Health Status Of Australians Pregnant Women And Unborn Babies

Question 1

Foetal mortality

Answer 1

Relates to the deaths of babies over 20 weeks gestation or weighing at least 400 g

Question 2

Prenatal morbidity

Answer 2

Levels of disease or ill health in babies

Question 3

Neural Tube defects

Answer 3

The tube is the casing that encloses the brain and spinal cord during the embryonic stage of development.

The edges of the neural tube fused together in around the third week of pregnancy.
NTD’s are a group of conditions that occur when the neural tube does not fuse completely. These conditions can lead to morbidity and mortality in unborn babies.

Question 4

Spina bifida

Answer 4

Occurs when the part of the neural tube that will form the spinal-cord fails to fuse.
As a result the bones that developed into the spine are unable to form properly leading to an opening in the part of the spine through which the spinal-cord may protrude.

Adequate folate intake can reduce the risk of neural tube defects in unborn babies

Question 5

Maternal mortality

Answer 5

Relates to deaths amongst pregnant women where the cause of death is attributed to the pregnancy itself

Question 6

Maternal morbidity

Answer 6

Refers to the levels of ill-health of pregnant women

Question 7

Gestational diabetes

Answer 7

Characterised by high blood glucose levels

Question 8

Ectopic pregnancy

Answer 8

Occurs when instead of implanting in the uterus the embryo implants wherever in the mothers reproductive system. The fallopian tube is the most common side of implantation