Child Development

Unit 2

Pregnancy and Prenatal Development

2.1 Match terms related to pregnancy and prenatal development

1. abstinence - refraining from sexual intercourse until marriage2. amniocentesis - a prenatal test using a sample of amniotic fluid to

check for birth defects 3. amniotic fluid - liquid that surrounds and protects the developing

baby in the uterus during pregnancy 4. birth defect - problem's babies are born with which threaten their

health or ability to live5. cerebral palsy - problems of the motor system that can include lack of

coordination, stiffness, jerkiness, difficulty with speech, and paralysis 6. chromosomes - carry the genes that convey hereditary characteristics 7. chronic villa sampling - a prenatal test for specific birth defects

performed by sampling small amounts of the tissue from the membrane around the fetus

8. cleft lip - see "cleft palate" 9. cleft palate - a gap in the upper lip or palate that causes problems with

eating, swallowing, speech and appearance

10. conception - union of an ovum and sperm, resulting in the beginning of a pregnancy 11. cystic fibrosis - affects the respiratory and digestive systems; many children die before reaching adulthood12. dominant genes - the genes that dictate the way a trait is expressed13. down syndrome - a group of problems that include mental

retardation, problems of the heart, blood and digestive system and poor muscle tone

14. FAS (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome) - a birth defect that occurs because a mother drinks alcohol during pregnancy

15. fertility - the ability to conceive a child 16. genes - units that determine inherited characteristics17. genetic counseling - medical advice that tells a couple the options

and risks of having genetic problems their children18. hydrocephalus - an excess of fluid surrounds the brain, causing

brain damage 19. infertility - the inability to conceive a child

20. maternity leave - time off from work that allows a mother to give birth, recover, and begin to care for a new baby

21. miscarriage - the unexpected death of a developing baby before twenty weeks of pregnancy

22. muscular dystrophy - there are different types that involve a progressive weakness and shrinking of the muscles; the most common form begins between the ages of two and six

23. ovum - female sex cell, or egg, needed for reproduction 24. paternity leave - time off from work that allows a father to care for

a new baby 25. Period of Embryo - the developing baby from conception until the

second week of pregnancy 26. Period of Fetus - the developing baby from the eighth or ninth

week of pregnancy until birth 27. PKU - (Phenylketonuria) - a condition in which the body is

unable to process and use a specific protein; mental retardation can result

28. placenta - a tissue in the uterus of a pregnant woman that brings food and oxygen from the mother's body to a developing baby

29. pregnancy - the time of life from conception until birth 30. prenatal - the time before the baby is born 31. recessive genes - genes that are expressed as a trait only if paired with a matching recessive gene 32. sickle cell anemia - malformed red blood cells that interfere with the

supply of oxygen to all parts of the body which can lead to early death 33. sperm - the male sex cell needed for reproduction 34. spina bifida - an incompletely formed spinal cord may lead to stiff

joints, difficulty moving the legs, partial paralysis and problems with the kidneys and urinary tract; seventy percent of children with spinal bifida also have hydrocephalus

35. STD - (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) - an illness spread from one person to another by sexual contact

36. stillbirth - the unexpected death of a developing baby after twenty weeks of pregnancy

37. Tay-Sachs Disease - lacking a certain chemical in the blood that

makes children's bodies unable to process and use fats, which leads to severe brain damage and to death, usually by age four

38. ultrasound - a prenatal test using sound waves to make a picture of the unborn child

39. umbilical cord - tube that connects the placenta to the unborn child which nourishes it, gives it oxygen, and takes away wastes

40. uterus - reproductive organ in a woman in which a baby develops

2.1 List early symptoms of pregnancy

• missed menstrual period– Women do not menstruate during pregnancy– If a woman has intercourse and her period is more than 14

days late she is probably pregnant– Stress, climate, diet, exercise, change in body weight

anemia can cause a missed period

• changes in the breast– Swelling, soreness, tenderness

• nausea– “Morning sickness”, usually during the first trimester (first

3 months)

• increased urination– Growing uterus pushes on the bladder

• fatigue– Usually lasts throughout the first trimester

2.3 Explain physical changes to the mother during pregnancy

• Increase in size of breast and abdomen

• Skin stretches and may cause “stretch marks”

• Changes in the digestive system causing nausea, heartburn and indigestion

• Pressure on the bladder causing frequent urination

2.4 Name discomforts and complications of pregnancy

Complications are preceded by warning signals. A pregnant women should contact her doctor if she has any of these warning signals:

• Bleeding from the vagina• Severe or continuous nausea or vomiting• Swelling or puffiness of the face or hands or marked swelling of the

feet and ankles• Blurred vision or spots before the eyes• A marked decrease in the amount of urine passed• Pain or burning while passing urine• Chills and fever• Sharp or continuous abdominal pain• Sudden gush of liquid from the vagina before the baby is due

Complications may include:• miscarriage (the unexpected death of a developing baby before

twenty weeks of pregnancy)

• stillbirth (the unexpected death of a developing baby after twenty weeks of pregnancy)

• pregnancy induce hypertension (PIH)-high blood pressure, rapid weight gain, swollen face and fingers, headache, blurred vision

• Rubella-”German measles” can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, greatest threat during the 1st trimester

• RH factor -when a mother who is RH negative gives birth to a RH positive baby

• STD (an illness spread from one person to another by sexual contact)

2.5 Describe prenatal tests used to determine health of mother and fetus

• amniocentesis - a prenatal test using a sample of amniotic fluid to check for birth defects.

