Pregnancy Flashcards
What is conception?
Joining of two germ cells - the ovum and sperm - to make a single cell called a zygote (fertilized egg)
Conception typically happens through male-female sexual intercourse but can occur through other methods.
What are the two germ cells involved in conception?
Ovum and sperm
The ovum is commonly referred to as the egg.
What is the result of conception?
A single cell called a zygote (fertilized egg)
The zygote is the initial stage of development following fertilization.
Fill in the blank: The joining of the ovum and sperm creates a _______.
zygote
True or False: Conception can only occur through male-female sexual intercourse.
False
Conception can happen through other methods as well.
What are the female reproductive glands that produce and store ova?
Ovaries
Ovaries also contain follicles where each ovum is stored.
What is the small sac called where each ovum is stored in the ovary?
Follicle
Each ovum is developed within a follicle in the ovaries.
What hormonal changes occur in a female’s body during puberty regarding follicles?
Some follicles grow and fill with fluid each month.
What is the term for the release of an ovum from its follicle?
Ovulation
What happens to the other follicles that were growing when one ovum is released?
They typically become inactive.
What structure does the egg travel through after being released?
Fallopian tubes
These are two hollow tubes extending from the uterus.
What is the role of the uterus in female anatomy?
It is the reproductive organ where an embryo/fetus develops.
What is the cervix?
The lower, narrow portion of the uterus that connects it to the vagina.
Fill in the blank: The _______ is the birth canal in female anatomy.
Vagina
When do a male’s testes start producing sperm?
At puberty
Sperm production continues throughout a male’s lifetime.
What is the typical sperm count in semen during male-female intercourse?
Over 100 million sperm
Semen is the liquid that contains sperm.
What is the pathway that sperm takes to reach the egg?
Vagina, cervix, uterus, fallopian tube
This journey is essential for fertilization.
How many sperm typically try to fertilize the egg?
Many sperm
Only one sperm successfully fertilizes the egg.
What happens once one sperm successfully enters the ovum?
No other sperm can enter
This marks the occurrence of conception.
How long can the sperm’s journey to the ovum take?
15 minutes to several days
The time depends on the female’s time of ovulation.
When is conception most likely to occur in relation to the ovum’s position?
When the ovum is less than one-third of the way down the fallopian tube
After this point, the ovum is less viable.
How long can sperm live inside a female’s body?
Up to 5 days
This allows for the possibility of pregnancy even if intercourse occurs before ovulation.
What marks Day One of the pregnancy timeline?
First day of menstruation
This is the starting point for tracking pregnancy.
When does ovulation typically occur in the menstrual cycle?
Around day 14
This is the time when the egg is released.
When does conception usually take place?
Within 24 hours of ovulation
This is when sperm fertilizes the egg.
How many days after fertilization does the fertilized egg implant into the uterine lining?
About six days
This is a crucial step in establishing pregnancy.
What indicates that a person is pregnant in the menstrual cycle?
Around day 21
This is if conception and implantation occurred during the cycle.
What is the typical duration of pregnancy?
~ 9 months (40 weeks)
This is the standard length for gestation.
How is pregnancy divided in terms of trimesters?
Into 3 trimesters
Each trimester represents a different stage of development.
What are the three stages of prenatal development?
Germinal, embryonic, fetal
These stages represent the progression of development during pregnancy.
What is the Germinal Stage?
First two weeks after conception
This stage involves the initial cell division and implantation of the embryo.
What is the duration of the Embryonic Stage?
Weeks 3-8 after conception (6 weeks)
This stage is critical for the development of the embryo.
What are the support systems that develop during the Embryonic Stage?
- The chorion
- The amnion
- The placenta
- The umbilical cord
These structures are essential for the protection and nourishment of the embryo.
What is the function of the chorion?
It is the outermost membrane that surrounds the embryo in the uterus
The chorion plays an important role in forming the placenta.
What is the purpose of the amnion?
A fluid-filled sac that surrounds and protects the embryo
It helps maintain a stable environment for the developing baby.
What is the placenta and its functions?
- Nourishes the embryo/fetus
- Removes waste
- Exchanges gases between pregnant person and embryo/fetus
- Provides hormones
The placenta is an organ filled with blood vessels that develops against the wall of the uterus.
What does the umbilical cord connect?
Connects the embryo/fetus to the placenta
The umbilical cord contains three blood vessels.
Fill in the blank: The umbilical cord grows out from the developing baby at the site of the future _______.
[navel]
The navel is where the umbilical cord connects to the baby.
What is the fetal stage of prenatal development?
Begins 9 weeks after conception and lasts until birth
During this stage, all parts of the unborn baby’s body mature and overall size increases quickly.
What is the medical term for a baby during the fetal stage?
Fetus
At how many weeks can the fetal heartbeat be heard?
20 weeks pregnant
What is quickening in pregnancy?
The feeling of the fetus’s movements by the pregnant person
Occurs around 18-20 weeks for first-time pregnancies and 15-17 weeks for subsequent pregnancies.
What does the term ‘age of viability’ refer to?
