4.1 PP

Infertility

• The inability to conceive a child
• About 40% of the cases are due to female infertility and about 40% are due to male infertility. The other 20% have unknown causes.

Infertility Options

Adoption

• A couple legally takes on all responsibilities and rights for raising, loving, and caring for a child in need of a permanent home.

Artificial Insemination

• A doctor injects sperm into a woman’s uterus.
• Timed to take place when a woman’s ovary releases an ovum (ovulation).
• Sperm from the male partner or from a donor can be used.

In Vitro Fertilization

• The doctor combines a mature ovum and sperm outside of the womb.
• Places the fertilized egg into the uterus and hopes it implants.

Ovum Transfer

• A donated ovum is fertilized by sperm and then placed inside a woman’s uterus.

Surrogate Mother

• A woman who becomes pregnant for another woman.
• The ovum is fertilized by sperm and then placed into the surrogates uterus.

Expense

• Infertility treatments are often expensive because they aren’t covered by most insurances.

Choice

• They cannot have a baby on their own
• Damaged fallopian tubes, ovaries, vas deferens, etc.

Controversy

• Not always the couples baby
• What if the surrogate mother decides to keep the baby?
• Gives the couple choice (gender, basic genetic qualities, how many, etc.)

Prenatal Development

• The baby’s development during pregnancy.

Stage1: Germinal Stage

• Lasts two weeks.
• Zygote: The fertilized egg
• Cell Division: Splits from two cells to four cells to eight cells, etc. Within a few days the zygote is 500 cells.
• Implantation: Occurs in the uterus - the place where the baby will grow during pregnancy.

Stage 2: Embryonic

• Lasts from the third week to the eight week of pregnancy.
• Embryo: What the developing baby is called from the 3^rd to 8^th week of pregnancy.
• Organs and Body Systems: Cells separate and develop into the major systems of the body (Heart, lungs, bones, muscles)
• Amniotic Sac: Sac that contains amniotic fluid. It develops around the embryo to protects it from any bumps.
• Placenta and Umbilical Cord: Absorb oxygen and nourishment from the mother’s blood and then transport them to the baby.

Stage 3: Fetal

• Lasts from the ninth week of pregnancy until birth.
• Making Movements: The fetus will kick the wall of the uterus during this stage.
• Completing Development: By the end of the 7^th month the baby is capable of living outside of the uterus.
• Staying Active: The fetus uses all five senses, changes positions, prepares to descend down the birth canal
• Growing Bigger: The uterus expands as the fetus expands. The baby curls into the “fetal” position to fit inside of the uterus.
• Ready for Birth: After 40 weeks or 280 days the baby is born! They need very little medical assistance at this age.

Amniotic Fluid

• Surrounds the baby
• Protects it from any bumps or falls the mother experiences

Placenta

• Absorbs nutrients from the mother’s blood

Umbilical Cord

• Transfers nutrients from the placenta to the baby.