prenatal development and birth chapter 3 the development of children (5 th ed.) cole, cole &...
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Prenatal Development and Birth
Chapter 3
The Development of Children (5th ed.)
Cole, Cole & Lightfoot
Of all our existence, the 9 months we live inside the womb are the most eventful for our growth and development.
Of all our existence, the 9 months we live inside the womb are the most eventful for our growth and development.
Cole, Cole & Lightfoot, p. 72
The Study of Prenatal Development
The developing organism can be affected by mother-to-be’s health, habits, environment and lifestyle
Overview of the Journey
Prenatal Periods
Prenatal Development
Birth – The First Bio-Social-Behavioral Shift
Prenatal Periods
Prenatal Development
Birth – The First Bio-Social-Behavioral Shift
Prenatal PeriodsGerminal period:
Conception to attachment (8-10 days later)
(single-cell zygote multi-cell blastocyst)
Embryonic periodAttachment to end of 8th week all major organs have taken primitive shape,
gender is decided.
Critical period for problems in development of heart, lungs, brain and nervous system
Fetal period (fetus)9th week (ossification begins) until birth
all major organs continue to develop
Fetal Development Timeline 10th week: Intestines in place; breathing and jaw-
opening movements 12th week: Sexual characteristics; well-defined neck;
sucking and swallowing movements 16th week: Head erect and lower limbs well-developed 5th month: As many nerve cells as it will ever have 7th month: Eyes open and lungs capable of breathing 8th month: Many folds of the brain present 9th month: Brain more developed Fetus doubles its weight in the final weeks before
birth
Critical Periods of Fetal Development
A fetus is most vulnerable when it is first formingA fetus is most vulnerable when it is first forming
Prenatal Development of the Brain
Partner talk:What does optimal brain development require in the first three months of prenatal life?
Fetal Sensory Capacities
Sensing motion Sense of balance at 5 months
Vision Responds to light (i.e., heart
rate changes, increased movement) at 26 weeks
Sound Responds at 5-6 months Can discriminate outside sounds, but hears
mother’s voice best (i.e., changes in heart rate)
Maternal Conditions: Attitudes & Stress
Czech study: At birth, unwanted children weighed less and needed more medical help than children in the control group
Psychological stress during pregnancy is associated with premature delivery and low birth weight (Hedegaard, 1993)
Presence of a supportive mate and other family members, adequate housing, and steady employment give a woman a basic sense of security. This appears to enhance the prospects for a healthy baby (Thompson, 1990)
Premature Birth: Nutritional Intake
Yom Kippur: 24-hour food and water fast by orthodox Jews
Partner talk: How important is nutrition? Why?
Consequences of Premature Birth Immaturity of the lungs is the
leading cause of death for preemies. They can also have digestion and immunity problems
Premature babies who are normal size for their gestational age stand a good chance of catching up with full-term babies
Some children born prematurely have problems maintaining attention and with visual-motor coordination when they are school age
Maternal Conditions: Teratogens
Teratogens are everything in the environment that is ingested or
breathed in that poisons the fetus.
All teratogens lead to birth defects, retardation, and/or mental
disturbances to some degree.
Agent Orange - a toxic poison!Agent Orange, is an environmental pollutant used during the Vietnam War. It was an herbicide used to kill the jungle vegetation.
It caused many, many birth defects!
Triclosan (found in many antiperspirants) is Agent Orange!
Smoking
Increase in rate of spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, and neonatal death
Nicotine results in abnormal growth of the placenta
Similar effects from second-hand smoke!
Alcohol
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Abnormally small head, underdeveloped brain, eye abnormalities, congenital heart disease, joint anomalies, malformations of the face
Most serious damage from alcohol caused in first weeks of pregnancy
This woman’s story is in National Geographic magazine. It is the ONLY such article in NG! Search “Fetal Alcohol Syndrome”
Alcohol
Normal BrainFetal Alcohol
Syndrome Brain
Drugs Prescription medication: can pass to the fetus and damage its
development Caffeine: Increased spontaneous abortion and low birth weight Marijuana: Low birth weight, premature; infants startle easily, have tremors,
and sleep problems Cocaine: Increased stillborn or premature, low birth weight, strokes, birth
defects; infants irritable, uncoordinated, slow learners Methadone & Heroin: Born addicted; likely to be premature, underweight,
vulnerable to respiratory illness, tremors, irritable; infants have difficulty attending, poor motor control
Infections Rubella (German measles): Can
cause a syndrome of congenital heart disease, cataracts, deafness, and mental retardation in more than half of all babies born to mothers who suffer from the disease during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy
AIDS: Approximately 30% of the babies born to mothers who test positive for the AIDS virus acquire this disease
Also Rh incompatibility, radiation, pollution
Birth: The First Bio-Social-Behavioral Shift
THIRD STAGE: Delivery of the placenta
Assessing Viability - how much life force in is the child?
Physical condition: Apgar Scale: rates the strength of the heart, respiration, muscles, reflexes and color within 5 minutes of birth
Neurological condition: Brazelton Neonatal Assessment Scale: Includes tests of infant reflexes, motor capacities, muscle tone, capacity for responding to objects and people, capacity to control own behavior, attention
Physical condition: Apgar Scale: rates the strength of the heart, respiration, muscles, reflexes and color within 5 minutes of birth
Neurological condition: Brazelton Neonatal Assessment Scale: Includes tests of infant reflexes, motor capacities, muscle tone, capacity for responding to objects and people, capacity to control own behavior, attention
These tests are good for determining necessity of medical intervention and indicate the potential for normal development.
These tests are good for determining necessity of medical intervention and indicate the potential for normal development.
Parent-Child Relationships
Baby-ness: Prominent forehead; large eyes below horizontal midline of face; round, full cheeks
Baby-ness seems to appeal to adults, to girls of 12 and 14, and boys between the ages of 14 and 16
Baby-ness creates the emotional responses necessary to form positive and healthy attachments in early infancy.
Partner Talk:
Get a partner …
Pick a number: 1, 2, or 3 …
Here are your topics:
1. List as 5 examples of the environment playing a significant role in prenatal development.
2. List some of the expectant parents’ responsibilities toward the health of their developing child.
3. What will you be sure to do, or not do, from now on?
Partner Talk:
Get a partner …
Pick a number: 1, 2, or 3 …
Here are your topics:
1. List as 5 examples of the environment playing a significant role in prenatal development.
2. List some of the expectant parents’ responsibilities toward the health of their developing child.
3. What will you be sure to do, or not do, from now on?