Pregnancy assignment Essay Example

Pregnancy assignment Essay Mother 0-40 weeks 4-5 weeks This is about the time that you will miss your first period but you may not realize youre pregnant. 6-7 weeks We will write a custom essay sample on Pregnancy assignment specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Pregnancy assignment specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Pregnancy assignment specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer You may feel more tiered than ever or you may vomit or not even feel any of these. A test will confirm youre pregnant. 8-9 weeks There is a rapid rise in the production of hormones from the placenta and ovary to adapt for pregnancy, so you may feel nauseous. Your wombs sufficiently large for a doctor to confirm that you are pregnant, by internal examination. 10 weeks You may start to notice that you are putting on weight and your bones; breasts in particular may be getting heavier. Buy a good support bra. 12 weeks You have now missed two periods and have no doubts that you are pregnant. You may notice increased skin pigmentation in various parts of your body, and a brown line may appear up the middle of your stomach. You may still be nauseous and vomiting. 16 weeks This is the stage of pregnancy that may test for normality is carried out and you may have another ultrasound scan. All morning sickness will normally have disappeared as you enter the stage that most women look their best. Your pregnancy may start to show although if you start to have good abdomen muscles and on the small side. Your tighter clothes will start to not fit you now. 20 weeks If this is your first pregnancy you will probably feel the baby for the first time. You may get a fluttering sensation as your pregnancy progresses, these movements become definite kicks and you will be able to tell whether the elbow/bottom or foot is doing the kicking. Tell your midwife or gp when you first feel a movement. 24 weeks Your abdomen in getting large as time is passing and you may start to develop stretch marks. A doctor may be able to hear your babys heartbeat ask to listen. The increasing size and weight of your womb will also affect your posture, and you will throw back your shoulders and stick your bottom in and relax if you take regular exercise this helps. This is the time your shoes need to be comfortable because you are gaining weight and try to spend time with your feet up. 26 weeks Your heart and lungs are now doing 50% more work than they did before you were pregnant make sure that your eating well. 28 weeks You will probably start having antenatal appointments every two weeks from now on. This is the earliest which you can begin your maternity leave, if you work consider when you might want to stop working you must give 21 days notice, make sure you are getting plenty of sleep and enough rest. 30 weeks Most babies have now turned head down in the womb and are likely to stay here. The upward pressure on your abdomen may take more time and more difficultly to breathe properly. If you have other children make arrangements now for their care even if you have a home birth, and its best prepared incase something goes wrong. 34 weeks Kicks and punches will now be very clear. If you have stopped work spend time relaxing, read a book, go for a walk, rest. Make sure you are getting plenty of sleep and eat well. 36 weeks The pressure of the head on you bladder may make you want to urinate frequently including at night so that getting a good nights sleep may be difficult. Try to catch up during the day. From now on your antenatal appointments will be every week. Pack your bag for hospital and keep important phone numbers handy. Make sure you can always contact your partner if you need him. You may feel quite strong contractions of you abdomen know as braxton hicks contractions, they occur through pregnancy. 40 Weeks Get plenty of rest catnaps during the day to make up for the lost sleep at night. If you feel up for it go for a walk or swim. If not trying to relax in a bath. Many women get an urge to spring clean, tidying. Out pops a newborn baby!!!! Pregnancy Symptoms In addition to the change in monthly cycle here are a few of the other early pregnancy symptoms that you can expect to notice. Nausea Nausea coupled with vomiting are often early signs of pregnancy and can start within a few weeks of contraception although referred to as morning sickness, it can actually be at anytime during the day. It will affect you at the same time everyday for a few weeks. You need to be drinking plenty of fluids to avoid becoming dehydrated. Spotting Sometimes a slight spotting will occur approx 8-10 days after ovulation. Its light amount of bleeding not painful or harming you. This spotting is caused by fertilized egg as it attaches itself to the endometrias lining of the uterus. Fatigue A feeling of over whelming fatigue, around 3rd to 4th week until the second trimester at which time you will experience a sudden burst of energy, caused by changes in your body. Breast tenderness Generally during the first month of conception, you will start o experience tenderness in one or both breasts. You will find even a slight touch will cause discomfort and they may swell. The veins in the breast become more visible and the nipples darken in