17 LIFE BEGINS || NIOS-SECONDARY COURSE || HOME SCIENCE-216 CLASS X

Chapter-17

LIFE BEGINS

INTEXT QUESTIONS 17.1

Q.1. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate options:

(i) The fertilized egg is also called..................

 

(a) an ovum  (b) a zygote  (c) a foetus

(ii) The zygote attaches itself to the lining of the ...........

 

(a) vagina    (b) uterus     (b) cervix

(iii) The vital organs like heart and lungs of the child start developing in the ........... trimester of pregnancy.

 

(a) first       (b) second      (c) third

      Ans:  (i) b, (ii) b, (iii) a.

Q.2. Calculate the expected data of delivery for a woman who had her last menstrual period from June 15 to June 19, 2009.

Ans: March 22, 2010.

 

Q.3. What are the possible ill effects of having a child before 20 years of age ?

Ans: Ill effects: Complications during delivery, birth of a physically/ mentally disabled child, risk to life of mother and child, miscarriages.

 Q.4. Given below is a set of statements describing the condition of some women. Name the women who may be pregnant and need to consult the doctor.

(a)Mary feels nausea on smelling perfumes or dal or an odorous substance.

(b)Meena got married in October and from November she has not had her periods.

(c)Sheela is scared to get up in the morning because as soon as she brushes her teeth she vomits.

(d)Jaswinder has been menstruating every 28 days.

(e)Pinky needs to gulp an antacid after every meal.

Ans: Might be pregnant: Meena, Sheela, 

         Consult a doctor: Mary, 

         Pinky Not pregnant: Jaswinder.

INTEXT QUESTIONS 17.2

Q.1.Give one reason why a pregnant women should do the following:

(a) Avoid spicy and fried foods.

(b) Take small and frequent meals.

(c) Take tetanus vaccination.

(d) Continue to do her normal daily work.

(e) Weigh herself at periodic intervals.

 

 Ans: (a)To prevent acidity and gastric discomfort

(b)To prevent heartburn/ gastric discomfort/ morning sickness

(c)To prevent infections during delivery

(d)To remain fit and active

(e)To check whether adequate foetal growth is taking place.

 

Q.2.Read the following situations and give appropriate answers.

(a) You are travelling in a bus and are lucky to have got a seat because the travelling time up to your home is more than an hour. At the next stop a pregnant woman boards the bus. Should you look away or offer her the seat? Why?

(b) Your 21 year old married sister is 6 months pregnant. She is shy and refuses to step out of her home. What kind of clothes would you recommend she wears during pregnancy.

 

 

Ans: (a) (i) Sudden jerks can result in fall and can harm            the foetus can cause abortion.

(ii)The woman needs to be given as much rest as possible.

(iii) She should be made to feel comfortable.

(b) Clothes recommended. Slightly loose fitting kurta-salwar, top-trousers, saree can be worn. The clothes should not put undue pressure on the woman's abdomen and should allow her to move around freely.

INTEXT QUESTIONS 17.3

Q.1. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words.

(i)Care of women during pregnancy is called..........care.

(ii) A new born baby is likely to sleep for............hours.

(iii) Immunization is offered free at .........hospitals and health centres.

(iv) A woman should get herself immunized for............as early as possible during pregnancy.

(v)........... and polio are given to a baby at the time of birth.

Ans:(i) prenatal , (ii) 16, (iii) government, (iv) tetanus, 

        (v) BCG. 

Q.2. List the vaccines recommended for a new born baby under the National Immunization Schedule. State the diseases that they prevent.

Ans:

 

  INTEXT QUESTIONS 17.4

Q.1. State whether the following statements are true or false, Give reasons for the same. 

(i)The cut cord of a new born baby should be left exposed to dry up.  (True/False)

(ii) Colostrum is good for the baby. (True/False)

(iii) The mother should not breath feed the baby for first few days after birth. (True/False)

(iv) Breast-fed babaies are stronger and healthier. (True/False)

(v) Mothers who are breast feeding need a nutritious diet.(True/False)

Ans:(i) True, If the cord is covered, it will not dry up                  quickly and this can result in infections.

(ii) True, Colostrum provides immunity and is also very nutritious.

(iii) False, The mother should put the baby to her breast within one hour of delivery so that the child can get the benefit of having colostrum too.

(iv) True, Breast milk is nutritionally adequate, prevents infection, improves immunity and results in better bonding of the baby with the mother; thus making the babies stronger and healthier.

