The Basics about Pregnancy designed for women in townships in South Africa

1. Pregnancy

2. Sexual Intercourse
 The reproductive process in which the
penis is inserted into the vagina and
through which a new human life may
begin

3. Fertilization/Conception
 The union of the egg and sperm that
takes place in the fallopian tubes

4. Where are the fallopian
tubes?

5. Zygote
 The genetic material of the egg and
sperm combined to form one cell

6. Implantation
 The attachment of the fertilized egg to
the uterus
 The egg attaches to one of the walls in
the upper 1/3 of the uterus
 This happens within 3 to 5 days of
fertilization
 Once implantation has happened a
women is said to be pregnant

7. Implantation

8. How long does pregnancy
last?
Pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks. The
delivery date is calculated using the
first day of her last period. Based on
this, pregnancy can last between 38
and 42 weeks with a full-term
delivery happening around 40
weeks.

9. Embryo
 The term for a developing pregnancy
from fertilization to the end of week eight

10. Endometrium
 The lining of the uterus

11. Placenta
 An organ that develops in the uterus during
pregnancy
 The placenta provides nourishment and
oxygen to the growing baby and removes
waste
 Some refer to it as the afterbirth because it
comes out of the body following the birth of the
baby
 Most substances are passed from the mother
through the placenta to the baby

13. Amniotic Fluid
 The watery substance that surrounds the
growing fetus during its time in the womb
 The fluid helps to cushion the baby from
outside force

14. It protects the baby

15. Amniocentesis
 A medical procedure used for
prenatal diagnosis, in which a
small amount of amniotic
fluid is extracted from the
amniotic fluid around a
developing fetus
 It is usually offered when there may be an
increased risk for genetic defects in the
pregnancy.
 Early amniocentesis can be performed as early as
13 weeks gestation
 Standard amniocentesis is usually performed
between 15 and 20 weeks gestation

16. Ultrasound
 used to see the shape of the embryo or fetus in
its mother's uterus (womb)
 The procedure is often a standard part of
prenatal care, as it gives a variety of
information regarding the health of the mother
and of the fetus, as well as regarding the
progress of the pregnancy.

17. Have you had an
ultrasound?

18. Umbilical Cord
 A hollow rope-like tube that connects the
embryo to the placenta
 The placenta carries nutrients (food) and
oxygen to the baby and takes waste away

19. First Trimester
( Trimester = 3 months)
 The 1st 14 weeks of pregnancy
 The most important trimester because this is
when the vital structures are forming
 The embryo develops all of its organs and
grows to about 1.5 inches
 The heart, brain, lungs, eyes, arms, and legs
have formed – not all of them are fully
functional (they cannot all work 100% yet)
 The placenta and umbilical cord are also
formed during this time

21. Second Trimester
 Months 4-6 of pregnancy
 The organs continue to develop and
movement can be felt by month 4
 The heartbeat can be heard
 The fetus recognized voices and it grows
hair and nails
 By the end of the 2nd trimester the fetus is
about 14-15 inches long and about 2
pounds

22. The baby can hear sounds
 The baby can start to recognise your
voice and the father’s voice.

23. Third Trimester
 Months 7-9 of pregnancy
 The fetus gains most of its weight during
this trimester and is able to grasp objects
as well as open and close its eyes

24. Fetus
 A developing human, from the start of the
ninth week of pregnancy until delivery

25. Organs in non pregnant
woman and pregnant woman

26. Labour/Natural Birth
 the culmination (end) of a human
pregnancy with the newborn
infant/s comes out from the
mother's uterus.
 Natural Birth which is most
common is when the baby is
delivered through the vagina

27. Stages of labour
First stage:
contractions/dilation
Second stage: delivery
Third stage:
placenta/afterbirth

28. Labor/Natural Birth

29. Breech Birth
 refers to the position of the baby in the
uterus such that it will be delivered buttocks
(bottom)
 first as
 opposed
 to the
 normal head
 first position.

