix & vagina (DELIVERY) Umbilical cord clamped and cut Baby’s nose and mouth suctioned to remove mucus

STAGE 3 : Directly after baby delivery Placenta delivery

Labor and Delivery Delivery: Best position of baby is with head down Vaginal – Thru cervix down the birth canal Breach – Buttocks first Cesarean Section – Incision thru the mother’s abdomen

Cesarean Section

Why C-Section??

Ultrasound Diagnostic technique that uses sound waves to create pictures of internal body structures

Amniocentesis Diagnostic technique that removes fetal cells from amniotic fluid. WHY?? You or your partner has a genetic condition which may be passed on to the baby. There is a risk that the condition may be passed on to the baby. You have had a previous child affected by a genetic condition. You have had another type of test that is done during pregnancy (such as an ultrasound or blood test). It has shown that there is an increased risk that your baby has a genetic condition.

Physical Changes Skip period/spotting Tender enlarged breasts Increased urination Emotional Heightened senses Morning sickness Cravings Fatigue Constipation Uterus/abdomen expand (pushes on bladder/lungs) Stretch marks/varicose veins Weight gain

Weight Breakdown: 25-35 lbs is NORMAL!! Blood = 3 lbs Breast tissue = 2 lbs Uterus = 2 lbs Baby = 7.5 lbs Placenta = 1.5 lbs Amniotic Fluid = 2 lbs Fat = 7 lbs Retained H2o = 4 lbs