Pregnancy, Fetal Development and Antenatal Care

The journey before birth

A great deal happens between conception and the birth of a baby, and it is one of the most remarkable processes in nature. In the first weeks the developing baby is called an embryo, and from about week nine it is called a fetus, growing steadily as its organs and brain develop. All the while it is supported by a set of temporary structures: the placenta passes oxygen and nutrients from the mother and carries waste away, the umbilical cord links the baby to the placenta, and the amniotic sac holds fluid that cushions and protects. Throughout the pregnancy the mother receives antenatal care, a series of checks and support that keeps both her and the baby healthy. This module covers how a baby develops before birth, the support system that makes it possible, and the antenatal care that protects the pregnancy.

Pregnancy words

Learn these terms before the support system is matched up. They name the developing baby and what supports it.

Match each support part to its job

Identical against non-identical twins

Twins form in two different ways, and the difference explains why some twins look alike and others do not.

Why does the baby need a placenta?

A developing baby cannot eat or breathe for itself in the womb. How does the placenta solve this problem?

• It passes oxygen and nutrients from the mother to the baby and removes waste
• It holds the fluid that surrounds the baby
• It teaches the baby to breathe before birth
• It decides the sex of the baby

Antenatal care protects two lives

Antenatal care is the medical care and advice given during pregnancy, and its purpose is to keep both the mother and the developing baby healthy. Regular checks let health professionals notice any problem early, when it is easiest to manage: a blood-pressure check watches for a condition called pre-eclampsia, urine and blood tests check for other conditions, and a scan checks that the baby is growing well. Alongside the checks, general good habits support a healthy pregnancy, such as eating well, resting, and avoiding things known to harm a developing baby. None of this is about worry; it is about noticing problems early and giving the baby the best possible start. The partner and the wider family also have an important supporting role throughout.

Pick the antenatal checks

Select every check that is a real part of antenatal care.

• A blood-pressure check
• A urine test
• A scan of the baby
• A spelling test
• A driving test

Order the stages of development before birth

Put the stages of development before birth in order.

• A fertilised egg divides and settles in the womb
• In the first weeks it is called an embryo
• From about week nine it is called a fetus
• Organs and the brain develop and the fetus grows
• By about week forty the baby is ready to be born

Complete the pregnancy facts

In the first weeks the developing baby is called an _____. From about week nine it is called a _____. The organ that passes oxygen and nutrients to the baby is the _____. The bag of fluid that surrounds the baby is the _____.

Tap the two antenatal professionals

Tap the TWO people who are health professionals involved in antenatal care.

• a midwife
• a sonographer who carries out scans
• a plumber
• a librarian

Building a house with scaffolding

When a house is built, scaffolding goes up around it. The scaffolding is not part of the finished house, but nothing could be built without it: it holds things in place, carries materials up to where they are needed, and protects the work while it grows. Before a baby is born, a set of temporary structures does the very same job. One carries food and oxygen in and takes waste away, another cushions and protects, and a cord links the two together. None of them is part of the baby, and all of them are no longer needed once the baby is born, but without them the baby could not grow safely. So picture them as the scaffolding of a new life: temporary, essential, and quietly taken away once their work is done.

The pregnancy-care run

Answer each one correctly to keep your lives. Choose the best answer.

Support a healthy pregnancy

Read each situation and choose the best answer.

• A pregnant woman is offered regular antenatal check-ups. Why do they matter?
• Which is a sensible part of a healthy pregnancy?
• A pregnancy is expecting twins from one fertilised egg that split into two. What kind of twins are they?

Build an antenatal-care sentence

Choose the word for each gap to complete one point about pregnancy.

Explain how a baby develops and is cared for before birth

A friend wants to understand what happens during pregnancy. Using what you have learned, explain how a baby develops before birth and how a healthy pregnancy is supported.

• Explain the difference between an embryo and a fetus
• Explain the roles of the placenta, umbilical cord and amniotic sac
• Explain what antenatal care is and why it matters
• Explain two antenatal checks and what they look for
• Explain who supports the pregnancy, including health professionals and the partner