2. 5
Prenatal Care 2

3. Key Terms obstetricians environmental factors premature
low birthweight
Rh factor
diabetes
pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH)
sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
continued

4. Key Terms fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) congenital problem
pre-term birth
miscarriage
stillbirth
ultrasound
chorionic villus sampling (CVS)
amniocentesis 4

5. Objective
Describe the early signs of pregnancy.

6. Signs of Pregnancy
Presumptive signs may be the cause of pregnancy or a medical condition
continued

7. Signs of Pregnancy
Positive signs are definitely caused by pregnancy 7

8. Medical Care
Obstetricians are doctors who specialize in pregnancy and birth
First prenatal appointment sets a foundation for medical care throughout the pregnancy
gather health history
complete physical exam
give estimate of due date
give advice on health habits to follow in pregnancy

9. Objective
Explain the role of the environment on prenatal development.

10. The Unborn Baby’s Environment
Environmental factors are caused by surroundings
The prenatal environment is the mother’s body and will affect the baby

11. Factors That Affect the Baby’s Health

12. Mother’s Age Most ideal time between 21–28 years
Teens are high-risk mothers-to-be
tend to have babies who are premature, have low birthweights, have disabilities, or are born dead
Women over 36 have higher rate of babies with health problems and disabilities

13. Mother’s Physical Health
Healthy weight for age, height, and body type
Good eating habits
Regular physical activity

14. Rh Factor Rh factor is a protein substance found in red blood cells
85% of population
Problems if father is Rh+, mother Rh-
12% of all marriages
Does not affect first Rh+ unborn
antibodies form to combat foreign Rh+
Anti-Rh-immune globulin vaccine

15. Mother’s Emotional Health
When a mother is happy and relaxed,
adrenaline level is low
heartbeat and breathing are slow
muscles are relaxed
When a mother is under stress, heartbeat and muscle tension increases in both mother and baby

16. Objective
Explain the relationship between the health of the mother and the health of the baby.

17. Health Habits During Pregnancy
Nutrition
Weight gain
Hygiene practices
Rest and sleep
Physical activity and exercise

18. Nutrition
By the twelfth week, baby completely depends on mother for food
Cells need proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins
Follow the food guidance system developed by the USDA
Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water
Limit caffeine intake 18

19. Weight Gain Between 25–35 pounds More for multiples
40–45 pounds for twins
Exact amount depends on height and prepregnancy weight
continued 19

20. Weight Gain
Much of the weight gain goes to the growing baby and the supporting tissues
Too much or too little weight gain is not good for the developing baby
Sudden weight gain and unusual swelling are serious conditions that require prompt medical attention 20

21. Hygiene Practices Have a dental checkup
Avoid very cold or very hot baths and hot tubs
Wear comfortable clothes with low-heeled shoes
Replace tub baths with showers or sponge baths during the last four to six weeks of pregnancy 21

22. Rest and Sleep Eight to nine hours of sleep a night
One 15- to 30-minute rest (with or without sleep) during the day 22

23. Physical Activity and Exercise
Activity helps
keep weight within normal limits
strengthens muscles women use in delivery
increases energy
relieves tension
Avoid contact sports, activities that jolt the pelvic region, and activities that could result in falls 23

24. Objective
Describe how diseases, drugs, radiation, environmental pollutants, and congenital problems can harm the fetus.

25. Health Hazards to Avoid
Diseases or illnesses in the mother
Drugs
recreational and prescription
Radiation exposure
medical X-rays should be avoided
Environmental pollution
lead, chemicals, pesticides, herbicides

26. Diseases or Illnesses in the Mother
Diabetes is caused by the body’s inability to use sugar properly
gestational diabetes affects women who did not have diabetes before pregnancy
Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension (PIH) is high blood pressure caused by pregnancy
referred to as preeclampsia or toxemia
continued

27. Diseases or Illnesses in the Mother
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infectious illnesses that are passed primarily through sexual intercourse
also known as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

28. Drugs Medications Alcohol Nicotine Illegal drugs prescribed
over-the-counter
dietary supplements
herbal products
Alcohol
fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)
Nicotine
Illegal drugs

29. Complications of Pregnancy
Congenital problem is a physical or biochemical problem present since birth
Pre-term birth is before 37 weeks of pregnancy
Miscarriage is the expulsion of the baby before 20 weeks of pregnancy
stillbirth is the loss of the fetus after 20 weeks of pregnancy
continued

30. Complications of Pregnancy
Ectopic pregnancy in fallopian tubes
Too much amniotic fluid
Too little amniotic fluid
Bleeding in late pregnancy
Placenta abruptio (placenta detaches from uterus)
Placenta previa (placenta over cervix)
Pregnancy-induced hypertension

31. Monitoring the Baby’s Development
Blood test given at 12 weeks is called a triple-screen
measures AFP (alpha-fetoprotein), HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), and estriol (protein found during pregnancy)
screens for neural tube defects, Down syndrome, and severe abnormalities
Other blood tests screen for STIs and gestational diabetes
continued

32. Monitoring the Baby’s Development
Ultrasound produces an image of the fetus inside the womb
checks for structural abnormalities
used at any time
safe and routine
continued

33. Monitoring the Baby’s Development
Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) tests a small sample of the chorion
used between weeks 10 and 12
slight risk of infection
Amniocentesis checks amniotic fluid for over 100 congenital problems
cannot be done until the fetus is 15 to 18 weeks old
99% safe

34. What Do You Think?
Do you think technology should some day be used to allow couples to choose the sex of a baby or other more specialized characteristics, such as height?

35. Glossary of Key Terms
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which attacks the body’s immune system.
amniocentesis. Prenatal test in which a needle is inserted through the woman’s abdomen into the amniotic sac and a sample of the fluid is removed for cell study.

36. Glossary of Key Terms
chorionic villus sampling (CVS). Prenatal procedure for finding abnormalities in the unborn by testing a small sample of the chorion.
congenital problem. Physical or biochemical problem that is present at birth and may be caused by genetic or environmental factors.

37. Glossary of Key Terms
diabetes. Disorder caused by the body’s inability to use sugar properly.
environmental factors. Those factors caused by a person’s surroundings.
fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Group of symptoms that appears in infants whose mothers drank during pregnancy.

38. Glossary of Key Terms
low birthweight. Term used to describe babies who weigh less than 5½ pounds at birth.
miscarriage. Expulsion of a baby from the mother’s body before week 20 of pregnancy.
obstetricians. Doctors who specialize in pregnancy and birth.

39. Glossary of Key Terms
pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). Name for high blood pressure caused by pregnancy.
premature. Term used to describe babies who are born too soon.
pre-term birth. Delivery that occurs before 37 weeks of pregnancy.

40. Glossary of Key Terms
Rh factor. Protein substance found in the red blood cells of about 85 percent of the population.
sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Infectious illnesses that are passed primarily through sexual intercourse.
stillbirth. Loss of a fetus after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

41. Glossary of Key Terms
ultrasound. Prenatal test in which sound waves bounce off the fetus to produce an image of the fetus inside the womb.