Periods of Development

Prenatal
Prenatal development begins at conception and continues up until birth (Typically 36-42 weeks from conception). Many crucial developments happen during this short amount of time as well as rapid growth. Since verbal language skills are not available at this stage, communication is not mentioned. However, the fetus can show response to light, sounds and movements. Social and cultural influences can also impact development. For example those from lower social classes may not be able to afford the prenatal care they need, therefore developmental problems can occur or others may be able to afford proper care which hopefully leads to good development. Also, many cultures have their own customs when it comes to pregnancy, so mothers may only be allowed to eat certain foods, which can lead to poor nutrition and developmental problems. On the other hand, other cultures celebrate pregnancy and mothers are allowed extra food, plenty of rest and top notch care that results in proper development. Some key developmental strides made during this time are as followed

Developmental Milestone Primitive Brain and spinal cord develop Most of neurons complete External genitals are well formed Layer of fat added to aid temperature regulation (Berk, 2013).

Type of Development Estimated age of occurrence Cognitive 3-4 weeks gestation Cognitive Physical Physical 24 weeks gestation 9-12 weeks gestation 36 weeks gestation

(Project Young One, 2007).

With so many developmental changes, there are plenty of opportunities for developmental issues. Atypical development would be detected by ultrasounds or other prenatal testing. One sign of atypical development would be the development of Down syndrome, which occurs during the early stages of pregnancy. An official diagnoses cannot be made until birth, but abnormal ultrasounds, abnormal test results or CVC testing can all help determine risk factors. Another sign of atypical development would be the discovery of Spina Bifida, which is determined by an ultrasound and MSAFP screening.

Maternal health is very important during this stage of development. Studies have shown that an unhealthy diet and psychological stress have a significant influence on the future neurodevelopment of a child. Therefore, a healthy well-balanced diet (prenatal vitamins are highly recommended) and limiting maternal stress as much as possible is beneficial to mother and child. Therefore keeping up with prenatal appointments and having a healthy lifestyle is highly recommended (Monk, Georgieff and Osterholm, 2013).

(American Hospital Dubai, 2010). Being conscious about environmental concerns is also important during the prenatal stage. Pregnant women should avoid changing litter boxes, exposure to toxins and pesticides. Studies

have shown that maternal exposure to certain pesticides can affect the neurobehavioral development of the child (Engel et al, 2011).

Review of Recommendations for Healthy Development

Make and keep prenatal appointments, as well as any other medical/dental care needed Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet to get proper vitamins and minerals Drink plenty of water Stay as active as possible (per doctors instructions and own comfort level) Avoid toxins Minimize stress Get proper amount of sleep

Resources American Hospital Dubai. (2010). Eating Well During Pregnancy. Pregnancy Booklet. http://www.ahdubai.com/dynamicdata/pre3.aspx Berk, L. E. (2013).Child development. (9th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. Engel, S. M., Wetmur, J., Chen, J., Zhu, C., Barr, D., Canfield, R. L., & Wolff, M. S. (2011). Prenatal Exposure to Organophosphates, Paraoxonase 1, and Cognitive Development in Childhood. Environmental Health Perspectives, 119(8), 1180-1188. doi:10.1289/ehp.1003183 Foothill Pregnancy Center. (2007) The YoungOne. Project Young One Inc. http://foothillpregnancycenter.org/youngone.htm Monk, C., Georgieff, M. K., & Osterholm, E. A. (2013). Research Review: Maternal prenatal distress and poor nutrition - mutually influencing risk factors affecting infant neurocognitive development. Journal Of Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 54(2), 115-130. doi:10.1111/jcpp.12000