18 IN THE BEGINNING: CONCEPTION AND BIRTH Flashcards
What is the estimated chance of successful fertilization from a single act of sex?
About 3 percent
What has been reported regarding sperm counts in Western nations from 1973 to 2011?
Sperm counts fell by more than 50 percent
What are some suggested causes for the decline in sperm counts?
- Diet
- Lifestyle
- Environmental factors
- Frequency of ejaculation
- Wearing tight underpants
What did Nicholas Kristof attribute the decline in sperm counts to?
Endocrine disruptors found in various products
What does Richard Bribiescas believe about the reported sperm count declines?
Many counts are dubious and overall fertility may not be compromised
What is the average sperm count produced by a healthy male?
Varies from 1 million to 120 million per milliliter, with an average of about 25 million
At what stage of life are women born with their lifetime’s supply of eggs?
Inside the womb
How many eggs does a twenty-week-old fetus typically have?
6 million eggs
What happens to the number of eggs a woman has from birth to childbearing years?
Falls from 1 million at birth to about 180,000 at childbearing years
What is the average age of women at first birth in the United States?
26.4 years
What percentage of a woman’s eggs is typically exhausted by age 35?
95 percent
What is the term for the moment when cells begin differentiating during embryonic development?
Gastrulation
What are the two types of twins mentioned in the text?
- Identical (monozygotic) twins
- Fraternal (dizygotic) twins
What is the likelihood of having identical twins compared to fraternal twins?
1 in 250 for identical twins; 1 in 100 for fraternal twins
What happens to the developing embryo after three weeks?
It has a beating heart
What is the medical term for severe morning sickness during pregnancy?
Hyperemesis gravidarum
What was a common treatment for morning sickness in the past?
Thalidomide
Who identified the importance of handwashing to prevent puerperal fever?
Ignaz Semmelweis
What was the common saying regarding maternity and death?
Maternity is another word for eternity
What was the mortality rate for women infected with puerperal fever during outbreaks?
Up to 90 percent
Who was Semmelweis and what did he advocate for?
Semmelweis was a physician who advocated for hygiene practices in hospitals to reduce maternal deaths during childbirth.
Semmelweis’s commitment to hygiene was largely ignored during his time, leading to his tragic fate.
What did Joseph Lister introduce to operating theaters?
Joseph Lister introduced the use of carbolic acid as an antiseptic in operating theaters.
Lister’s practices included sterilizing the air around patients with a mist of carbolic acid.
What was the maternal death rate in the United States compared to other developed nations?
The maternal death rate in the United States is 16.7 per 100,000, which is higher than most developed nations.
For comparison, Italy has a rate of 3.9 per 100,000.
What is preeclampsia?
Preeclampsia is a pregnancy condition characterized by high blood pressure, which can pose dangers to both mother and baby.
It occurs in about 3.4 percent of pregnant women and can progress to eclampsia.
What role does the placenta play in pregnancy?
The placenta filters wastes, provides oxygen, distributes hormones, and protects the fetus from toxins and pathogens.
It is often referred to as ‘the least understood organ in the human body.’
True or False: The placenta can prevent all pathogens from crossing to the fetus.
False.
The placenta can block some pathogens but not others, such as the Zika virus.
What was the impact of the Maternal Quality Care Collaborative in California?
It reduced the rate of childbirth deaths from 17 per 100,000 to 7.3 between 2006 and 2013.
This initiative targeted leading causes of maternal death.
What are oligosaccharides in breast milk used for?
Oligosaccharides are complex sugars produced in breast milk that nourish the baby’s gut microbes.
These sugars cannot be digested by the baby but serve to benefit its microbiome.
Fill in the blank: The first thousand days of life are critical for _______.
[health and development].
This concept includes the period from conception to the child’s second birthday.
What is the Barker hypothesis?
The Barker hypothesis posits that conditions in the womb can influence health and disease risk throughout life.
It emphasizes critical periods of organ development.
What percentage of American women breast-fed their babies in 1962?
20 percent.
This rate increased significantly over the following decades.
What are the potential risks for babies born by Cesarean section?
Increased risks for type 1 diabetes, asthma, celiac disease, obesity, and allergies.
C-section babies miss out on beneficial microbes acquired during vaginal birth.
What is a significant issue regarding antibiotics given during delivery?
They may harm the baby’s microbiome as they acquire protective microorganisms.
Approximately four out of ten women receive antibiotics during delivery.
True or False: Infant formula can fully replicate the immunological benefits of mother’s milk.
False.
No formula can completely replicate the complex benefits of breastfeeding.
What is the average cost of childbirth in the United States?
About $30,000 for a conventional birth and $50,000 for a Cesarean.
This is significantly higher compared to other countries like the Netherlands.
What is one reason women in the U.S. have higher maternal death rates?
Higher rates of maternal obesity and increased use of fertility treatments.
These factors contribute to more complications during childbirth.
What are the common pain relief options for women in labor?
Gas and air, pethidine injection, or epidural anaesthetic.
These options have not significantly changed over generations.
What happens to a fetus’s lungs at the moment of birth?
The amniotic fluid drains away, and the lungs inflate for the first time.
This transition marks the beginning of independent life for the newborn.
What is cephalopelvic disproportion?
A condition where the baby’s head is too large to pass smoothly through the birth canal.
This is a significant challenge during human childbirth.
What is the critical period for organ development?
A brief period when each organ undergoes development, occurring at different times for different organs.
What is the significance of the first thousand days in human development?
It is the period from conception to the second birthday, crucial for long-term health and well-being.
What was the impact of the 1944 famine in the Netherlands on children conceived during that time?
They had normal birth weights but later developed higher rates of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
What are the health risks associated with children born into modern households?
Increased vulnerability to diseases due to poor lifestyle choices, such as unhealthy eating and lack of exercise.
True or False: Children today are expected to live healthier lives than their parents.
False
Fill in the blank: The term ‘sperm’ comes from a Greek word meaning _______.
[to sow]
What are the two terms used by doctors to classify types of twins?
- Binovular (fraternal twins)
- Uniovular (identical twins)
What organs remain plastic after birth?
- Liver
- Brain
- Immune system
What does the legacy of newborn babies today typically involve?
Being born into environments with poor nutrition and exercise habits.
What alarming prediction has been made about the health of children growing up today?
They may be the first in modern history to live shorter, less healthy lives than their parents.
