There is plenty of room in the womb so the baby can move around. At birth, the last weeks of pregnancy will have the baby’s head facing downwards. The uterus walls will start to contract and the cervix will dilate, causing the baby to pass into the vagina. The baby gasps and cries after birth, so the lungs start to work. The voices of the parents will be recognized.
One day before conception the woman ovulates and produces one mature ovum. During the conception process one sperm out of millions by the man may penetrate the outside layer of the ovum and fertilize it. The start of pregnancy is about 10 days after conception. 14 days after conception it has now developed into the fetus central nervous system. Its heart begins to beat and at this time the woman might have noticed that her menstrual period is late.
The placenta begins to form enabling the developing zygote to attach itself to the mother’s uterine wall. At this stage, oxygen and nutrients from the mother’s bloodstream is passed to the zygote, the wastes from the developing zygote pass into the mother’s bloodstream for elimination. In some few cases, when the fertilized ovum attaches itself outside the uterus, the mother suffers from what is known as ectopic pregnancy. This condition is very delicate and should be treated as a medical emergency since it can cause death. Embryonic stage This second stage starts from two weeks to two months.
The reason that the fetus depends entirely on the mother for obtaining oxygen and eliminating carbon dioxide is that the fetal lungs are either collapsed or partially filled with amniotic fluid. The production of surfactant begins by the end of the sixth month of development. Because the respiratory system is fairly well developed at least two months before birth, premature babies delivered at seven months are able to breathe and cry. After delivery, the baby’s supply of oxygen from the mother ceases, and any amniotic fluid in the fetal lungs is absorbed. Because carbon dioxide is no longer being removed, it builds up in the blood.
Physical Development Physical development includes motor skills, co-ordination and the influence of hormones. Infancy ( 0-3) Human development begins after the union of male and female gametes or germ cells during a process known as fertilization (conception). When this happens only half of the fertilised eggs become babies. 3 days after fertilisation the egg is the size of a pin head and becomes embedded in the uterus. Labour begins when a women’s water break, this is the amniotic fluid that protects the baby.
When the fetal heart rate decreased (Bradycardia), fetal distress was noted, and an emergency caesarean was initiated. To her sadness, the baby was found bluish in skin colour when born in her 35th week gestation in labour with a low birth weight of only 1.4kilogramms. Some abnormality was also found in the baby’s leg. The doctor warned of 50% chance of survival and presence of special child characteristics. Postnatal The born baby was put in the incubator for 2 months.
There are seven stages throughout a life cycle which are: Birth Infancy (0-3) Childhood (3-12) Adolescence (12-17) Early adulthood (18-40) Late adulthood (40-65) Old age (65+) Stage 1 (Birth) After birth Chloe will have several checks and examinations in the first few hours of her life. The first is the Apgar, which the midwife will do at one minute, then again at five minutes, after birth. The midwife can do this test just by watching your baby's colour, breathing, behaviour, activity and posture. This will tell her whether the baby has any immediate problems that need medical support. Most babies are fine, or may just need to be watched for a while.
However, it only passes on antibodies that you already have. What happens after the baby is born? Soon after the birth, the midwife will: clamp the umbilical cord about 3-4cm (1½-2 inches) from your baby’s belly button with a plastic clip place another clamp at the other end of the cord, near the placenta The cord will then be cut between the two clamps, leaving a stump about 2-3cm (1-1½ inches) long on your baby’s belly button. Your midwife will cut the cord or, with their agreement, you or your birth partner could do it. There are no nerves in the cord, so cutting it isn’t painful for you or the baby.
The Placenta The placenta is a temporary organ that develops in the uterus of a female during pregnancy. At maturity, it is discoid mass that is about 6-8 inches in diameter, weighs 1-2 pounds, and is about 1 ¼ inches thick in the center and tapers off towards the edges. (Gray) It separates and connects the fetus and the mother and provides a pathway for oxygen, nutrients, and wastes. The placenta is connected to the fetus by the umbilical cord and to the mother by the uterine wall. The placenta serves many critical roles as an “anchor”, barrier, nutrient transporter, respiratory organ, endocrine, and excretory organ.
Fetal Blood Flow The process of gas exchange between the mother and an unborn baby has several steps. A large flat organ that is inside the uterus of a pregnant women is called the placenta. The placenta is attached to the fetus which is through the umbilical cord. The placenta is a very important function during the pregnancy of a women. The transfer is very vital in enabling the right nutrients that are transported through to the mother from the placenta and then to the fetus which dismisses waste that is produced by the fetus then goes back through the placenta than into the maternal blood stream which it is then released by the mother.