color and become more erect. Wear a good support bra. Frequent urination More trips to the bathroom. The uterus growing and swelling as it makes room for the growing fetus. Growth puts pressure on the uterus, adds pressure to bladder. As the fetus grows you will be making more trips. Lightheadedness or fainting This occurs during the first few months as your body changes because your now nourishing another life and you will need an increased supply if you dont eat frequent, small amounts, your blood sugar levels may drop, making you dizzy or light headed. Confirmation Pregnancy test HCG- (human chlorionic gonadotrophin) in present in the urine of pregnant women and reach the highest level at 8th week can be detected 10 days to 16 weeks after contraception. Enlargement of uterus. Diet During Pregnancy Pregnant women need to eat a healthy balanced diet. A healthy diet during pregnancy: 1. Fruit and vegetables- at least 5 portions a day 2. Sugar and fat- only a very small amount 3. Dairy- low fat is best 4. Meat, fish and eggs- more protein foods should be eaten in pregnancy. 5. Carbohydrates- needed for energy Food requirement Why pregnant women need it. Where it is found Folic acid Prevents spina bifida in the body Fruit green leafy vegetables, beans, potatoes, carrots breakfast cereal, bread Vitamin c For healthy skin, heal wounds and prevent scurvy, pregnant women need more so some goes to the baby. Fresh fruit and vegetables Calcium Helps babys bones develop Dairy products and leafy vegetables Iron Bay stores enough iron for six months after birth Red meat, eggs, apricots, bread and cereal Fibre Avoids constipation Fruit, vegetables and whole meal bread Vegetarian mums Vegetarian mums need to make sure they get enough protein by having extra eggs and milk. Vegetarian mums need to take vitamin B12 supplements- this is found only in animal protein and is needed for fetal development and breast feeding. Some foods should be avoided: Unpateurised milk e.g. Pate, uncooked meat can contain bacteria. Listeria infections cause miscarriage, stillbirth and other damages to the baby. Raw eggs- food made with raw eggs e.g. mayonnaise can cause salmonella. Reheated ready meals- cause risk of food poisoning and tux plasmodia, which can cause brain damages in the body, miscarriage and stillbirth. Peanuts- can give baby a nut allergy, which is very dangerous and can kill. Tuna- Tuna causes enough mercury to damage fetus. Exercise, Posture and Rest Theres no reason for a women to stop exercising because shes pregnant. * Exercise keeps muscles toned * Exercise stops women from putting o too much weight during pregnancy. * Regular exercise helps sleep, after exercise its easier to relax. * Labor and birth are hard work. Like all hard work its much easier to do if youre fit. Exercise such as horse riding, skiing, snowboarding is not suitable for pregnant women. Exercise also helps: * Constipation * Backache * Fatigue * Varicose veins * Circulation problems * Meeting other mums to be Exercise boosts your immune system and provides the circulation and energy levels needed to help you conceive enjoy your pregnancy and prepare you body fro labor. Posture Tips * Kneel or squat to pick things up dont bend over * When getting up from lying down, roll on to your side and get up. * Sit up straight in a chair and use a cushion fro support Good posture Standing tall, spine is straight and the weight is nicely balanced. Bad posture The spine is arched and the bum is sticking out too much. Rest Pregnant women need some rest every day. Just an hour or so with feet up takes pressure off legs and back and prevents varicose veins and backache. Effects of Smoking, Drugs, Alcohol and Rubella on Fetus Smoking The thousands of chemicals in cigarette smoke (including second hand smoke) such as carbon monoxide and nicotine are toxins that move through your bloodstream and harm your developing baby. When you smoke your baby is confined in a smoke filled womb and this is reducing the flow of oxygen to your baby. The nicotine can cause your babys heart rate to increase (as well as yours) and can damage and decrease your babys supply of nutrients because of your increased blood pressure and blood vessel constriction. The baby will be born smaller than others. Theres a chance of miscarriage and stillbirth. Drugs * Drugs can also cross the placenta and get into the babys blood * Illegal drugs like ecstasy; cocaine, heroin, LSD, amphetamines, cannabis and solvents can damage the developing fetus. * Babies become addicted to illegal drugs if the mother takes them during pregnancy they are born addicted, and suffer withdrawal symptoms when theyre born. Addicted babies are smaller than usual with a high pitched, wailing cry. And its difficult to get them to sleep. * Prescription drugs can also harm the developing fetus. Alcohol * Alcohol can pass across the placenta to the fetuss blood. * It can interfere with growth of the fetus * Even worse it can severely affect development of the brain. * Damage to brain and nervous system caused by alcohol is called fetal alcohol syndrome Rubella German measles this disease is very dangerous in the first four months. If it survives the 9 months and is born it may be born deaf, blind, have a heart disease or a learning difficulty. Antenatal Care Antenatal Care