• chronic villa sampling - a prenatal test for specific birth defects performed by sampling small amounts of the tissue from the membrane around the fetus.

• ultrasound - a prenatal test using sound waves to make a picture of the unborn child.

2.6 List STDs most likely to affect the health of unborn baby and mother

• Gonorrhea– stillbirth or miscarriage– blindness if delivered through the birth canal– All babies are treated with eyedrops after birth.

• Syphilis– Stillbirth or miscarriage, physical disabilities

• Genital herpes– stillbirth or miscarriage– Can contract if delivered through the birth canal

• Chlamydia– death of the newborn– eye, ear, lung infections

• HIV/AIDS– Passed during pregnancy, delivery or breast-feeding

2.7 Describe three stages of prenatal development

• PRE-EMBRYONIC STAGE– The union of sperm and egg form a zygote.– This union is called conception.– 10 to 12 days after fertilization the zygote implants itself into the

lining of the uterus and begins to grow.– The placenta (a tissue in the uterus of a pregnant woman that brings

food and oxygen from the mother's body to a developing baby), umbilical cord (tube that connects the placenta to the unborn child which nourishes it, gives it oxygen, and takes away wastes) and the amniotic fluid (liquid that surrounds and protects the developing baby in the uterus during pregnancy) develop during this stage.

•

Gender Determination• The single celled zygote contains all the genetic

information need to determine the gender of the developing baby.

• Each person possesses two sex chromosomes: one is inherited from the father, one from the mother.– Female Sex Cells XX (Ovum or Egg)– Male Sex Cells XY (Sperm)

• Baby Girl = XX (when X chromosome sperm fertilizes egg)

• Baby Boy = XY (when Y chromosome sperm fertilizes egg)

• Gender is determined by the father!

• EMBRYONIC STAGE– Two weeks after conception until the eighth week of

pregnancy the developing baby is called an embryo.

• FETAL STAGE– From the ninth week of pregnancy until birth the the

developing baby is called a fetus.

2.8 Name factors that are harmful to the development of the unborn child

• medication and over-the-counter drugs– never take medication without doctor’s approval.

• illegal drugs– can cause miscarriage, premature birth– infants that survive suffer withdrawals

• alcohol– passes through the placenta– can cause Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (a birth defect that occurs because a mother

drinks alcohol during pregnancy), miscarriage or stillbirth.

• smoking– can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery or low birthweight– found to cause sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

• caffeine– affects are not known, but doctors recommend limiting

• x-rays– if possible postponed until after the baby is born

2.9 Describe types of care for the mother’s and baby’s health

• The expectant mother will receive prenatal care from her obstetrician or certified nurse- midwife.

• After the pregnancy is confirmed the due date will be calculated:– Note the first day of the last normal menstrual period– Count back three months from this date.– Add seven days.– This is the approximate due date

• For the first seven months check-ups usually occur once a month.• During the eighth month, visits are generally twice a month.• During the ninth month, visits are generally once a week until the

baby is born.• When the baby is born its care is handled by the pediatrician.

2.10 Name risks due to teen pregnancy

• The teen’s body is still growing and developing, so the pregnancy puts a burden on her body.

• If she has a poor diet, she and her baby must compete for nutrients.

• Premature births are common.

• Failure to have prenatal care can cause health problems for the baby.

• Infant mortality rate for babies born to teens indicates 13 deaths for every 1000 live births.

2.11 Discuss costs of teen pregnancies to society

• Teen mothers often rely on welfare to pay for medical costs as well as expenses for day to day living.– Medicaid, food stamps, WIC

• Many teens quite school which gives them fewer job options in the future.

• Teen parenting causes extra stress that could lead to poor decisions concerning care of the infant.– child abuse, neglect

2.12 State plans that need to be made prior to the birth of a baby

• Who will deliver the baby and where?

• Who will be attending the delivery?

• Will the mother have an epidural or other medication?

• Who will care for baby after birth?

• Pediatrician must be chosen

• Breast-feeding vs. bottle feeding

• Supplies and equipment must be gathered

2.13 List careers related to pregnancy and prenatal development

• Obstetrician

• Nurse midwife

• Ultrasound technician

• OB nurse