Pregnancy and Childbirth
Jan 20, 2016
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
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.
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
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