The time when a baby can survive if born early
Begins possibly as early as 23 weeks, with improving chances each week until 40 weeks.
What is the first stage of development in the first month of pregnancy?
Zygote
What major developments occur in the first month of pregnancy?
- Formation of the heart, lungs, face, arms, and legs
- Heart begins beating
- Digestive system forms
- Brain and spinal cord develop from the neural tube
- Ears and eyes begin to form
- Backbone, skull, ribs, and muscles can be seen on ultrasound
How long is the embryo by the end of the first month?
½ inch long
What key developments occur during the second month of pregnancy?
- Heartbeat detectable by ultrasound around week 6
- Liver and stomach start to work
- Head makes up nearly half of the embryo
- Arms and legs take shape
- Distinct wrists, elbows, hands, knees, and feet develop
- Eyes take on color
- Eyelids form but are sealed shut
- Ears, nose, and mouth take shape
What is the length of the embryo at the end of the second month?
1 inch long
What is the weight of the embryo at the end of the second month?
1/3 ounce
At what point is the baby referred to as a fetus?
At the beginning of the third month
What developments occur during the third month of pregnancy?
- Bones are growing
- Kidneys are functioning
- Fetus moves often but cannot be felt
- Tooth sockets and buds forming
- Fetus can open and close mouth and swallow
- Fingerprints appear
- All body parts are formed
How long is the fetus at the end of the third month?
4 inches long
What is the weight of the fetus at the end of the third month?
1 ounce
What is the significant development of the baby’s heartbeat during the fourth month?
Baby’s heartbeat is strong
What develops in the baby during the fourth month but is not in use?
Baby’s airways
What is the condition of the baby’s skin by the end of the fourth month?
Skin is transparent and thin
What physical feature appears on the baby during the fourth month?
Fingernails
What behaviors can the baby exhibit during the fourth month?
Baby sleeps and wakes, moves and kicks, sucks their thumb
When may the pregnant person start to feel the baby’s movements?
Toward the end of the fourth month
What major structure is formed by the end of the fourth month?
Placenta
What grows and thickens to support the baby during the fourth month?
Umbilical cord
Which systems develop in the baby by the end of the fourth month?
Nervous system and reproductive system
By the end of the fourth month, how long is the baby approximately?
About 6 inches long
By the end of the fourth month, what is the baby’s approximate weight?
About 4 ounces
What continues to grow in the baby during the fifth month?
Baby’s internal organs
What increases to support the baby’s lungs during the fifth month?
Blood supply to the lungs
What physical features appear on the baby during the fifth month?
Eyelashes, eyebrows, and scalp hair
What protects the baby’s skin from its watery surroundings during the fifth month?
Lanugo and vernix
What developmental pattern does the baby establish during the fifth month?
Baby sleeps and wakes in a pattern
By the end of the fifth month, how long is the baby approximately?
About 10 inches long
By the end of the fifth month, what is the baby’s approximate weight?
About ½ to 1 pound
What happens to the baby’s growth during the sixth month?
Baby’s growth speeds up
What sensory abilities does the baby develop during the sixth month?
Baby can hear sounds and opens and closes their eyes
What is the condition of the baby’s skin by the end of the sixth month?
Skin is red, wrinkled, and oily
By the end of the sixth month, how long is the baby approximately?
About 12 inches long
By the end of the sixth month, what is the baby’s approximate weight?
Almost 2 pounds
What major developments occur in the baby’s brain during the seventh month?
Baby’s brain, nervous system, and lungs have become much more mature
What is the state of the baby’s bones during the seventh month?
Bones are developed but soft and flexible; beginning to harden
What begins to develop under the surface of the baby’s skin during the seventh month?
Fatty tissue
What significant change occurs in the baby’s lungs during the seventh month?
Lungs have matured and can support the baby
What can be seen from outside the pregnant person’s body when the baby moves during the seventh month?
Outline of the baby’s fist, foot, or head
By the end of the seventh month, how long is the baby approximately?
About 14 inches long
By the end of the seventh month, what is the baby’s approximate weight?
About 2-4 pounds
What occurs in the eighth month regarding the baby’s growth?
Baby continues to grow in weight and length
Rapid brain growth continues during this month.
What change occurs to the baby’s skin in the eighth month?
Skin is no longer wrinkled due to the layer of fatty tissue under the surface
The skin color is pink, not red.
How does the baby’s movement change in the eighth month?
Baby has less room to move around, but kicks strongly
What position may the baby adopt in the eighth month?
Baby may position itself head-down in the uterus
At the end of the eighth month, how long is the baby?
About 18 inches long
At the end of the eighth month, what is the baby’s weight?
About 5 pounds
How much weight does the baby gain each week in the ninth month?
About ½ pound each week
What significant development occurs in the baby’s lungs during the ninth month?
Lungs continue to mature
What happens to the downy hair that covered the baby’s skin in the ninth month?
Downy hair disappears
What position does the baby typically move into during the ninth month?
Usually head down and stays there until birth
What is the average length of babies at birth?
19 to 21 inches long
What is the average weight of babies at birth?