(v)True, Nursing mothers have to produce milk for their babies and therefore , need to consumers larger amount of nutrients in their diets.

INTEXT QUESTIONS 17.4

Q.1.  Reena  and Abhay have three children in a span of three years of marriage  whereas  Ayesha and Firoz  started their family after  three years of marriage  and have only one child .Explain ,giving appropriate reasons  which couple  has  taken the right decision.

             

Ans: Ayesha  and Firoz have taken a right decision.

Reason : They have taken  time to understand  their new  family  and adjust to the new environment  and only after that , they had a baby . They will be able to devote  adequate  time  to their baby  and take care of all its needs. Ayesha  will be  more  patient  as her own health status  will be in a stable condition. If she is a professional ,she will  also be  able to devote  time to her work. 

Reena  has conceived immediately  after marriage .It must have caused  deterioration  of her  health . She has also had two  more children  in quick  succession  which could affect her health  and nutritional status .Besides  their  children may not  get enough nutrition  and attention  from  her. This could make their children irritable and  more  susceptible  to infections and  disease .Reena and  Abhay may also feel  more irritable  and guilty  as they will not be able to devote  adequate time to all  their young children  with their high  demands.

Q.2. Ritu is a 15 year old unmarried girl who has become pregnant. What advice will you give to her family and friends to help her cope with the situation?

Ans: Advice to family and friends:

(i) Family, friends and Ritu may rationally discuss the pros and cons of the situation and come to a mutually agreeable decision.

(ii)   If the final decision is to abort the child then it should be under proper medical supervision. Ritu should be given emotional and physical support.

(iii) If pregnancy has to be taken to full term, then friends and family should keep Ritu happy; make her feel comfortable and normal; encourage her to face life bravely; they should not allow Ritu to feel guilty; should encourage her to  take nutritious meals; go for regular medical check-ups; and continue with her studies.

TERMINAL EXERCISES

Q.1. How does a woman come to know that she has become pregnant?

Ans:From the time fertilization takes place, many changes occure in a woman's body. These changes include physical, hormonal and emotional changes. Keeping these changes in view a woman comes to know that she has become pregnant. Some of these changes are as under:

(i) The woman misses her menstrual period.

(ii) Morning sickness or nausea is usually experienced in the morning. However, some women may experience it at any other time of the day.

(iii) Changes occurs in the breast. They tend to get enlarged and feel tender. The nipples become more prominent and the dark area around the nipple called areola becomes darker and enlarges.

(iv) The frequency of urination may increase towards the end of pregnancy.

(v) Hormonal changes that take place in the woman's body could lead to:

- A craving for certain foods such as sweets or spicy or sour food.

She may even want to eat certain inedible things like mud or chalk or slate. if they have a carving for such inedible things, they must consult a doctor.

- She may have an aversion to certain foods and smells such as onion, apples, perfumes etc.

Q.2. What do you think would be the consequences of conceiving a baby by a young woman who is under 18 years of age?

Ans:Before 20 years the reproductive system is not very well-developed. If a young woman who is under 18 years of age conceives a baby the consequences that follow may be as under:

(i)The child may be physically and mentally weak.

(ii)There may be risk to mother's life.

(iii)There may be risk to child's life.

(iv)There may be a risk of miscarriage.

Q.3. Trace the development of the foetus from the first to third trimester of pregnancy.

Ans:The development of the foetus from the first to third trimester of pregnancy can be traced as under-

(i)The First Trimester: 0-3 months, This trimester begins with fertilization. The fertilized eggs which is a single cell begins to divide. As a ball of cells, it attaches to the wall of the uterus. It grows and develops into as 'Embryo'. The embryo's life support systems include the amniotic sac, placenta and umbilical cord. They protect and feed the embryo.

The vital organs like heart and lungs are formed and the circulatory system starts operating by the end of three months.

Male and female reproductive organs develop and the embryo, now called a foetus, attains a human form.

(ii)The Second Trimester: 3-6 months, In this trimester the size of the foetus increases rapidly. Brain's development is very fast. The foetus begins to move and the mother can feel the movements.

A 6-month old fotus is under-developed and if born prematurely cannot survive outside the womb.

(iii)The Third Trimester: 6-9 monts. The foetus increases in size continuously. It can now regulate breathing, body temperature and suck its thumb. In the eighth month of prenantal development, the foetus' body prepares for life outside the uterus. It gets antibodies from the mother so that it can be protected from diseases after birth.

Q.4. List four things a woman and her family can do to ensure the birth of a healthy and happy child.

