Pregnancy Flashcards
Signs of pregnancy
Morning sickness
Missed period
Feeling tired
Tingling nipples
Needing to go to the toilet
How does a pregnancy test work
You pee on the test or in a pot and then dip it into the pot. All pregnancy tests detect the hormone Human Chronic Gonadotropin (HCG) which starts to be produced around 6 days after fertilisation
Problems in pregnancy
Heartburn
Nausea
Tastes and cravings
Constipation
Varicose veins
What are varicose veins
These are veins that have become swollen and stretched. This may occur to veins in the legs during pregnancy making them ache
What is oedema
During pregnancy ankles, feet and fingers often swell as the body is holding more water than normal. Towards the end of the day extra water tends to gather in the lowest parts of the body
What is backache
As the baby grows the hollow in the lower back can become more pronounced and cause backache. Also during pregnancy the ligaments become softer and stretch to prepare the body for labour so this can put a strain on the joints of the lower back and pelvis causing backache
What is an ectopic pregnancy
An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilised egg implants in a fallopian tube instead of the uterus. The fertilised egg cant develop properly and the mothers health can be at serious risk if the pregnancy continues. Warning signs are pain and vaginal bleeding
What is a miscarriage
It is the loss of pregnancy during the first 24 weeks, the baby comes out of the uterus too early to survive on its own. Signs of miscarriage are pain and vaginal bleeding. Miscarriages are quite common in the first 3 months of pregnancy. Reason is usually unknown but it could be because there is something with the development of the baby or rejection by mothers immune system
Identical twins in the uterus
Same placenta
Same egg and sperm
Separate amniotic sac
Fraternal twins in the uterus
2 eggs
2 sperm
Separate placentas
Separate amniotic sacs
Identical twins
Identical twins develop when a fertilised egg splits into 2 parts and each develops into an individual. These twins are very much alike in appearance and are always of the same sex as they have inherited identical genes. Identical twins are more likely to be born to a younger mother
Fraternal twins
Fraternal twins develop when 2 eggs are released instead of one. Each egg is fertilised by a different sperm so the twins will be no more alike than any other 2 children in the same family. They can be the same sex or a boy and a girl. The chance of fraternal twins increases with the age of the mother, the number of pregnancies and history of twins in mother’s family
Baby development at week 6
Human embryos look more like a fish or frog ( tadpole)
Facial features are beginning to form
The heart is beating.
Initial development of organs, bones and blood
Buds appear where arms and legs will develop
Baby at week 14
About 85 mm
During weeks 10-14 the nerves and muscles develop rapidly
Fetus has all of its organs,muscles, limbs and bones and all sex organs are developed
Mother doesn’t feel movement at this stage
Heartbeat is strong and fast and can be heard by ultrasound scanner
Fetus weighs around 55g
Baby at week 14
About 85 mm
During weeks 10-14 the nerves and muscles develop rapidly
Fetus has all of its organs,muscles, limbs and bones and all sex organs are developed
Mother doesn’t feel movement at this stage
Heartbeat is strong and fast and can be heard by ultrasound scanner
Fetus weighs around 55g
Baby at week 20
- Around this time mother is able to feel movement
- The heartbeat can be heard through a stethoscope
- Fetus weighs around 350g
- Hair, eyebrows and eyelashes are beginning to grow
- Fetus has its own fingerprint. finger nails and toe nails are growing
Baby at week 28
- Development is almost complete. Limbs and organs are developed.
- The remaining time will be spent growing larger and stronger
- Eyes may be able to see light filtering through the uterus
- Fetus weighs around 1.1kg and is 37 cm long
- Fetus is energetic and moves around vigorously
- Fetus responds to touch and sound and will jump if startled by a loud noise.
- Fetus sleeps and wakes in patterns
Babys brain development
- A baby’s brain starts developing almost at the moment of conception.
-By 3 weeks pregnant the developing embryo has formed a neural groove, which is the foundation for the brain structure.
-By the time the babies are born, their brain will have over 100 billion neurons
Brain development in first trimester
- The brain grows at a remarkably rapid rate.
- By the end of the third week of gestation, embryo has formed the three parts of the brain.
- 1 week later the brain begins functioning
- At this point the brain begins to work on the placement of all major organs and systems.
- By the end of the eighth week of pregnancy, all major organs are in place
Brain development in second trimester
- By the start of the second trimester, all major structures of the brain are in place and functioning.
- From this point forward the brain and major organs continue to develop and mature.
- The brain connects to all parts of the body during this time
Brain development in third trimester
- The baby’s brain is developing rapidly during the last 3 months of pregnancy
- At this age the fetus can kick swallow and react to sound and light.
- The unborn baby will begin to recognise the mother routine and may begin to kick more when hearing the start of a regularly watched TV show
What is Aggregation
As the brain is formed, cells are being placed precisely where they need to go in a process called aggregation.
As the foetal brain develops, cells are organised in proper directions and layers, but sometimes this process goes awry. Abnormal cell aggregation in the brain might be caused by genetic or external factors such as poor maternal health habits such as drinking alcohol or using drugs . Studies show that chronic stress in the mother to be can also affect brain development
Foetal Alcohol Sydrome
Foetal Alcohol Sydrome is the primary known preventable cause of mental retardation. Babies born with this have measurable differences in brain structure.
- Babies with alcohol foetal sydrome may have
- a small head
- folds of skin between the eyes and nose
- smooth area between the nose and upper lip
- Thin upper lip
- small eye openings
- flat upper part of nose
- short nose
Problems for premature
- The baby’s brain continues to develop after birth.
- However babies born prematurely have compromised brains that may not develop as readily as babies born full term
- This is thought to be part due to the large amount of stimuli premature babies experience, which is much different than babies born full term.
- Full term babies finish their development in the dark quiet environment of the womb
