Chapter 2 Flashcards
Nutrition
-Inadequate maternal nutrition may result in premature birth and low birth weight -Mother should increase calorie intake by 10-20%
Spina Bifida
-A failure of the neural tube forming part of the spine to close -Affects about 1 in 100 births worldwide -Risk can be significantly reduced by taking folic acid before conception (for up to 3 months) and for first 12 weeks
Anencephaly
-Neural tube does not close completely during development but in this case it is the caudal part of the tube (that forms into the brain)
General Risk Factors
-Nutrition -Stress -Mother’s age
Stress
-Extreme maternal stress is associated with low birth weight and premature births
Prolonged/Extreme Stress
-Increases hormones reducing oxygen -Weakens mother’s immunity -Makes mother more likely to smoke or drink alcohol
Mother’s age
-Teenage mother -Older women (35 and older) -Older women (40 and older)
Teenage mothers
-Often suffer economic and educational disadvantage, poor prenatal care and marital difficulties -Likelier to experience pregnancy, labor and delivery problems -Have children who do less well in school and have behavioral problems
Older mothers (35 and older)
-More likely to have difficulty getting pregnant -Miscarriages -Stillbirths
Older mothers (40 and older)
-Higher risk of down syndrome
Three Types of Teratogens
-Drugs -Diseases -Environmental hazards
Teratogens
-Cause abnormal prenatal development
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
-One of the most common forms of mental retardation -Results from drinking 5+ oz. of alcohol a few times each week during pregnancy -Children with FAS may have mental retardation, facial deformities and heart defects
Why is alcohol so dangerous to prenates?
-Placenta does not block many harmful compounds -The developing susceptible to damage -Prenates do not have fully developed livers and other organs to assist with detoxification and management -B/c of prenates underdevelopment and small size, small amounts can have a large impact
Teratogens: Diseases
-AIDS, cytomegalovirus, genital herpes, rubella, and syphillis Effects Include: -Deafness -Neurological disorders -Blindness -Mental disability -Damage to bones, eyes, eyes or heart
Teratogens: Environmental Hazards
-Lead, mercury, PCBs, X-Rays Effects may include -Mental disability -Retarded growth -Cerebral palsy -Impaired memory and verbal skill -Retarded motor development -Leukemia
Prenatal Diagnosis
-Ultrasound -Amniocentesis -Chronic villus sampling
Genetic counseling
-Helps asses the chances of inherited disorders
Neonatal Withdrawal
-If the mother uses addictive drugs while pregnant, the infant may be born with a dependency to the drugs -Use is most dangerous during first 3 months of pregnancy
Fetal Medicine
-Administering medicine to the fetus -Fetal surgery to correct spina bifida and circulatory problems -Genetic engineering involves replacing defective genes with synthetic normal genes
Amniocentesis
Chorionic Villus Sampling
Stages of Labor
- Stage 1 (12-24 hours before birth)
- Stage 2 (<1 hour before birth)
- Stage 3 (minutes after birth)
Stage 1 of Labor
- Contractions become increasingly stronger and more rhythmic
- Cervix enlarges to about 10 centimeters
Stage 2 of Labor
- Baby passes through cervix, entering vagina
- Baby’s head appears (crowning); birth occurs
Stage 3 of Labor
- Placenta is expelled
Birthing alternatives
- Home births
- Birthing centers
Home Births facts
- More common outside of U.S.
- Less expensive
- Parents have more control over conditions
- Birth problems are the same in hospital as at home
Birthing Center Facts
- More home-like than hospitals but in a clinic setting independent of a hospital
Birth Complications
- Hypoxia
- May result in C-Section
- Premature
- Low birth weight
- Very low birth weight
- Extremely low birth weight
Hypoxia
- Inadequate blood and oxygen provided to the baby
Premature or preterm birth
- Baby born before the 36th week
Low birth weight
- Baby weighs less than 5.5 pounds
Very Low Birth Weight
- Babies weight is lower than 3.3 pounds
Extremely low birth weight
- Baby weigh less than 2.2 pounds
Mother’s adjustment 1-2 weeks after birth
- 50% of mothers experience irritation, resentment, and crying, reflecting stress and physiological changes
Mother’s adjustment months after birth
- 10-15% experience postpartum depression, which can affect baby
- Low self-worth, irritability, disturbed sleep, poor appetite, apathy
- Risk factors: high hormones late in pregnancy, pre-pregnancy depression, high stress, lack of support
- Breast feeding reduces risks
Infant Mortality
- The number of infants out of 1,000 that die before the age of 1
- U.S. has under a 1% rate of infant mortality, or 7 0\out of 1,000
Possible factors of infant mortality
- Low birth weight from a lack of free or inexpensive prenatal care
- Fewer paid leaves of absence for pregnant women