Ans:Only a healthy woman can give birth to a healthy baby. To be healthy, the woman , say the mother, must eat the right food. The right food for a pregnant woman is, a balanced diet. A woman needs to consume extra nutrients during pregnancy.

Four things a woman and her family can do to ensure the birth of a healthy and happy child are as under-

(i) Coping with morning sickness: During he first three moths of pregnancy, nausea and vomiting are quite common especially in the morning. To combat this morning sickness, a pregnant woman can eat a piece of dry toast or biscuit or puffed rice in the morning.

(ii)Prevention of  Anaemia: A diet rich in iron help in preventing anaemia. The pregnant woman can take the following things-

(a)Whole cereals and pulses: green leafy vegetables, jaggery and amla in her diet to get good amounts of iron.

(b)Women who consume non-vegetarian food can consume eggs and organ meats like liver and kidney.

(iii) Keeping away constipation: Constipation, especially during the later stage of pregnancy, is largely due to reduced physical activity and other pregnancy related causes. To overcome this problem, a pregnant woman must eat a lot of fruits and raw vegetables and drink plenty of fluids.

(iv)Frequency of proper meals: Spicy and fried food must be avoided as they tend to cause acidity and discomfort.The pregnant must take small but frequent meals. The last meal of the day must be taken at least 2-3 hours before going to bed.

Q.5. What do you understand by the term fourth trimester?

Ans:Some health professionals refer to the postnatal period as the 'fourth trimester'. The time span of this period is more than three months. The use of term 'fourth trimester' suggests continuity and importance of the first few months after delivery for the mother.

Q.6. Identify two practices to care for a mother and her baby after delivery. Why are these practices important?

Ans:Two practices that should be followed for caring the baby and the mother after the delivery are -

(i).  The mother should be given healthier foods to eat and other nutritious foods. Also, the mother should drink plenty and clean water. The baby should be provided with mother's milk.

(ii). The mother must have proper rest and good sleep. Also personal hygiene must be maintained.

These practices are important so that both the mother and the baby may be healthy and so that the baby may grow and develop in a proper manner.

Q.7. Why is it important for a child to be breast fed right from birth? Give two reasons in support of your answer.

Ans:After birth, your first milk, called Colostrum, offers vital early protection and helps to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria by coating your baby’s digestive system. This early protection is even more important if your baby is born prematurely. There is strong evidence that children who were breastfed score higher on IQ tests, as well as on teacher ratings of their academic performance. Breast milk is always safe, fresh and exactly the right temperature. It’s ready for baby at a moment’s notice, and you don’t have to heat it, boil water, or sterilize bottles. This makes night time feedings a lot easier.

Two reasons of breast feeding: 

• It supplies all the necessary nutrients in the proper proportions.
• It protects against allergies, sickness, and obesity.

Q.8. Prepare a short talk giving reasons for the need to give special care to a pregnant woman and the role of her family in doing so.

Ans:

• Provide the pregnant woman with information on the changes occurring in her body.
• Check for high blood pressure, which can be dangerous to both mother and child.
• Check for anaemia and provide iron-folic acid supplements, ensure that the woman understands the importance of taking the supplements and explain the normal side effects, including constipation and nausea.
• Screen for night blindness to determine if the woman needs to be treated with vitamin A and, if necessary, prescribe vitamin A to protect the mother and promote the healthy development of the fetus.
• Review the mother's tetanus immunization status and give the dose(s) needed to protect her and her newborn baby
• Encourage all pregnant women to use only iodized salt in food. preparation to help protect their children from mental and physical disabilities and to protect themselves from goiter.
• Prepare the mother and father for the experience of childbirth and caring for their newborn, give the mother advice on breastfeeding and caring for herself, and provide the father with guidance on how he can assist.
• Advise the pregnant woman and her family on where the birth should take place and how to get help if complications arise before and during childbirth or immediately after delivery.

Q.9. A couple should plan a small family. Give reasons.

Ans:A couple should plan a small family for the following resons:

• In small families, parents have a better opportunity to spend time with the kids and kids will receive more love and attention from their parents. In this manner, the environment of the family becomes happier.

• Every member of your family has a cost. The cost of living would be higher in large families and vice versa. Parents can give the healthy and best life to their kids especially in small families.

• It is very important for our country to move towards small family otherwise the quality of life will continue to be far away in comparison to the world's living standards. The resources are available in limited quantity and if the population will continuously increase at the rapid rate, the day will come when these resources will not available.