5 Prenatal Care 2

Key Terms obstetricians environmental factors premature low birthweight Rh factor diabetes pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) sexually transmitted infections (STIs) acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) continued

Key Terms fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) congenital problem pre-term birth miscarriage stillbirth ultrasound chorionic villus sampling (CVS) amniocentesis 4

Objective Describe the early signs of pregnancy.

Signs of Pregnancy Presumptive signs may be the cause of pregnancy or a medical condition continued

Signs of Pregnancy Positive signs are definitely caused by pregnancy 7

Medical Care Obstetricians are doctors who specialize in pregnancy and birth First prenatal appointment sets a foundation for medical care throughout the pregnancy gather health history complete physical exam give estimate of due date give advice on health habits to follow in pregnancy

Objective Explain the role of the environment on prenatal development.

The Unborn Baby’s Environment Environmental factors are caused by surroundings The prenatal environment is the mother’s body and will affect the baby

Factors That Affect the Baby’s Health

Mother’s Age Most ideal time between 21–28 years Teens are high-risk mothers-to-be tend to have babies who are premature, have low birthweights, have disabilities, or are born dead Women over 36 have higher rate of babies with health problems and disabilities

Mother’s Physical Health Healthy weight for age, height, and body type Good eating habits Regular physical activity

Rh Factor Rh factor is a protein substance found in red blood cells 85% of population Problems if father is Rh+, mother Rh- 12% of all marriages Does not affect first Rh+ unborn antibodies form to combat foreign Rh+ Anti-Rh-immune globulin vaccine

Mother’s Emotional Health When a mother is happy and relaxed, adrenaline level is low heartbeat and breathing are slow muscles are relaxed When a mother is under stress, heartbeat and muscle tension increases in both mother and baby

Objective Explain the relationship between the health of the mother and the health of the baby.

Health Habits During Pregnancy Nutrition Weight gain Hygiene practices Rest and sleep Physical activity and exercise

Nutrition By the twelfth week, baby completely depends on mother for food Cells need proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins Follow the food guidance system developed by the USDA Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water Limit caffeine intake 18

Weight Gain Between 25–35 pounds More for multiples 40–45 pounds for twins Exact amount depends on height and prepregnancy weight continued 19

Weight Gain Much of the weight gain goes to the growing baby and the supporting tissues Too much or too little weight gain is not good for the developing baby Sudden weight gain and unusual swelling are serious conditions that require prompt medical attention 20

Hygiene Practices Have a dental checkup Avoid very cold or very hot baths and hot tubs Wear comfortable clothes with low-heeled shoes Replace tub baths with showers or sponge baths during the last four to six weeks of pregnancy 21

Rest and Sleep Eight to nine hours of sleep a night One 15- to 30-minute rest (with or without sleep) during the day 22

Physical Activity and Exercise Activity helps keep weight within normal limits strengthens muscles women use in delivery increases energy relieves tension Avoid contact sports, activities that jolt the pelvic region, and activities that could result in falls 23

Objective Describe how diseases, drugs, radiation, environmental pollutants, and congenital problems can harm the fetus.

Health Hazards to Avoid Diseases or illnesses in the mother Drugs recreational and prescription Radiation exposure medical X-rays should be avoided Environmental pollution lead, chemicals, pesticides, herbicides

Diseases or Illnesses in the Mother Diabetes is caused by the body’s inability to use sugar properly gestational diabetes affects women who did not have diabetes before pregnancy Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension (PIH) is high blood pressure caused by pregnancy referred to as preeclampsia or toxemia continued

Diseases or Illnesses in the Mother Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infectious illnesses that are passed primarily through sexual intercourse also known as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

Drugs Medications Alcohol Nicotine Illegal drugs prescribed over-the-counter dietary supplements herbal products Alcohol fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) Nicotine Illegal drugs

Complications of Pregnancy Congenital problem is a physical or biochemical problem present since birth Pre-term birth is before 37 weeks of pregnancy Miscarriage is the expulsion of the baby before 20 weeks of pregnancy stillbirth is the loss of the fetus after 20 weeks of pregnancy continued

Complications of Pregnancy Ectopic pregnancy in fallopian tubes Too much amniotic fluid Too little amniotic fluid Bleeding in late pregnancy Placenta abruptio (placenta detaches from uterus) Placenta previa (placenta over cervix) Pregnancy-induced hypertension

Monitoring the Baby’s Development Blood test given at 12 weeks is called a triple-screen measures AFP (alpha-fetoprotein), HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), and estriol (protein found during pregnancy) screens for neural tube defects, Down syndrome, and severe abnormalities Other blood tests screen for STIs and gestational diabetes continued

Monitoring the Baby’s Development Ultrasound produces an image of the fetus inside the womb checks for structural abnormalities used at any time safe and routine continued

Monitoring the Baby’s Development Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) tests a small sample of the chorion used between weeks 10 and 12 slight risk of infection Amniocentesis checks amniotic fluid for over 100 congenital problems cannot be done until the fetus is 15 to 18 weeks old 99% safe

What Do You Think? Do you think technology should some day be used to allow couples to choose the sex of a baby or other more specialized characteristics, such as height?

Glossary of Key Terms acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which attacks the body’s immune system. amniocentesis. Prenatal test in which a needle is inserted through the woman’s abdomen into the amniotic sac and a sample of the fluid is removed for cell study.

Glossary of Key Terms chorionic villus sampling (CVS). Prenatal procedure for finding abnormalities in the unborn by testing a small sample of the chorion. congenital problem. Physical or biochemical problem that is present at birth and may be caused by genetic or environmental factors.

Glossary of Key Terms diabetes. Disorder caused by the body’s inability to use sugar properly. environmental factors. Those factors caused by a person’s surroundings. fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Group of symptoms that appears in infants whose mothers drank during pregnancy.

Glossary of Key Terms low birthweight. Term used to describe babies who weigh less than 5½ pounds at birth. miscarriage. Expulsion of a baby from the mother’s body before week 20 of pregnancy. obstetricians. Doctors who specialize in pregnancy and birth.

Glossary of Key Terms pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). Name for high blood pressure caused by pregnancy. premature. Term used to describe babies who are born too soon. pre-term birth. Delivery that occurs before 37 weeks of pregnancy.

Glossary of Key Terms Rh factor. Protein substance found in the red blood cells of about 85 percent of the population. sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Infectious illnesses that are passed primarily through sexual intercourse. stillbirth. Loss of a fetus after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Glossary of Key Terms ultrasound. Prenatal test in which sound waves bounce off the fetus to produce an image of the fetus inside the womb.