PREGNANCY

Overview
Pregnancy is measured in trimesters
from the first day of your last
menstrual period (LMP) and normally
lasts about 38 - 40 weeks from
conception to the birth of a baby.
Divided into 3 periods: the first
trimester, second trimester and third
trimester.

The Three Stages of

Pregnancy
1st trimester is
from conception to
about the 12th
week
2nd trimester- 13
to 27 weeks
3rd trimester, from
about 28 weeks of
pregnancy until
birth.

First Trimester: Early

Changes in a Woman's Body
During the first
trimester the body
undergoes many
changes.
Hormonal changes
affect almost every
organ system in the
body. These changes
can trigger symptoms
even in the very first
weeks of pregnancy.
Menstrual period
stopping is a clear sign
that you are pregnant.

Other changes during the first

trimester include:
Extreme tiredness
Tender, swollen breasts.
Your nipples might also
stick out.
Upset stomach with or
without throwing up
(morning sickness)
Cravings or distaste for
certain foods
Mood swings
Need to pass urine more
often
Headache
Heartburn
Weight gain or loss

Prenatal development
Refers to the process in which a baby
develops from a single cell after conception
into an embryo and later a fetus.
The average length of time for prenatal
development to complete is 38 weeks or
280 days or 9 months from the date of
conception.

1. Zygote stage
2. Embryo stage
3. Fetus stage

Three periods of the

Prenatal Stage
1. Zygote or
Germinal period.
a. Conception occurs
when the female egg
cell is fertilized by a
the male sperm.
b. Zygote will divide &
multiply by itself,
forming a small mass
of cells called
blastocyst.

 The blastocyst
which consists
of 200 to 300
cells travel
from the
fallopian tube to
the uterus for
implantation.
(7-10 days after
conception)
*** ectopic pregnancy
blastocyst is unable
to travel to the uterus
but instead develops
in the fallopian tube.

Three layers of blastocyst

1. Ectoderm (outer
layer)

epidermis (skin)
hair
teeth
sensory cells
nervous system
nails
sinuses
mouth

2. Mesoderm (middle
layer)

- dermis
- muscles
- skeleton
- circulatory organs
- excretory organs
- reproductive
organs

Three layers of blastocyst

3. Endoderm
- eustachian tube
- trachea
- lungs
- gastrointestinal
tract linings
- endocrine glands
- bladder, digestive
tract, tongue, tonsils,

2. Embryo Stage
- 2nd week to 3rd

month of pregnancy.
- critical period:
specific development
MUST occur if the
individual is to
develop normally.
- sensitive to
environmental
influences (i.e. drugs,
alcohols, smoking)

 It has long been

understood that
when pregnant
women consume
alcohol they put
their baby at great
risk of defects,
anything from fetal
alcohol syndrome to
academic learning
disabilities.

 Week 3: Beginning development of the brain,

heart, blood cells, circulatory system, spinal
cord, and digestive system.
Week 4: Beginning development of bones, facial
structures, and limbs (presence of arm and leg
buds); continuing development of the heart
(which begins to beat), brain, and nervous
tissue.

 Week 5: Beginning development of eyes,

nose, kidneys, lungs; continuing
development of the heart (formation of
valves), brain, nervous tissue, and
digestive tract.
Week 6: Beginning development of hands,
feet, and digits; continuing development
of brain, heart, and circulation system.

 Week 7: Beginning development of hair

follicles, nipples, eyelids, and sex organs
(testes or ovaries); first formation of urine
in the kidneys and first evidence of brain
waves.
Week 8: Facial features more distinct,
internal organs well developed, the brain
can signal for muscles to move, heart
development ends, external sex organs
begin to form.

 By the end of the embryonic stage,

all essential external and internal
structures have been formed. The
embryo is now referred to as a fetus.

3. Period of the Fetus

Starts from the 3rd month until birth
Growth and development continue
dramatically
16 to 18 weeks- movements become
strong
Major organs begin to function
Facial features become similar to
those the child will display at birth.

