1. Conception • Conception is when sperm and egg meet
and fertilization occurs
• Sperm - one of the tiniest cells in the human
body
• Conception occurs in the outer third of the
fallopian tube
• Zygote - fertilized egg

2. Improving the Chances of Conception
• Time intercourse so it occurs around time of
ovulation
• Sperm live inside a woman’s body for up to
5 days
• Egg is capable of being fertilized for about
the first 12 to 24 hours after ovulation
• Position during and after intercourse is
important

3. Symptoms of Pregnancy • Missed menstrual period • Breast tenderness
• Morning sickness
• More frequent urination

4. Diagnostic Signs of Pregnancy
• Presumptive Signs: breast changes,
amenorrhea, nausea, vomiting, fatigue,
frequent urination
• Probable Signs: Positive pregnancy test,
physical changes in the uterus
• Positive Signs: Ultrasound or X-ray of
fetus, fetal heartbeat, fetal movement

5. Pregnancy Tests Physician tests:
– Immunologic test based on detection of hCG
– Beta-hCG radioimmunoassay
• Home pregnancy tests

6. Development of the Conceptus
• Nine months of pregnancy are divided into
three equal periods of three months - called
trimesters
– First trimester - months 1 to 3
– Second trimester - months 4 to 6
– Third trimester - months 7 to 9

7. The Embryo and Its Support Systems
• Placenta - an organ formed on the wall of the
uterus through which the fetus receives oxygen
and nutrients and gets rid of waste products
• Human chorionic gonadotropin - a hormone
secreted by the placenta; it is the substance
detected in pregnancy tests

8. The Embryo and Its Support Systems
• Umbilical cord - the tube that connects the fetus to the placenta
• Amniotic fluid - the watery fluid surrounding a developing fetus in the uterus

9. Fetal Development During the First Trimester
• Develops into a fetus with most of the major organ systems present • 4th to 8th week - external body parts develop

10. Fetal Development During the First Trimester
• 7th week - liver, lungs, pancreas, kidneys, and intestines have formed and begun limited functioning • End of 12th week - 10 centimeters long; weighs 19 grams

11. Fetal Development During the Second Trimester
• Quickening occurs - women becomes aware of fetal movements – around the end of the 14th week • Fetal heart beat can be detected • Fetus opens its eyes

12. Fetal Development During the Third Trimester
• Fetus’s skin is wrinkled and covered with downlike hair • Fetus turns in uterus to assume a head-down position • Fetus experiences rapid growth

13. Physical Changes: First Trimester
• Large increase in levels of hormones • Breasts swell and tingle; development of mammary glands • Need to urinate • Morning sickness • Vaginal discharges may increase • Feelings of fatigue and sleepiness

14. Psychological Changes
• Depression is common • Negative emotions • Positive feelings

15. Physical Changes: Second Trimester
• Morning sickness disappears • Constipation and nosebleeds sometimes occur • Edema - water retention and swelling • Colostrum may come out of the nipple

16. Psychological Changes
• Psychological well-being is greater among women who have social support • Depression higher in some studies

17. The Father’s Role in Pregnancy
• Couvade syndrome - male pregnancy Symptoms(a condition in which a man experiences some of the same symptoms and behavior of an expectant mother.) • The father-to-be - many choose to be actively involved • Diversity in the contexts of pregnancy - there are lots of various family contexts that exist today

18. Sex During Pregnancy
• Intercourse can continue safely until 4 weeks before the baby is due

19. Nutrition During Pregnancy
• Diet during is extremely important • Woman must get enough protein, folic acid, calcium, magnesium and vitamin A • The fetus comes first – it draws the nutrients it needs first, and whatever is left is for mom

20. Nutrition Deficiencies
• Calcium – future risk of bone and tooth loss • Folic acid – (folate) much higher risk of neural tube defects. (decreases risk by 50%) • Zinc – malformations of the central nervous system

