Pregnancy and Pregnancy and ChildbirthChildbirthHuman Sexuality UnitHuman Sexuality Unit

Lesson 8Lesson 8

Prenatal CarePrenatal Care What is it?What is it? Care that is given to mother-to-be and Care that is given to mother-to-be and

baby before birthbaby before birth Includes:Includes:

Routine medical examsRoutine medical exams Proper nutritionProper nutrition Reasonable exerciseReasonable exercise Extra rest/relaxationExtra rest/relaxation Childbirth/child care educationChildbirth/child care education Avoidance of risk behaviorsAvoidance of risk behaviors Common sense!Common sense!

Common QuestionsCommon Questions Question #1…Question #1… Healthy dietHealthy diet Prenatal vitaminsPrenatal vitamins

Ensures fetus will get needed nutrientsEnsures fetus will get needed nutrients What happens if baby does not receive What happens if baby does not receive

proper nutrients?proper nutrients? Premature birthPremature birth

Baby is born before fully developed (less than 38 Baby is born before fully developed (less than 38 weeks)weeks)

Low birth weightLow birth weight Weight at birth – less than 5.5 poundsWeight at birth – less than 5.5 pounds

Both are associated with mental retardationBoth are associated with mental retardation

Common QuestionsCommon Questions Question #2…Question #2… Morning sicknessMorning sickness

Can occur at any time throughout dayCan occur at any time throughout day Most common in morning – before mother has Most common in morning – before mother has

eateneaten Other symptoms of pregnancy:Other symptoms of pregnancy: Missed periodsMissed periods Breast tendernessBreast tenderness FatigueFatigue Change of appetiteChange of appetite All vary from female to femaleAll vary from female to female

Common QuestionsCommon Questions Question #3…Question #3… Over-the-counter and prescription drugsOver-the-counter and prescription drugs

Check with physician before takingCheck with physician before taking Can harm developing babyCan harm developing baby

Ex. – aspirin may interfere with blood clotting in mother and Ex. – aspirin may interfere with blood clotting in mother and fetusfetus

Avoid harmful drugsAvoid harmful drugs Marijuana, cocaine, heroinMarijuana, cocaine, heroin What happens to babies born to mothers who are What happens to babies born to mothers who are

drug-users?drug-users? = Premature birth, low birth weight, addicted = Premature birth, low birth weight, addicted

to drugsto drugs

PrematuPremature re

Babies/Babies/Low Low

Birth Birth WeightWeight

Five Weeks PregnantFive Weeks Pregnant

EmbryoEmbryo Name given a developing baby from the Name given a developing baby from the

time of conception until the ninth weektime of conception until the ninth week ½ inch in size½ inch in size

Common QuestionsCommon Questions Question #4…Question #4… Avoid tobacco products and secondhand Avoid tobacco products and secondhand

smokesmoke Females who smoke:Females who smoke:

Have babies in poorer general healthHave babies in poorer general health Increase the risk of complications (miscarriage, Increase the risk of complications (miscarriage,

stillbirth)stillbirth) MiscarriageMiscarriage

Natural ending of a pregnancy before a baby is Natural ending of a pregnancy before a baby is developed enough to survive on its owndeveloped enough to survive on its own

StillbirthStillbirth Fully developed baby born deadFully developed baby born dead

Nine Weeks PregnantNine Weeks Pregnant

FetusFetus Name given a developing baby from the Name given a developing baby from the

ninth week until birthninth week until birth 2 inches in size2 inches in size

Common QuestionsCommon Questions

Question #5…Question #5… Avoid alcohol during pregnancyAvoid alcohol during pregnancy

Impact unborn babyImpact unborn baby Can cause fetal alcohol syndromeCan cause fetal alcohol syndrome

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) Presence of severe birth defects in babies born to Presence of severe birth defects in babies born to

mothers who drink alcohol during pregnancymothers who drink alcohol during pregnancy Includes damage to brain and nervous system, Includes damage to brain and nervous system,

facial abnormalities, small head size, below facial abnormalities, small head size, below normal IQ, poor coordination, heart defects, and normal IQ, poor coordination, heart defects, and behavior problemsbehavior problems

Common QuestionsCommon Questions

Question #6…Question #6… Caffeine in pregnant femalesCaffeine in pregnant females

Ask physicianAsk physician Some levels of caffeine may be linked to Some levels of caffeine may be linked to

birth defectsbirth defects Products with caffeine:Products with caffeine:

Coffee, chocolate, cola drinks, tea, Coffee, chocolate, cola drinks, tea, and some prescription and over-the-and some prescription and over-the-counter drugscounter drugs

Four Months PregnantFour Months Pregnant

Approximate size of developing fetus Approximate size of developing fetus = 5 ½ inches= 5 ½ inches

Changes During Changes During PregnancyPregnancy

Three trimester time periodsThree trimester time periods Trimester = 3 monthsTrimester = 3 months

Changes During Changes During PregnancyPregnancy

First Trimester (First 3 months of First Trimester (First 3 months of pregnancy)pregnancy) Mother: menstruation stops, breast Mother: menstruation stops, breast

tenderness, fatigue, frequent urination, tenderness, fatigue, frequent urination, nausea/vomitingnausea/vomiting

Embryo/Fetus: eyes, nose, and brain Embryo/Fetus: eyes, nose, and brain appear, can see heart, nervous system appear, can see heart, nervous system and brain coordinate body functionsand brain coordinate body functions

Changes During Changes During PregnancyPregnancy

Second Trimester (Months 4-6 of Second Trimester (Months 4-6 of pregnancy)pregnancy) Mother: breasts may secrete liquid, Mother: breasts may secrete liquid,

size of uterus increases, fetal size of uterus increases, fetal movements very noticeable, “showing” movements very noticeable, “showing” moremore

Fetus: body covered with downy hair, Fetus: body covered with downy hair, skin is less transparent, sucks thumbskin is less transparent, sucks thumb

Changes During Changes During PregnancyPregnancy

Third Trimester (Last 3 months of Third Trimester (Last 3 months of pregnancy)pregnancy) Mother: weight gain continues, uterus Mother: weight gain continues, uterus

extends (top of uterus nears breastbone extends (top of uterus nears breastbone by the 9by the 9thth month), fetal movements month), fetal movements continue, possible difficult walking continue, possible difficult walking

Fetus: covered with greasy substance Fetus: covered with greasy substance to protect from chapping, hair on head, to protect from chapping, hair on head, skin red and wrinkledskin red and wrinkled