Over the past few years, the rate of caesarean birth has increased tremendously (March of Dimes Foundation, 2011). Caesarean birth, also known as a C-section, is a steadily growing surgical procedure. With the rate in 2007 at 32 percent, about one in three mothers now gives birth by C-section (Rabin, 2012). An infant is considered full term between 37 and 42 weeks, and an infant born before 37 weeks is premature or a preemie. C-sections contribute to the number of babies born late pre-term between 34 and 36 weeks gestation (March of Dimes Foundation, 2011). Babies born at this time might be viewed as healthy, but they are more likely to have medical problems than babies born a few weeks later at full-term. An infant born between 34 and 36 weeks gestation are more likely to have problems with breathing, feeding, maintaining his or her temperature, and jaundice. Since a baby’s brain and lungs mature late in pregnancy, C-sections pose respiratory risks for small preemies (Rabin, 2012).
The course of prenatal development is a very crucial part of human development. At this time the baby grows in three trimesters, the first is the germinal period in which the egg is fertilized. During the embryonic period cells differentiate into the blastocyst. The blastocyst is made up of three layers the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. The ectoderm will develop into the skin and nervous systems, the mesoderm will become the muscle and skeletal systems, and the endoderm will become the digestive and respiratory systems. In the last stage of prenatal development, known as the fetal period, the early body structures and systems continue to develop. The brain starts to mature much faster, and lastly the lungs begin to expand and contract, preparing...
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...arly or perfectly on time.
Works Cited
Cherry, K. (2012, January 01). Stages of Prenatal Development. Retrieved February 27, 2012, from About.com Psychology : http://psychology.about.com/od/developmentalpsychology/a/prenataldevelop.htm
March of Dimes Foundation. (2011, January 01). C-Section. Retrieved February 27, 2012, from March of Dimes: http://www.marchofdimes.com/pregnancy/csection_indepth.html
Peaceful Parenting. (2008, January 03). Fetal Lungs Protein Release Triggers Labor to Begin. Retrieved February 27, 2012, from Peaceful Parenting: http://www.drmomma.org/2008/01/fetal-lungs-protein-release-triggers.html
Rabin, R. C. (2012, February 09). Health. Retrieved February 27, 2012, from The New York Times: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/09/c-sections-pose-respiratory-risks-for-some-small-preemies/?scp=13&sq=babies&st=cse
By day 22, the child’s heart begins to pump with their own blood. By week 5 the child’s eyes, legs, and hands begin to develop. By weeks 9 and 10 the baby is able to turn its head and frown. This article also shares with us that by the 20th week gestation, the baby can recognize its mother’s voice. And lastly it gives us the last steps before the baby is born; 7 to 9 months gestation is when the baby is using four of the five senses. He knows the difference between waking and sleeping and can relate to the moods of the
Peterson-Iyer, Karen. "Confronting a Fetal Abnormality." http://www.scu.edu. Santa Clara University, Jan. 2008. Web. 13 Mar. 2014. .
Neonatal nursing is a field of nursing designed especially for both newborns and infants up to 28 days old. The term neonatal comes from neo, "new", and natal, "pertaining to birth or origin”. Neonatal nurses are a vital part of the neonatal care team. These are trained professionals who concentrate on ensuring that the newborn infants under their care are able to survive whatever potential life threatening event they encounter. They treat infants that are born with a variety of life threatening issues that include instances of prematurity, congenital birth defects, surgery related problems, cardiac malformations, severe burns, or acute infection. Neonatal care in hospitals was always done by the nursing staff but it did not officially become a specialized medical field until well into 1960s. This was due to the numerous advancements in both medical care training and related technology that allowed for the improved treatment and survival rate of premature babies. According to the March of Dimes, one of every thirteen babies born in the United States annually suffers from low birth weight. This is a leading cause in 65% of infant deaths. Therefore, nurses play a very important role in providing round the clock care for these infants, those born with birth defects or other life threatening illness. In addition, these nurses also tend to healthy babies while their mothers recover from the birthing process. Prior to the advent of this specialized nursing field at risk newborn infants were mostly cared for by obstetricians and midwives who had limited resources to help them survive (Meeks 3).
There is a social outlook to the increase for the medicalization of birth. According to a study, women with higher social status and greater access to education often choose a cesarean birth. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists even stated that c-sections should only be done if the risk of a child being birthed vaginally is higher than going through the surgical process with anesthesia. Even though the guidelines promote going towards vaginal birth, the rates continue to
Based on my knowledge about prenatal development and childbirth I expected the women to answer the way they did. Development happens rapidly during the prenatal period, which is the time between conception and birth. Prenatal development is normally divided into three stages: the germinal stage, the embryonic stage, and the fetal stage.