6 to 9 pounds
What role does the genome play during pregnancy?
Guides growth and development
What is the function of the epigenome during pregnancy?
Can turn genes on and off, impacting gene function throughout life
As the child develops, what traits are likely to be similar to family members?
Appearances, abilities, interests, and personality traits
What is the genetic code stored in?
DNA
DNA is a chemical compound found in threadlike structures called chromosomes.
How many chromosomes do humans have?
46 chromosomes
These chromosomes form 23 pairs in each of the body cells.
How many chromosomes do sperm and egg cells each have?
23 chromosomes
When fertilization occurs, the sperm and egg pair up to create a zygote with 46 chromosomes.
How many genes does each chromosome have approximately?
About 20,000 genes
What types of chromosomes do humans have?
22 pairs of autosomes and one pair of sex chromosomes
Who discovered the laws of heredity?
Gregor Mendel
What are dominant traits?
Traits that are always expressed in a person even if only one gene-pair is inherited
What are recessive traits?
Traits that are not typically expressed unless both genes for the trait are inherited
What happens to a person who inherits only one recessive gene for a trait?
They become a carrier of that trait
Fill in the blank: A person with only one recessive gene can pass the trait to _______ generations.
later
True or False: Dominant traits require both gene pairs to be expressed.
False
True or False: Recessive traits can be expressed in future generations if a carrier is present.
True
What is the ideal age range for a person to get pregnant?
Between 21 and 28 years of age
What populations are considered high-risk for pregnancy?
Teens and people over 35 years old
How does the biological father’s age affect pregnancy?
Affects the number of genetic mutations in sperm, leading to potential genetic disorders
What health problems can affect pregnancy and the baby’s health?
Any health problems a person has before and during pregnancy
What are some steps that can be taken regarding health risks during pregnancy?
Steps can be taken to lower these risks
List some health risks to watch out for during pregnancy.
- Diabetes/gestational diabetes
- Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension (PIH)
- Rh factor
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
- Rubella
- STIs
What are the effects of untreated syphilis during pregnancy?
Causes deafness, brain damage, skin lesions, bone and facial deformities, and fetal death
What are the potential effects of herpes on newborns?
Skin lesions, brain damage, and a 50% death rate in newborns
What is a preventive measure to avoid herpes transmission during childbirth?
C-sections may prevent contact with secretions
What can untreated gonorrhea lead to in infants?
Blindness
What treatment is used for infants exposed to gonorrhea?
Placing silver nitrate or antibiotic ointment in the infant’s eyes and treating the baby with antibiotics
What are some consequences of chlamydia during pregnancy?
Miscarriage, low birthweight, and death of infants due to lung disorders
What does pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) often result from?
Often caused by gonorrhea or chlamydia
What complications can HPV cause during childbirth?
Warts may block the vaginal canal, requiring surgical delivery
What is the outcome for most babies born to mothers with HPV?
Most babies overcome the virus without treatment
What is the risk associated with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in a child?
Illness and perhaps very early death of the child
What is the treatment available for children born to mothers with AIDS?
Treatment of symptoms; no cure available
What are the potential effects of nicotine during pregnancy?
Low birthweight, premature birth, congenital disorders, abnormal brain development, cleft lip/palate, miscarriage or infant death
These effects highlight the risks associated with nicotine exposure during pregnancy.
What is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)?
A condition resulting from alcohol exposure during pregnancy that leads to developmental issues
FAS is part of a spectrum of disorders caused by prenatal alcohol exposure.
List three disorders related to alcohol exposure during pregnancy.
- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
- Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND)
- Alcohol-Related Birth Defects (ARBD)
These disorders can have long-lasting effects on a child’s development.
What are the risks associated with recreational drug use during pregnancy?
Early birth, death before birth, withdrawal symptoms, damage to a baby’s brain, eyes, heart, limbs, intestines, urinary tract, mood disorders
These risks demonstrate the impact of substance abuse on prenatal health.
How can a pregnant person’s emotional health affect prenatal development?
Positive thoughts and feelings influence the health of a baby; stress hormones can cross the placenta
Emotional well-being is crucial for both the mother and the developing fetus.
What happens to a baby’s heartbeat and breathing in response to the parent’s emotional state?
The baby can detect changes in the parent’s heartbeat and breathing rates
This connection shows the impact of maternal emotions on fetal development.
What is the recommended weight gain during pregnancy?
~25-35 lbs, but may vary based on doctor’s recommendation
Weight gain recommendations can differ based on individual health factors.
What are some key health habits during pregnancy?
- Medical (prenatal) care early and often
- Nutrition
- Physical fitness
- Good hygiene practices
- See dentist
- Rest (8-9 hrs of sleep + 15-30 min rest during the day)
These habits contribute to a safe and successful childbearing experience.
Fill in the blank: The best way to make childbearing safe and successful is through _______.
[medical (prenatal) care]
Early and regular prenatal care is essential for monitoring the health of both mother and baby.
True or False: Stress is always harmful to a developing fetus.
False
While some stress is manageable, prolonged or severe stress can be dangerous.
