PRENATAL DEVELOPMENT AND BIRTH The Brain

The Prenatal Development & Environmental Influences ● Babies have approximately 100 billion
neurons (nerve cells) at birth
Conception- occurs when a single sperm cell from the male
○ Architecture of the brain takes
unites with an ovum (egg)
shape during the first two trimesters
Prenatal Development- the process that occurs during the 40 ○ Increases in connectivity and
weeks prior to the birth of a child, and is heavily functioning occurs from the 3rd
influenced by genetics trimester to 2 years of age

Periods of Prenatal Development ● Neural tube develops 18 to 24 days after

conception
germinal period- first 2 weeks after conception, zygote ○ Anencephaly
created ○ Spina bifida
embryonic period- occurs from 2 to 8 weeks after ● Neurogenesis - the generation of new
conception neurons
fetal period- begins 2 months after conception ○ Begins at fifth prenatal week and
and lasts until birth continues throughout prenatal period
● Neuronal migration - cells move outward
Germinal period from their point of origin to their
Rapid cell division by the zygote appropriate locations
● Blastocyst - group of cells after about 1 week ○ Occurs approximately 6 to 24 weeks
● Trophoblast - outer layer of cells that later provides after conception
nutrition and support for the embryo ● Neural Connectivity - connections
● Implantation - attachment of the zygote to the uterine between neurons benign to occur
wall; occurs 10 to 14 days after conception ○ 23rd prenatal week

Embryonic period Teratology & Hazards to Prenatal Development

● Three layers: andoderm, mesoderm, and ectoderm
● Amnion - a bag that contains a clear fluid (amniotic fluid) ● Teratogen - any agent that can cause a
in which the embryo floats birth defect or negatively alter cognitive
● Umbilical Cord - connects the baby to the placenta and behavioral outcomes
● Placenta - group of tissues containing ○ Drugs (prescription, nonprescription)
mother and baby'’ intertwined blood vessels ○ Incompatible blood types
● Organogenesis - process of organ ○ Environmental pollutants
formation during the first two months of ○ Infectious diseases
prenatal development ○ Nutritional deficiencies
○ Maternal stress
Fetal period ○ Advanced age of parent
● Rapid growth and change
● Viability - the age at which a fetus has a chance of ● Dose - the greater the dose of an agent,
surviving outside the womb the greater the effect
○ currently 24 weeks; changes with ● Genetic susceptibility - linked to the
advances in medical technology genotype of the pregnant woman and
the genotype of the embryo or fetus
4, 586/ day ● Time of exposure - exposure to
191/hour teratogens does more damage when it
3/ minute occurs
● Prescription drugs - antibiotics, antidepressants,
some hormones
● Non-prescription drugs - aspirin and diet pills
● Psychoactive Drugs – drugs that act on the nervous system
to alter states of consciousness, modify
perceptions, and change moods
Heroin
● Infants whose mothers are addicted shows
several behavioral difficulties at birth and
attention deficits may appear later in
development

