Pregnancy and Childbirth

Why has the fertility rate changed over time?● Better healthcare and nutrition. Fewer

children die because of childhood diseases.

● Don’t need children to help work on family farms/businesses.

● People with more resources tend to have fewer children

Infant and Maternal Mortality

Infant Mortality:

# of babies that die at birth for every 1000 births

● 4.3 in Quebec 2011

Maternal Mortality:

# of mothers that die during childbirth for every 100,000 deliveries

● 7.8 in Canada in 2009-10

Zygote, Embryo or Fetus???

Timeline Name at this stage of development

When fertilization occurs Zygote

Weeks 0-8 Embryo

Weeks 9-40+ Fetus

Embryo: weeks 0-8

First trimester begins with

zygote, then embryo, and finally fetus (week 9).

Brain, heart, limbs, eyes

and spinal column begin to form.

Amniotic Sac Surrounds developing embryo, contains amniotic fluid which protects the embryo from shock

Placenta Organ that grows attached to the wall of the uterus; attached to baby by the umbilical cord

Umbilical cordA flexible cord containing blood vessels that carry nutrients from mother to the baby, and waste from the baby to the mother

Fetus: weeks 9-40+

Pregnancy is divided into three “trimesters”, each being about 13 weeks long.

The baby is called a fetus from the middle of the 1st semester through the end of the 3rd.

People who assist with Childbirth

★Obstetrician-Gynecologist (doctor)

★ Family Practitioner (doctor)

★Nurse-midwife

★Doula **

★ Family members/friends **

Methods of Childbirth

The three main methods:❏Natural childbirth - vaginal delivery, no pain

medication

❏Medicated birth options - vaginal delivery but use medical pain control methods

❏C-section

Methods of Childbirth (cont’d)

Other methods:● Water birth● Hypnobirthing● Use of reflexology, meditation, chiropractic

care, accupuncture to control pain or prepare for birth

Choice of Locations for Delivery

A.Hospital

B.Birthing Center

C.Home

A. HospitalLocations for Delivery

Reasons for choosing a hospital:❏Care given by specially trained doctors and

nurses.❏ Access to emergency medical interventions,

including surgery❏ Access to pain relief: IV, injections, gas,

epidural, etc.

Hospital Birthing Room

Things to consider:❏ Little privacy or sense of intimacy; many medical people

coming and going❏ May be pressured to have medical procedures

performed❏ Must follow hospital rules around eating and drinking,

number of people able to be present, wearing hospital gowns, etc.

B. Birthing CenterLocation for Delivery

❏Cared for by certified nurse-midwife❏Close to a hospital;

can be transferred if necessary❏Comfortable, home-like

environment; friends and family welcome❏Can eat and drink, wear you own clothes❏Usually option for water birth

Room in a Birthing Center

Things to consider:❏Must move to the hospital if complications

arise❏ Limited access to pain relief; no medications

or epidurals available❏Often only available in

larger towns/cities

C. Home BirthLocations for Delivery

❏Chosen because of the comfort of being at home and in charge of the birthing process

❏ Very low percentage (less than 2%) of births in Canada

❏Usually attended by a nurse-midwife

Set up for a birth at home

Things to consider:❏Need to be close to a hospital in case of

complications❏No pain medication/epidural available❏Risk of infant mortality is 2-3X higher for

home births vs. hospital or birthing center