Second Trimester: Changes

a woman may experience
Most women find the second trimester
of pregnancy easier than the first. But it
is just as important to stay informed
about pregnancy during these months.
Symptoms like nausea and fatigue are
going away.
The abdomen will expand as the baby
continues to grow.
Before this trimester is over, the baby
begins to move!

Inside Pregnancy Weeks 15

- 20

As your body changes to make

room for your growing baby,
you may have:
Body aches, such as back,
abdomen, groin, or thigh pain
Stretch marks on your
abdomen, breasts, thighs, or
buttocks
Darkening of the skin around
your nipples
A line on the skin running from
belly button to pubic hairline
Patches of darker skin, usually
over the cheeks, forehead,
nose, or upper lip. Patches
often match on both sides of
the face. This is sometimes
called the mask of pregnancy.

 Numb or tingling hands,

called carpal tunnel
syndrome
Itching on the abdomen,
palms, and soles of the feet.
(Call your doctor if you have
nausea, loss of appetite,
vomiting, jaundice or fatigue
combined with itching. These
can be signs of a serious liver
problem.)
Swelling of the ankles,
fingers, and face. (If you
notice any sudden or extreme
swelling or if you gain a lot of
weight really quickly, call
your doctor right away. This
could be a sign of
preeclampsia.)

The age of variability

7 months or 28 weeks
The stage which the fetus can
survive if born prematurely.
9 months or 38 weeks the fetus is
ready to be born.

Third Trimester
The home stretch! Some of the same
discomforts you had in your second
trimester will continue. Plus, many
women find breathing difficult and notice
they have to go to the bathroom even
more often. This is because the baby is
getting bigger and it is putting more
pressure on your organs. Don't worry,
your baby is fine and these problems will
lessen once you give birth.

 Some new body

changes you might
notice in the third
trimester include:
Shortness of breath
Heartburn
Swelling of the ankles,
fingers, and face. (If you
notice any sudden or
extreme swelling or if
you gain a lot of weight
really quickly, call your
doctor right away. This
could be a sign of
preeclampsia.)

 Hemorrhoids
Tender breasts, which
may leak a watery premilk called colostrum
Your belly button may
stick out
Trouble sleeping
The baby "dropping", or
moving lower in your
abdomen
Contractions, which can
be a sign of real or false
labor

 As you near your due

date, your cervix
becomes thinner and
softer (called effacing).
This is a normal,
natural process that
helps the birth canal
(vagina) to open during
the birthing process.
Your doctor will check
your progress with a
vaginal exam as you
near your due date.
Get excited the final
countdown has begun!

 By the end of 37 weeks, your

baby is considered full term.
Your baby's organs are ready
to function on their own.
As you near your due date,
your baby may turn into a
head-down position for birth.
Most babies "present" head
down.
At birth, your baby may
weigh somewhere between 6
pounds, 2 ounces and 9
pounds, 2 ounces and be 19
to 21 inches long. Most fullterm babies fall within these
ranges. But healthy babies
come in many different
sizes.

COMPLICATIONS DURING
PREGNANCY
Ectopic Pregnancy - This occurs when a
fertilized egg is implanted outside the
uterus and the solution is to terminate
pregnancy.
Placenta Previa - Occurs if the placenta
is implanted near the cervix, the
stretching of the cervix during the last
trimester may tear the placenta and
cause hemorrhage. (placenta is normally
positioned at the top of the uterus)

COMPLICATIONS DURING
PREGNANCY
German Measles - Most dangerous
during the fourth month of pregnancy
since this can cause birth defects such as
deafness, congenital heart disease, mental
retardation, cataract and bone defects.
Toxemia - body poisoning which occurs
during the last trimester and is caused by
the failure of the mothers body to adjust
to the metabolic and physiological stresses
of pregnancy.

Kinds of delivery
Normal spontaneous
Caesarian Delivery
1. Abnormal labor
2. Arrest of cervical dilation
3. Fetal position (breech position)
4. Cord loop
5. Multiple pregnancy