Pregnancy

and
Embryonic
Development
 Conception and Implantation
• Fertilization (Conception): Union of male sperm cell
and female egg cell. . At this moment, the genetic
makeup is complete, including the sex of the baby
• Once occurs, then known as zygote. It starts dividing
as it travels through fallopian tube. After a few days,
it attaches to uterine wall (implantation).
• Embryonic development is between 3-8 weeks, these
cluster of cells are known as a embryo.
• After 8th week, the developing cells are called a fetus.
 Development: First Trimester
• 0-2 weeks: spinal cord • 3-8 weeks: 1”: mouth,
grows faster than body. nostrils, eyelids, hands,
Brain, ears, and arms fingers, feet and toes.
begin to form, and heart Nervous system responds
forms and begins to beat. and cardiovascular
system functional.

Picture above: 4 weeks.

Just when pregnancy test would
show positive. Picture: 8 weeks (about ½”)
 First Trimester: 9-14 weeks
• 9-14 weeks: human
profile- sex organs,
fingernails/toenails. Can
make crying motion (no
sound) and may suck
thumb.

Picture: 12 weeks. Sex organs

maybe clear for Doctor to
determine gender.
 Second Trimester
• 15-20 weeks: eyes can
blink, body begins to
grow, head growth rate
slows, limbs reaching
normal proportions,
eyebrows and eyelashes
develop. Fetus can
grasp and kick. About 4” in size and weighing around
3 ounces.
 Second Trimester: 15-28 weeks
Picture: 20 weeks.
The baby can suck a thumb,
yawn, stretch, and make faces.
• 21-28 weeks: hear
conversations, regular cycle
of waking & sleeping,
weight increases rapidly.
- About 12” long and
about 1 pound.
- Quickening: when your
baby is moving around
- May survive outside the
womb after 24 weeks with
special medical care.
 Third Trimester: 29-birth
• Approximately 266 days after
• 29 to 40: fetus able to conception, weighing 6-9 pounds…birth
use all 5 senses and
water able to pass
through bladder. Brain
scans have shown that
some afetuses
Mother: yellowishdream.
fluid will
start leaking from your breasts.
That is colostrum, and it happens
to get your breasts ready for
making milk. These are full
immune cells, antibodies, and
proteins.
Fat starts to form under baby’s
Full “term” delivery any skin to help fill out wrinkles and
time after 40 weeks. gaining over half the weight,
 Stages of Birth
• Head of fetus moves
closer to bottom of
uterus.
• Mother starts having
weak, irregular muscular
contractions (weeks to
months before)
• Labor: final stage where
uterus contracts and
pushes baby out.
 Leaving the womb
• Stage 2: Pass • Stage 3: Afterbirth
• Stage 1:
through birth Placenta still
Dilation. canal. attached to
umbilical cord.
Contractions of Cervix fully dilated Contractions cont.
uterus cause and baby is pushed until placenta (now
through the birth
cervix to dilate. called afterbirth) is
canal.
pushed out.
Doctors clean and
Contractions suck out mucus plug Dad or Dr. cuts the
and baby cries to umbilical cord to
break the
clear lungs of separate baby from
amniotic sac. amniotic fluid. afterbirth.
 Prenatal care
• Steps to take provide health for mother and
her baby
• First decision: find the right obstetrician
• Second: where you plan on delivering your
baby (birthing center, hospital, home with
midwife).
• Planning of prenatal visits: physical to monitor
weight & BP, ultrasounds, etc
 Proper Nutrition
• Increased amounts of these nutrients:
-Calcium: help builds strong bones & teeth, healthy
nerves & muscles, and developing heart rhythm.
-Protein: helps form muscle and tissues
-Iron: red blood cells and oxygen to cells.
-Vitamin A: aids in cell and bone growth, and eye
development
-Vitamin B: forms nervous system
-1 more important…next slide
 Folate
• Folic Acid: spinal fluid and helps close tube
that contains CNS (about 17-30 days after
conception). Most neural tube birth defects
occur before female is aware. Recommended
that women consume at least 400-600
micrograms daily.
 Caffeine /Diets

• Caffeine present in coffee, tea, chocolate, cola,

etc. can affect fetus.
• High intake has been linked to increased risk
of birth defects and low birth weight.
• Weight Reduction diets during pregnancy can
also harm fetus.
 Dangerous Substances
• Tobacco- estimated 30% of low birth weight
babies, premature births or infant deaths
accounted for due to pregnant smoker. Also
believed to affect growth, mental and behavior
development.
• Alcohol- Causes fetal alcohol syndrome. Can
cause mental retardation, learning disabilities,
behavior problems, and physical defects.
Alcohol passes
 Drugs
• Obviously NO illegal Drugs.
• Medications or herbal supplements- even
OTCs need to be carefully assessed and gotten
approval from medical doctor or pharmacist
 Environmental Hazards
• Lead- linked to miscarriages, low birth weight, mental
disabilities, and behavior problem. Be careful of
childhood toys.
• Smog- air pollution linked to birth defects, premature
birth, stillbirth, LBW, and infant death.
• Radiation- Xrays can affect fetal growth, and cause
mental retardation.
• Cat Litter- cat feces may contain parasites that cause
toxoplasmosis. Can result in miscarriage, premature
birth, and health problems of newborn.
 Complications
• Miscarriage- spontaneous expulsion of fetus before
the 20th week.
• Stillbirth- dead fetus expelled after 20th week.
• Ectopic pregnancy- zygote implants anywhere other
than uterus. #1 cause of death of pregnant women
in first trimester.
• Preeclampsia (toxemia)-prevents placenta from
getting enough blood. Symptoms: HBP, swelling, and
protein in urine. Treatment: meds and bed rest