Pregnancy & Early Development

How does life begin?• Fertilization or

conception• Joining of the sperm

and egg

• Takes place in the FALLOPIAN TUBE

• Zygote:• Egg & sperm form

ONE cell• 3-5 days to get to

UTERUS• Divides into many

cells on its journey

Inside the uterus• Embryo:• 1st 8 wks of devt.• W/in 3-5 days,

attaches to uterine wall

PREGNANCY now has occurred

4 early signs of pregnancy

1. A missed period2. Positive urine or

blood test3. Tender/enlarged

breasts4. Nausea & fatigue

How a baby developsPlacenta:• Provides nutrients and

oxygen to• Removes wastes from

the dev. humanUmbilical cord:• Connects EMBRYO to

PLACENTA. Carries nutrients and oxygen to the embryo.

Amniotic Sac:• Fluid filled sac that

develops around the embryo. Sac continues to grow as the embryo grows.

Pregnancy Facts• Usually lasts 40 weeks (9 months)• Broken into

stages of development (Trimesters)

1st Trimester• First 3 months• Major growth and change• Heart starts beating• Arm & leg buds appear• Eyes & brain begin to dev.• Bones & muscles dev.• Brain waves detected• FETUS @ 9 wks.

Second Trimester

2nd trimester• Months 4-6• Organ sys. cont. to

dev.• 4 mos. “kick”/move• Male or female known• Hear & recognize sounds• Hair forms• Facial features

• Can survive if premature at this point

Third Trimester• Months 7-9• Gains most of its

wt. (approx. 5 lbs)• 8 mos. = 20

inches• Can grasp with

hand

Multiple births

Identical Twins• ONE egg + ONE

sperm • Divides after fert.

to form 2 zygotes• Same genetic

material = same sex

Fraternal Twins• TWO eggs +

TWO sperm• Most common• Usually separate

sexes

Miscarriage vs. Stillbirth vs. Premature Birth• Miscarriage happens prior to the 20th week of pregnancy (5End

of fifth month)• Stillbirth occurs after the 20th week of pregnancy• Premature occurs before the start of the 37th week of

pregnancy• Less time to devleop in womb• Sometimes there are medical complications due to not fully

developing• Late preterm, born between 34 and 36 weeks of pregnancy• Moderately preterm, born between 32 and 34 weeks of pregnancy• Very preterm, born at less than 32 weeks of pregnancy• Extremely preterm, born at or before 25 weeks of pregnancy

• Interesting Fact” Earliest is was 21 weeks five days

Types of Childbirth• Natural• Delivers through the vagina

• Cesarean section (c-section)• Incision in abdomen and uterus• Baby & placenta lifted out• Under stress, too big, wrong position

• Breech• “rear end” birth