Be Good To Your Baby Before it is Born! Chapter 5 Prenatal Care

Medical Professionals Obstetrician (OB)- Doctors who specialize in pregnancy and birth Gynecologist (GYN) – specializes in female anatomy Many are OBGYN’s who specialize in both Note – a GYN can’t deliver A baby

Important!!! A woman should stop drinking, smoking, etc. before she tries to get pregnant. She should also start taking a prenatal vitamin before she tries to get pregnant A woman will not know she is pregnant right away, so she should live a healthy lifestyle that is best for the baby! As soon as she finds out she is pregnant, she should call the doctor!

1st Check Up Check Medical history Blood pressure, pulse, initial weight Pelvic measurement Urine analysis Blood test blood type anemia: condition caused by lack of iron, which results in poor appetite, tiredness, and weakness This is the longest check-up. The father should go to the visit too!

How Often? 1st six months – once a month 7th & 8th month – twice a month 9th month- once a week or more

Discussion!!! What is the best age to have a baby? When is it safest?

Problems in Prenatal Development

What is a premature baby? Baby that is born before their development is complete Pregnancy was less than 36 weeks Often weigh less than 5 ½ pounds (last month of pregnancy is when they gain most of their weight) Small size and incomplete development can make them vulnerable to infection, lung ailments, etc False Labor pains is not a sign of early pregnancy http://cbs2chicago.com/video/

Rh Factor Most people are RH + = no complications Causes a problem to the baby when the father is Rh+ and the mother is RH- Rh Disease: type of anemia that destroys the baby’s red blood cells

Iron needs more iron than usual to produce all the blood needed to supply nutrition to the placenta May have to take an iron supplement

FOLIC ACID aids in the creation of the baby's nervous system. Folic acid can help prevent congenital defects such as, spina bifida, cleft palate or cleft lip.

Weight Gain for Mom Suggest between 25-30 lbs eat an extra 300 calories per day much of the weight gain goes to the growing baby and the tissues that support it

Physical Activity Should be active unless told otherwise from her doctor Avoid contact sports helps keep weight within normal activity, strengthens muscles used during birth, increases energy What are some activities that would be good for a pregnant woman?

What is a congenital problem? a physical or biochemical problem in a baby that is present at birth. Down Syndrome Extra chromosome Cleft Lip Muscular Dystrophy Cerebral Palsy

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome 3/1,000 babies have FAS Mother drinks heavily during pregnancy alcohol interferes with brain development heart defects poor motor development

What causes congenital problems? Environmental causes nutritional balance of mother’s diet any disease or infections the mother may have during pregency harmful substances outside hazards (radiation) Heredity Errors in chromosomes

What is a miscarriage The natural ending of a pregnancy before the embryo or fetus can survive Miscarriage reportedly occurs in 20 percent of all pregnancies. However, according to some sources, this may be an inaccurate number. Many women, before realizing a life has begun forming within them, may miscarry without knowing it-assuming their miscarriage is merely a heavier period. STILLBIRTH: the natural ending of a pregnancy after 20 weeks the loss happens by accident and is not the fault of the father or mother

ALERT!!!! vaginal bleeding unusual weight gain severe abdominal pain prolonged back pain increased vaginal mucus

Ectopic Pregnancy development of fetus outside of the uterus Usually in the fallopian tubes This cannot result in a successful pregnancy

Hydrocephalus Extra fluid that is trapped around the brain. Without treatment children rarely survive, therefore, the excess fluid is surgically removed.

What is an ultra sound? technique using sound waves to make a video image of an unborn baby

Primary purpose of an ultra sound? to check for health problems and fetal development skeletal/ organ defects

Amniocentesis A sample of the amniotic fluid surrounding an unborn baby is withdrawn with a special needle The fluid is checked for indications of specific birth defects or other health problems

Chorionic Villi Sampling small sample of placenta is removed test for birth defects done earlier in pregnancy more dangerous than amniocentesis

What is the purpose of genetic counseling? Some defects can be predicted Service that combines a knowledge of heredity and birth defects with lab tests Explains options and risk Tells parents in advance the statistical odds that their children will have a certain disease or defect