21. Effects of Drugs Taken During Pregnancy
• Teratogens - a substance that produces defects in a fetus • Antibiotics - may damage fetus • Alcohol - may cause fetal alcohol syndrome • Cocaine - increased risk of premature birth

22. Effects of Drugs Taken During Pregnancy
• Steroids - can cause masculinization of a female fetus and other fetal damages • Other drugs - check with physician and “when in doubt, don’t” • Dads and drugs – drugs can damage sperm and their genetic content

23. Birth: The Beginning of Labor
• Bloody show(During pregnancy, your cervical opening becomes blocked with a thick plug of mucus that prevents bacteria from entering the uterus. When your cervix begins to loosen, this mucous plug is dislodged.) • Amniotic sac ruptures • Progesterone-withdrawal theory

24. The Stages of Labor
• Labor divided into 3 stages • Parturition - whole process of childbirth

25. First-Stage Labor
• Regular contraction of uterus muscles • Effacement • Dilation • Divided into 3 stages: – Early first-stage labor (0-5 cm) – Late first-stage labor (5-8 cm) – Transition phase (8-10cm)

26. Second-Stage Labor: Delivery
• Begins when cervix is fully dilated • Urge to push or bear down • Crowning – top of the head is visible • Episiotomy may be performed – incision that is sometimes made at the vaginal entrance during birth • Baby is born

27. Third-Stage Labor
• Placenta detaches from walls of the uterus • Afterbirth is expelled • Several contractions may accompany placental expulsion • Episiotomy and tears are sewn up

28. Cesarean Section
• A method of delivering a baby surgically, by an incision in the abdomen • Reasons to have a C Section: – Baby is too large, mother’s pelvis is too small – Cervix is not dilating – Umbilical cord prolapses(comes out of place) – Excessive bleeding – Placenta previa(blocks cervix)

29. After the Baby is Born: The Postpartum Period
• Physical changes – Hormones levels return to normal – Woman may feel exhausted – Discomfort from episiotomy • Psychological changes – Postpartum depression

30. Attachment to the Baby
• Bonding can occur before baby is born • Critical period of bonding occurs in minutes and hours immediately after birth

31. Sex During Postpartum
• Couple should wait at least 2 weeks before resuming intercourse • If woman had an episiotomy, she may experience vaginal discomfort Sex may not be resumed for up to 6 weeks in some cases.

32. Breast-Feeding
Biological mechanisms – Prolactin - stimulates breasts to produce milk – Oxytocin - stimulates breasts to eject milk • Physical and mental health – Breast feeding is encouraged

33. Problem Pregnancies
• Ectopic pregnancy - fertilized egg implants somewhere other than the uterus • Pseudocyesis - false pregnancy • Pregnancy-induced hypertension – too much stress for mother to be able to handle.

34. Problem Pregnancies
• Viral illness during pregnancy • Birth defects • Rh incompatibility • Miscarriage - spontaneous abortion • Preterm birth

35. Infertility
• Refers to a woman’s inability to conceive and give birth to a living child, or a man’s inability to impregnate a woman • Causes - can be either female factors or male factors

36. Causes in the Female
• Pelvic inflammatory disease • Failure to ovulate • Blockage of the fallopian tubes • Hostile mucus

37. Causes in the Male
• Infections in the reproductive system caused by sexually transmitted diseases • Low sperm count • Low motility of the sperm

38. Combined Factors
• Immunologic response • Lack of knowledge

39. Psychological Aspects of Infertility
• Couple subjected to psychological stress • Man may feel that his masculinity or virility is in question

40. Treatment of Infertility
• Fertility drugs • Microsurgery • New reproductive technologies

41. Assisted Reproductive Technologies
• Artificial insemination - sperm are placed into vagina by means other than sexual intercourse • Sperm banks • Embryo transfer - embryo is transferred into uterus, usually from the lab.

42. New Reproductive Technologies
• Test-tube babies - in vitro fertilization - egg is fertilized by sperm in a laboratory dish • GIFT - gamete intra-fallopian transfer • ZIFT - zygote intra-fallopian transfer • Cloning • Gender selection