Worldwide, the rate of cesarean section is increasing. According to the CDC, in 2012 the rate of cesarean sections comprised 32.8% of all births in the United States (CDC, 2013). Between 1996-2009 the cesarean section rate has risen 60% in the U.S (CDC, 2013). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 50% of the 137 countries studies had cesarean section rates higher than 15% (WHO, 2010). The current goal of U.S. 2020 Healthy People is to reduce the rate of cesarean section to a target of 23.9%, which is almost 10% lower than the current rate (Healthy People 2020, 2013). According to a study conducted by Gonzales, Tapia, Fort, and Betran (2013), the appropriate percentage of performed cesarean sections is unclear, and is dependent on the circumstances of each individual birth (p. 643). Though often a life-saving procedure when necessary, the risks and complications associated with cesarean delivery are a cause for alarm due to the documented rate increase of this procedure across the globe. Many studies have revealed that cesarean deliveries increase the incidence of maternal hemorrhage and mortality and neonatal respiratory distress when compared to vaginal deliveries. As a result, current research suggests that efforts to reduce the rate of non-medically indicated cesarean sections should be made, and that comprehensive patient education should be provided when considering an elective cesarean delivery over a planned vaginal delivery.
Cord clamping has long been practiced to occur immediately after birth of a neonate. There is much discussion and evidence based practice that shows improvements to health when we delay the clamping and cutting of the umbilical cord. Delayed clamping allows for more nutrient rich blood to flow to the infant’s body, which is going through shock at birth. Early clamping is generally done between 10 seconds after expulsion of the fetus to one minute , whereas delayed clamping ranges from two minutes until the cord finishes pulsating. The research collected will analyze early clamping and delayed clamping to see which practice is found to be healthier for mother and child.
Both forms of delivery pose their own risks and complications for the baby. As stated before, C-section could result in respiratory complications in the baby as well not being able to establish breastfeeding and more. “Systematic reviews have found that being born by cesarean rather than vaginally is associated with greater likelihood of developing several chronic diseases, including: child on-set diabetes,
A neonatologist has many tasks and responsibilities before, during, and after the birth of an at-risk newborn. If there is reason to believe there are going to be complications with a birth that would cause negative side effects for the infant, a neonatologist will be brought in to help. In these high-risk situations, a team effort is required and the neonatologist takes the lead position. The neonatologist will be responsible for advising the parents on what to expect during and after labor. After the infant is born, the neonatologist has to find a method to properly care for the baby. Because most premature babies have a low birth-weight, their lungs need to be supported and they need to be kept warm. During this whole process, the neonatologist interacts with the parents to keep them updated on their baby’s condition (Weaver, 2009).
The process of human development is very complex. It is a continual process, providing gradual development for the fetus. Some of the most important factors to fetal development such as blood flow, heart beats, muscle development, and brain activity can all be determined within the first seven weeks of pregnancy (Baby Developme...
Pasquariello, P. S., Jr. (Ed.). (1999). Book of pregnancy and child care. New York City, NY: John Wiley & Sons.
...as than others. The oldest source was the textbook Infants and Children. The other three sources were from the Internet written in 1996. Doctors wrote two of the articles and the other one was from the health information for Lenox Hill Hospital. I believe that overtime birthing methods have changed and have alternative ways to proceed, however, the cesarean delivery is pretty much the same procedure and cannot really be changed in any way, which means that the information given will be basically the same.
Preterm birth is defined as ‘any neonate whose birth occurs before the thirty seventh week of gestation’1 and represents approximately eight percent of all pregnancies1-4. It is eminent that these preterm infants are at risk of physical and neurological delay, with prolonged hospitalisation and an increased risk of long-term morbidity evident in prior literature3, 5-13. Innovative healthcare over the past thirty years has reduced mortality significantly14, with the survival rate of preterm infants having increased from twenty five percent in 1980 to seventy three percent in 200715. Despite, this drop in mortality long-term morbidity continues to remain within these surviving infants sparking a cause for concern15, 16.
The first thing that this section tells us about is the three main periods of prenatal development. Prenatal development is the process where a baby has developed from a single cell to an embryo and finally to a fetus. The book describes it as "the most dramatic and extensive transformation of one's entire life occur[ing]
Although childbirth appears to be a calm and unforgettable moment for mothers and family members, there can be severe complications that can affect not only the mother, but also the delivery and the child; on the contrary, the process may also run smoothly without any