Chapter 3 - Prenatal Development and Birth

What are the 3 stages of childbirth? And what happens during each stage?

-First Stage: uterine contractions are 15 to 20 minutes apart at the beginning and last up to a minute, causes the woman's cervix to stretch and open. The contractions come closer together, appearing every two to five minutes. -Second Stage: the baby's head starts to move through the cervix and the birth canal, the baby emerges from the mother's body. -Third Stage: afterbirth. The placenta, umbilical cord, and other membranes are detached and expelled.

What are ways to assess the newborn for any developmental problems that need immediate attention?

-The Apgar Scale: assess the health of newborns at one and five minutes after birth. Evaluates an infant's heart rate, respiratory effort, muscle tone, body color, and reflex irritability. -The Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale: performed within 24 to 36 hours after birth. Assesses the newborn's neurological development, reflexes, and reactions to people and objects. -The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Network Neurobehavioral Scale: assessment of the newborn's behavior, neurological and stress responses, and regulatory capacities.

Prenatal Care

-involves a defined schedule of visits for medical care -prenatal programs often include comprehensive educational, social, and nutritional services -exercise increasingly is recommended

What are the 3 factors that influence the effect of teratogens?

-the greater the dose, the greater the effect -the type of abnormalities caused by a teratogen is linked to the genotype of the pregnant woman and the genotype of the fetus -exposure to teratogens does more damage when it occurs at some points in development than at others

What is the definition of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)?

a cluster of abnormalities that appear in the offspring of mothers who drink alcohol heavily during pregnancy

What is a teratogen?

any agent that can potentially cause a birth defect or negatively alter cognitive and behavioral outcomes. Almost every fetus is exposed to some teratogen

The Fetal Period

begins 2 months after conception, lasts about 7 months. The baby is now called a Fetus because it has developed all of its organs. Quickening is happening where a mother can first feel the baby move. Organs begin to function, sex organs develop, and brain development is significant (22 weeks after conception)

What are Small for Date Infants?

birth weight is below normal when the length of the pregnancy is considered

What abnormalities associate with FASD?

facial deformities and defective limbs, face, and heart. Some children have learning problems and many are below average in intelligence

Are male fetuses and female fetuses equally affected by teratogens?

male fetuses are far more likely to be affected by teratogens than female fetuses

What are some possible effects of teratogens?

maternal smoking, illegal drug use, lack of folic acid, advanced maternal or paternal age

Methods of childbirth:

medication, natural/prepared, and cesarean

The Embryonic Period

occurs from two to eight weeks after conception, the rate of cell differentiation intensifies, support systems for cells form, and organs appear. The mass of cells is called an embryo. All basic organs and body parts are formed. Organogenesis is the process of organ formation during the first 2 months of prenatal development. Weighs only 1 gram and is about an inch long

What are some examples of teratogens?

smoking, alcohol, drug, sushi, hair dye, polution

The Germinal Period

takes place in the first 2 weeks after conception, includes the creation of the zygote, continued cell division, and the attachment of the zygote to the uterine wall

What are the 3 periods of prenatal development?

the germinal period, the embryonic period, and the fetal period

Aspects of the Postpartum Period

the mother's body had completed its adjustment and has returned to a nearly prepregnant state, physical as well as emotional fluctuations are made

What are Preterm Infants?

those born three weeks or more before the pregnancy has reached its full term

What is kangaroo care?

treatment for preterm infants that involves skin-to-skin contact with its mother, practiced for two to three hours per day

What are Low Birth Weight Infants?

weigh less than 5.5 pounds at birth