30. Caesarean Birth
 A caesarean section or c-
section, is a form of childbirth
in which a surgical incision is
made through a mother's
abdomen and uterus to
deliver one or more babies

31. It is usually performed when a vaginal
delivery would put the baby or mothers
life at risk.

32. Vernix
 Vernix is the waxy or
"cheesy" white
substance found
coating the skin of
newborn humans
 Vernix is the Latin word
for "varnish." The
vernix (or "varnish"),
"varnishes" the baby.
 Vernix is composed of
sebum (the oil of the
skin) and cells that
have rubbed off the
fetus' skin.

33.  It is nothing to worry about and is
actually good for the baby’s skin.

34. Your beautiful baby has
been born!

35. Fontanelles
 Fontanelles are soft spots on
a baby's head which, during
birth, enable the soft bony
plates of the skull to flex,
allowing the head to pass
through the birth canal
 Fontanelles are usually
completely hardened by a
child's second birthday (24
months)

36. Fontanelle
 All babies have
fontanelles and there is
nothing to worry about.
You should always be
careful with a baby’s
head and support the
babies neck when they
are tiny but the
fontanelles will close
naturally.

37. Ever baby is so special!

38. Test
 1. Where does fertilisation take place:
 A) Fallopian tube
 B) Uterus
 C) Stomach

39.  2. Implantation takes place in:
 A) Fallopian tubes
 B) Stomach
 C) Uterus

40.  3. The normal length of pregnancy is:
 A) 20 weeks
 B) 40 weeks
 C) 35 weeks

41.  4. The placenta supplies food and
oxygen to the growing baby.
 True or False

42.  5. The amniotic fluid around the baby is
to there to protect the baby.
 True or False
 6. The amniotic fluid around the baby is
there to help the baby learn to swim.
 True or False

43.  7. The umbilical chord :
A) Only helps to stop the baby floating
away
 B) Connects the baby to the placenta so
 the baby can get food and oxygen
 C) Is somewhere in the stomach

44.  8) Trimester means
 A) Pregnancy
 B) 3 months
 C) 6 months

45.  9) When does the baby gain most of its
weight?
 A) During the first trimester
 B) During the second trimester
 C) During the third trimester

46.  10. During normal birth the baby comes
out bottom first.
 True or false
 11. During breech birth the baby comes
out bottom first.
 True or False

47.  12. If the baby comes out covered in
vernix, there is something seriously
wrong with the baby.
 True or False

48.  13. The soft spot on the baby’s head,
where the skull is not completely closed
are there to:
 A) Let evil spirits into the head
 B) The skull has not had time to finish
closing.
 C) To help the baby’s head fit through the
vagina during birth.

49.  14. The soft spots (fontanelles) on the
baby’s head after birth will only go away
with a trip to a traditional healer.
 True or False
 14. The soft spots will close up on their
own.
 True or False.

50. Answers
 1. Where does fertilisation take place:
 A) Fallopian tube

51.  2. Implantation takes place in:
 C) Uterus

52.  3. The normal length of pregnancy is:
 B) 40 weeks

53.  4. The placenta supplies food and
oxygen to the growing baby.
 True

54.  5. The amniotic fluid around the baby is
to there to protect the baby.
 True
 6. The amniotic fluid around the baby is
there to help the baby learn to swim.
 False

55.  7. The umbilical chord :
 B) Connects the baby to the placenta so
 the baby can get food and oxygen

56.  8) Trimester means
 B) 3 months

57.  9) When does the baby gain most of its
weight?
 C) During the third trimester

58.  10. During normal birth the baby comes
out bottom first.
 false
 11. During breech birth the baby comes
out bottom first.
 True

59.  12. If the baby comes out covered in
vernix, there is something seriously
wrong with the baby.
False

60.  13. The soft spot on the baby’s head,
where the skull is not completely closed
are there to:
 C) To help the baby’s head fit through the
vagina during birth.

61.  14. The soft spots (fontanelles) on the
baby’s head after birth will only go away
with a trip to a traditional healer.
 False
 14. The soft spots will close up on their
own.
 True.

62. Thank you!