You're Having a Baby!
What to expect when you're expecting
Pregnancy Symptoms
- Back Pain
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Swelling
- Stretch Marks
- Food Cravings & Aversions
- Insomnia
Prenatal Development Periods
- Zygote: From conception to about 2 weeks - the egg and sperm fuse together, forming a new cell
- Embryo: From about 2 to 8 weeks - embroyo's cell start to form specialized layers; ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. Amniotic sac takes shape.
- Fetus: From 8 to 40 weeks - Organs, muscles, and the nervous system become more organized and connected. The fetus' size increases, and begins moving. Fetus can recognize sounds and rhythms
- Gestation (period from conception to birth) is about 280 days
Protecting the Fetus
- Eat well
- Don't smoke, drink, or use drugs
- See obstetrician regularly
- Avoid stress
- Remember: Everything you absorb, the fetus absorbs
Things to Keep in Mind During the Birth
- Birth Complications
- Cesarean
- Anesthesia
- Natural Childbirth
- Preterm and Low Birth Weight Babies
The Apgar Test (delivery room test to assess a newborn)
- Appearance - Color of baby's body
- Pulse - Baby's heart rate
- Grimace - Baby's reflex response
- Activity - Baby's muscle tone
- Respiration - Baby's breathing