By Guadalupe MedinaIntro to human sexuality Professor Banta

PREGNANCY

Stages in pregnancy

Once the women finds out she is pregnant she will start to experience different kinds of symptoms during her pregnancy and the fetus will grow rapidly day by day, week by week, and month by month through out 40 weeks(9 months). The 9 month process is divided into 3 13-week trimesters and changes will start to happen in each trimester with the women’s body but also the fetus. The women will have her doctor’s appointments often to check if her baby is growing properly, is strong, and healthy and also to check if the mother is healthy and doesn’t pass any diseases to her unborn baby that can effect the baby during birth. Every appointment will be different every time she goes in.

First-trimester development

• A women isn't pregnant yet in the first and second week. Conception begins 2 weeks after the women’s last period begins. Pregnancy starts when the women is in the week of fertilization, once the egg is fertilized, the egg grows into a ball of cells that implants on the wall of the uterus. This process causes hormonal and physical changes in the pregnant women’s body. During weeks 3-8 it is called the embryonic stage, which the embryo develops most of its body organs. Once the embryo has reached the 9th week and is 1 inch it is considered as a fetus. The uterus has grown about the size of a grapefruit. By weeks 5-10 the heartbeat can be heard, the baby’s brain, spinal cord, and other organs begin to form. In the second month the baby is 0.5 to an inch long and also during the 2nd month the arms, legs, eyes, fingers, and toes are formed. Once it’s the third month the baby’s internal organs like the liver, kidney, intestines, and lungs start to function. The baby is 3 inches long by the third month.

Second- trimester development

• The second trimester starts with the 4 th month of pregnancy. The sex of the baby can be distinguished. The fingers, toes, fingernails, eyebrows, fingerprints, toe prints, hair growth, fat, and eyelashes is formed. The baby has vernix caseosa (a creamy white substance) that begins to appear on the skin that will help and protect the skin from amniotic fluid. The baby now kicks, moves, has hiccups, and can turn side to side. The baby’s ears have moved from the neck to the side of the head and is able to hear clearly and respond to sound. Also the baby can sleep or be awake. Reflexes like swallowing and sucking have developed and the eyelids are beginning to open and close. The baby’s brain is at the most important part of growth by the 5th month. But Development of the baby is still going on.

Third trimester development

• During the third trimester the baby continues to grow in size and weight. The lungs are still forming and the baby will start to position itself for birth. By the end of the third trimester the baby is about 19-20 inches long and will weigh about 6-9 pounds. Development like sucking the thumb and the ability to cry is possible. Reflexes are well developed. For example, the baby can now turn the head and grab firmly. Also the baby can also see and hear and the brain is continuing to develop. The bones of the skull are soft which will make it easier for the baby to pass through the birth canal. For a lot of babies the irises of the eyelids is blue and the permanent eye color will appear in several days or even weeks after birth. By 38-40 weeks the baby’s lanugo has disappeared completely and the lungs have matured completely to work on their own after birth.

Labor: before and after

• The process of labor and birth is divided into 3 stages. The first stage starts when the women starts having contractions that causes changes in the cervix and ends when the cervix is fully dilated. This stage is divided into two phases. The first phase is called early labor, when cervix thins out and dilates. And the second phase is called active labor, when the cervix begins to dilate more quickly and contractions are longer, stronger, and closer together. The last part of active labor is referred to as a transition. A transaction is when your cervix dilates from 8 to a full of 10 centimeters, this is the most intense part of labor because contractions are usually very strong and start coming every 2-3 minutes or last a minute or even more. This is why it’s called the transition period because it ends on the 1st stage to start the 2nd stage of labor.

Labor: before and after

• The 2nd stage is called pushing. The 2nd stage of labor begins when the women is fully dilated and ends with the birth of the baby. At the beginning of the 2nd stage the contractions are further apart, giving the women the chance to rest between them. Once the uterus contracts, it puts pressure on the baby, which will move the baby down the birth canal and be born. The entire 2nd stage can last from a few minutes to several hours. Without an epidural, the duration is close to an hour for a first-timer and about 20 minutes if the women has had a vaginal delivery. If the women wants an epidural the 2nd stage lasts longer.

Labor: before and after

• And finally the 3rd stage is here!!! which is when the women delivers the placenta. After giving birth the uterus begins to contract again. The first few contractions usually separates the placenta from the uterine wall. When the caregiver or doctor sees signs of separation he/she may ask you to push gently so the placenta comes out. This is usually one short push that's not difficult or painful. The 3rd stage usually last about five to ten minutes.

After delivery

• After delivering the placenta the uterus should contract and get very firm. Then the midwife or doctor will check to see that the uterus remains firm and will massage it if it isn't. This is important because the contraction of the uterus helps cut off the open blood vessels where the placenta was attached. If the uterus doesn't contract properly then a lot of bleeding will happen from those vessels. If uterus isn't firm oxytocin will be given to help it contract. If bleeding is excessively, there will be treatment for that as well. Usually the women will feel menstrual cramps after giving birth and is more than welcomed to get medication. If her perineum got tore during delivery then she will need to get it stitched .