Stages of pregnancy

Question 1

What is an embryo

Answer 1

developing organism from conception to 8 weeks where it becomes a foetus

Question 2

What occurs during gap between conception and following 4 weeks?

Answer 2

one month embryo growth=4 mm long embryo
muscle segments on tube later form brain and spinal cord
brain develops along with heart and liver
evident embryonic tail

Question 3

What occurs during weeks 4 and 5 of embryonic period?

Answer 3

week 4 - throat region contains pharyngeal arches w/clifts between
- arches form structural elements of throat and face
- pouches between clefts form epithelial lining+throat glands
week 5 - arm and leg buds appear(arm buds more advanced)

Question 4

What occurs during embryonic period week 6 to week 8?

Answer 4

-organs are present but non-functional
-growth of 3 cm and weight of 1g
-head is 1/2 the size of the embryo
-jaws mostly developed while eyes, nose, ears, hands and fingers are full developed
-evident sexual organs

Question 5

When does foetal development start?

Answer 5

After about 4/16 weeks

Question 6

What occurs during foetal development month 4?

Answer 6

-uterus expands and belly bulge present
-growth of 18cm and 100g
-erect foetal posture
-movement (stretching of limbs)
- developed finger prints and heart rate of 120-160 bpm

Question 7

What occurs during foetal development month 5?

Answer 7

-uterus keeps developing
-growth of 25 cm and 300g

Question 8

What occurs during month 7 of foetal development?

Answer 8

apparent pregnancy
-growth of 27-38 cm and 565-1000g
-vigorous movement
-large brain+functional areas+furrows
-in male babies, testes will descend from scrotum

Question 9

What occurs during 8 month of foetal development?

Answer 9

growth of 41 to 45 cm and 1800-2200g

Question 10

What occurs during 9 month of foetal development?

Answer 10

-growth of 46-48 cm and 2700g
-fully developed circulatory system
-more time required for digestive system to develop
-no room for movement

Question 11

When does pregnancy finish usually? what happens during that time?

Answer 11

after about 40 weeks/ 10 months=full term
-foetal activity has decreased due to a decrease in space in the uterus
-growth of 50 or so cm and 3400g

-placenta fails
-foetus changes position (head at pelvis)

Question 12

What changes occur to the mother during the first trimester?

Answer 12

-period stops
-morning sickness
-increased breast development
-feeling giddy/nauseous/tired
-bladder squishes=more pee

Question 13

What changes to mother occur during 2nd and 3rd trimester?

Answer 13

-first movements of child
-noticeable abdominal growth during 5th month
-weight gain
-urination frequent
-backache
-varicose veins/haemorrhoids
-constipation
-edema

Question 14

What physiological changes occur to mother?

Answer 14

-above normal hormone amount
-blood volume increases by 50% = increase blood pressure
-increased functioning of heart + kidney
-risk of gestational diabetes
-pre-eclampsia

Question 15

What is parturition?

Answer 15

Labour
-hard work of delivering baby from uterine contractions
-preceded by a rise in the levels of oestrogen and oxytocin in the mothers bloodstream
-begins with contractions of the muscular walls of the uterus (start at top of uterus and sweep down to cervix)
-as labour progresses contraction=stronger+more frequent

Question 16

How do hormonal changes adi in labour?

Answer 16

-hormonal changes cause ligaments of pelvis to soften
-also increases response of uterus to stimuli which strengthens contractions of muscles

Question 17

What happens to the cervix during birth?

Answer 17

it softens, shortened in length and opens up a little.
-baby has it’s knees drawn as it takes up the least amount of room as possible

Question 18

What occurs during first stage of labour

Answer 18

1st phase: (latent) all things occurring before 6 cm dilation with contraction that last 30’s every 5 to 30 mins)
2nd phase: intense contractions breaking of the waters 60-90 secs long every 0.5-2 mins

Question 19

What occurs during second stage of labour (expulsions stage)?

Answer 19

birth of the baby
baby’s head contains unfused skull bones
most babies are head down
baby’s head is pushed–head/body is turned–shoulders and body is delivered

Question 20

What occurs during the third stage of labour?

Answer 20

Placenta/afterbirth
placenta comes away from the uterine wall (whole thing must be removed)

after this the uterus contracts to it’s original size through the helps of oxytocin

Question 21

Characteristics of a new-born

Answer 21

-50 cm long
-weigh 3.3kg
-head makes up 1/4 of the overall length of the child
-legs make up only 1/3
-no muscle control developed
-can breathe, suck, swallow, and get rid of wastes
-can see, hear, taste, smell, and turn head

Question 22

Changes in baby at birth

Answer 22

-new-born can no longer depend on placenta for food and oxygen
-lungs and liver must now become fully functional (blood must flow through them)
-clamping of umbilical vessels allows the level of carbon dioxide in babies blood to rise
-stimulates the respiratory centre in the brain=lungs begin to function
-as lungs expand=less resistance to blood flow=flow through ductus arteriosus decreases
-larger amounts of blood return to heart from lungs=pressure….