appointments are your opportunity to find out all you need to know about your pregnancy, as well as a chance to monitor you and your developing babys health. Where do you have it? Hospitals where babies are born have antenatal clinics other places are: 1. With your family doctor 2. With community midwifes 3. In your own home, midwife or doctor visits you What happens? Your first antenatal appointment will probably be your booking in appointment usually about 8-12 weeks. Youll be asked a number of questions about your health your family history and any previous pregnancies. The aim is to get a good basic idea of your pregnancy so far. Routine Checks at the other appointments are: * Blood pressure * Weight * Palpation- feeling your tummy * Listening to your babys heart * Questions about your babys movements * Urine tests * Checking any swelling in your legs arms or face * Questions about how you feel How often? Not counting appointments for scans or other hospital based tests, you can expect to have appointments every four weeks after week 12 every 2 weeks from week 32 every week during the last three or four weeks. Antenatal care clinical guideline covers: * The care women can expect to receive from their midwife and doctors during their pregnancy, whether they plan to give birth at home or in hospital * The information given is expected * What they can afford from antenatal appointments * Aspects of their lifestyle that they may want to consider (such as diet exercise, alcohol, drugs intake sexual activity and smoking) * Routine screening tests fro specific conditions * Occupational risk factors in pregnancy * What will happen if pregnancy goes beyond 41 weeks * What will happen if the baby is bottom first (known as breech position) for the birth Antenatal Care The uterus is checked 1. The midwife/doctor feels the uterus to check how big the fetus is, where it is in the uterus and if its moving. 2. The uterus is measured. The distance from the pubic bone to the top of the uterus, gives a good idea of fetal far along the pregnancy is. 3. From 16 weeks onwards, the midwife/doctor listens to the fetal heartbeat with a stethoscope. Urine samples are tested 1. Keystones are compound from in the urine when the bodys dehydrated. She may need extra fluids via a drip. 2. Glucose in the urine is a sign of gestational diabetes, which usually goes away after birth. 3. Protein in the urine is a sign of bladder and kidney infections and pre-edampsia causes high blood pressure, headaches, swelling, abdominal pains and weight gain. Women with sever pre- eclipse need to be in hospital and maybe have the birth induced before its due. Untreated pre eclipse leads to eclipse fits, organ failure and death of mother and baby. Height, Weight and Blood pressure are checked 1. Measuring height and weight gives a good idea of size of the pregnant womens pelvis. 2. Most pregnant women put on about 10-12kg during the pregnancy none of thats down to the baby theres amniotic fluid, placenta umbilical cord and fat stored ready for milk production 3. Not gaining weight can mean the fetus has stopped growing or died 4. Blood pressure is checked a big increase in blood pressure is a sign of pre- eclipse. Screening and diagnostic tests check for problems Ultra sound 1. Uses high frequency sound to get a picture of the fetus. 2. The womans belly is coated with gel and a hand held scanner is moved back and forth over it 3. A grainy black and white picture of the baby appears on the monitor 4. Its easy to see if the woman is having twins, and doctors can tell sex of the baby. The size of the babys head gives a good idea of long the pregnancy is, which means you can work out the due date. Blood tests are taken 1. Anemia is a lack of iron in the blood it makes the woman feel tiered and worn out. 2. Immunity from rubella is tested sexually transmitted diseases are checked for too. 3. Blood group and Rhesus factor are checked complications can arise of the mother has rhesus negative blood, but the baby has rhesus positive. 4. Hepatitis B and care viruses that cause liver disease mother and baby can both be treated 5. Blood sugar levels are checked to see if the woman has gestational diabetes. Serum Screening (Triple Tests) 1. Measure the levels of two hormones and a protein called alpha-fetoprotein in the mothers blood between 15+18 weeks pregnant. 2. Very high levels of AFP many mean its twins, or very rarely that the baby might have spina bifida or even the woman is more than 18 weeks pregnant. 3. Low levels of AFP can mean the baby has downs syndrome or that the woman is less than 15 weeks pregnant. If there is a risk of downs syndrome mother is offered amniocentesis. Amniocentesis 1. A needle is inserted through the mothers skin, into the uterus and into the amniotic sac. Same amniotic fluid is taken and the fetal cells it contains are tested. 2. The test shows up abnormalities like downs syndrome and spina bifida its only done if the blood test shows there a risk or if the mothers older than average. Chronic Villous Sampling 1. A needle is inserted through the mothers skin and through the wall of the uterus; a sample of the placenta is removed and tested. 2. The test detects downs syndrome its done if theres a family history or inherited problems or if the mother is older than average.