Childbirth Flashcards
Zygote
fertilized ovum. the first two weeks of pregnancy
embryo
week 3-8
fetus
week 8 until delivery
umbilical cord
the connection between the fetus and the placenta that passes oxygen and nutrients from the mother to the child and returns waste products back to the mother
placenta
an organ attached to the endometrium lining that filters and transfers nutrients and oxygen to the fetus
amniotic fluid
guards against jolts, keeps the fetus at the constant temperature and keeps the fetus from adhering to the endometrium lining
amniotic sac
a very strong, clean and transparent membrane sac that surrounds the fetus and holds the amniotic fluid. it is broken to allow the baby to be delivered.
Womb/Uterus
the uterus is called a womb when a fetus is growing inside of it
Birth canal/vaginal canal
A vagina is called a birth or vaginal canal during the delivery of the fetus
First Trimester
- most critical and greatest time of vulnerability
- pregnancy signs and symptoms more likely to occur
- majority of physical development occurs *vital organs, heartbeat, and brain waves)
- small maternal weight gain
Second Trimester
- Quickening (slight fetal movements)
- Increased organ development
- Physically easiest for mom
Third Trimester
- Most demanding time of pregnancy for mom
- Lanugo (fine hair) and vernix (waxy coating) both covering the fetus begins to disappear
-fetus gains a protective fatty layer (gains 5-6 lbs) - lighting (the dropping movement of the baby into mom’s pelvic region) in the last weeks of pregnancy
Multiple Births
- Identical twins: Develop when one ovum is fertilized by a sperm and then splits into 2
- Fraternal Twins: Develop when more than one separate ovum each are fertilized by a sperm
- Conjoined Twins: Develop when the fertilized cells (identical twins) do not completely split apart before developing
Pregnancy Complications
- Low birth weight (when the fetus is under 5.5 lbs at birth
- miscarriage (pregnancy loss that takes place before 20th week in pregnancy)
- Maternal Mortality (the death of a woman during pregnancy, at delivery, or soon after delivery
- Stillborn (birth of an infant that has died in the womb after 20 weeks of pregnancy)
- RH factor (Test at 28 weeks. Mom RH+ and baby with RH -. Blood will not mix with the babies blood. Can lead to complications in pregnancy or anemia in baby)
Gestational Diabetes (Diagnoses as diabetes during pregnancy. Can be controlled with diet) - Placenta Previa (The condition where the placenta lies very low in the uterus and cover part of the cervix)
- Toxemia/pre-eclampsia
Premature Birth
Premature: born before 37 weeks
- moderately: born between 35-37 weeks
- Very: born between 29-34 weeks
- Extremely: born between 24-28 weeks
Low Birth weight: Weighs less that 5.5 lbs
- very low: less that 3 lbs
- Extremely Low: less than 2.2 lbs
3 stages of labor
1) Dilation (usually the longest stage while the cervix dilates from 0-10cm
2) Expulsion (the birth of the baby
- CrowningL when the baby head has passed through the birth canal and the top “crown” is visible at the vaginal opening
3) Afterbirth (when the afterbirth - amniotic sac, placenta and umbilical cord - is expelled. Lasts from 5-20 mins
Delivery Options
1) Vaginal Delivery (baby delivered through the vaginal opening)
2) Cesarean Section (performed sot he baby can be delivered through an incision in the abdominal wall and uterus
-reasons: position of baby, umbilical cord issues, fetus under stress, mother in danger)
Anesthesia
1) Natural Childbirth without any medication
2) Pain Relievers - used for pain relief without loss of feeling or muscle movement
3) Epidural - medication given to relieve pain during labor and delivery, that is injected into a space within the expecting mother’s spinal cord that numbs from the abdomen or pelvis down
delivery support
1) obstetrician - doctor trained to deliver baby
2) Midwife - registered nurse with additional training as a midwife or a person with formal training in childbirth without a nursing degree who delivers infants and provides and postpartum cares.
labor
regular contractions of the uterus that result in dilation and effacement of cervix
- effacement: the thinning of the cervix to prepare for birth (expressed in %)
- dilation: the extent to which the cervix has opened in preparation for childbirth. It is measured in cm; full dilation = 10cm)
mucus plug
a pinkish plug that covers the cervix, is released at the beginning of labor
fontanels
soft sports between the unfused sections of the baby’s skull. These allow the baby’s head to compress slightly during passage through the birth canal
episiotomy
a surgical incision made on the perineum to enlarge the vaginal opening to help deliver a baby
station
refers to the position of the baby in the birth canal
contraction
the regular tightening of the uterus working to push the baby gown the birth canal
delivery
the process of the fetus being expelled from the uterus
forceps/vaccum extraction
tools used by the obstetrician to guide the fetal head during delivery
lochia
bloody vaginal discharge, compared to a heavy period. could last up to 6 weeks
post partum
the time after delivery where rest is the mothers primary physical need.