Caffeine ● Incompatible blood types (Rh factor) - can cause

● Small risk of miscarriage and low birth weight for those mother's immune system to produce
consuming more than 150mg daily antibodies that will attack the fetus
● Increased risk of fetal death for those consuming more ● Environmental hazards:
than 300mg daily ○ Radiation
● FDA recommends not consuming caffeine or consuming ○ Environmental pollutants and toxic wastes
it sparingly ● Maternal Diseases:
○ Sexually transmitted diseases (syphilis,
Alcohol genital herpes, AIDS)
● Fetal alcohol syndrome - abnormalities ○ Rubella
in newborn due to mother's heavy use ○ Diabetes
of alcohol in pregnancy ● Maternal Factors:
● Even light to moderate drinking during ○ Maternal diet and nutrition
pregnancy has been associated with ○ Maternal age
negative effects on the fetus ○ Emotional states and stress
● FDA recommends no alcohol ● Paternal Factors:
consumption during pregnancy ○ Exposure to teratogens
○ Paternal age
Nicotine
● Associated with: Prenatal Care
○ Preterm births and low birth weight
○ Fetal and neonatal death ● Typically includes:
○ Respiratory problems ○ Screening for manageable conditions and
○ SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) treatable diseases
○ ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) ○ Medical care
○ Educational, social, and nutritional
Cocaine services
● Associated with: ● Centering Pregnancy: relationship - centered
○ reduced birth weight, length, head program
circumference
● Linked to: BIRTH PROCESS
○ impaired connectivity of the thalamus & prefrontal Stages of Birth
cortex
Stage 1
Marijuana uterine contractions begin at 15 to 20 minutes
● Exposure to marijuana was related to apart and last up to 1 minute, becoming closer
lower intelligence and more intense with time
● Linked to: Stage 2
○ low birth weight baby's head begins to move through dilated
○ neonatal ICU cervix opening and eventually emerges
from the mother's body
Stage 3 Transition from Fetus to Newborn
umbilical cord, placenta, and other
membranes are detached and Anoxia- a condition in which the fetus has an
expelled (afterbirth) insufficient supply of oxygen
Apgar Scale- assessed at 1 minute and 5
Childbirth Setting and Attendants minutes after birth
● 99% deliveries take place in hospitals
● Lying-in or Maternity Clinics Preterm and Small for Date Infants
● Compared to doctors, midwives:
○ Typically spend more time than doctors Preterm infants- those born 3 weeks or more
counselling and educations patients before full term
○ Provide more emotional support Low birth weight infants- infants weigh less
○ Are typically present during the entire than 5lbs 8oz at birth
labor and delivery process Small for date infants- whose birth weight is
below normal when the length of the
pregnancy is considered
Methods of Childbirth
● Typical pain medication: ● Rate of preterm births has increased:
○ Analgesia - pain relief ○ Number of births to mothers 35
○ Anesthesia - blocks sensation in an area of the body years and older
(can also block consciousness) ○ Rates of multiple births
○ Oxytocics - synthetic hormones ○ Management of maternal and fetal
used to stimulate contractions conditions
○ Substance abuse
● Natural childbirth - aims to ○ Stress
reduce pain by decreasing fear and using
breathing/relaxation ● Causes of low birth weight:
● Prepared childbirth - special ○ Poor health and nutrition
breathing techniques; education about anatomy and ○ Cigarette smoking
physiology techniques ○ Adolescent births
○ Use of drugs
Other natural techniques used to reduce pain:
● Waterbirth - giving birth in a tub of warm water ● Possible consequences:
● Massage ○ Language development delays
● Acupuncture - insertion of very fine ○ Lower IQ scores
needles into specific locations in the ○ Brain injury
body ○ Lung of liver diseases
● Hypnosis - the induction of a ○ More behavioral difficulties
psychological state of altered attention ○ Learning disabilities
and awareness ○ ADHD
● Music therapy - utilizes music to reduce ○ Breathing problems (asthma)
stress and manage pain
● Cesarean delivery - the baby is removed from the ● Nurturing Low Birth Weight and Preterm
mother's uterus through an incision Infants
made in the abdomen ○ Kangaroo Care - involves skin-to-skin
contact
○ Massage Therapy
○ Breastfeeding
THE POSTPARTUM PERIOD

Postpartum period
● last about six weeks or until the mother'’ body has
completed its adjustment and has returned to
a nearly pre-pregnant state

Physical Adjustments
● Fatigue
● Hormone changes
● Return to menstruation
● Involution - process by which the
uterus returns to its pre-pregnant
size 5-6 weeks after birth
● Weight loss or return to exercise

Emotional and Psychological Adjustments

● Emotional fluctuations
● "Baby Blues"
● Postpartum Depression

A Father's Adjustments
● Many fathers feel that the baby gets all of the
mother's attention
● Parents should set aside time to be together
● Father's reaction is improved if he has taken
childbirth classes and is an active participant in the
baby's care

Bonding
● the formation of a connection, especially a physical
bond, between parents and the newborn in the
period shortly after birth