Prenatal Development
3 Stages of Prenatal Development:
- These three are different from 3 trimesters of pregnancy.
1. Germinal [ 0-2 weeks ]
- This is after conception.
- The first and shortest stage of the human lifespan.
- This begins with the fallopian tube, when the ovum
is fertilized by a sperm cell to form a zygote. This
continues as the zygote undergoes several initial cell
divisions to form a solid ball of cells called a morula
[Consist of 3-4 days]. This continues as morula
undergoes additional changes to become a hollow
ball of a cell called blastocyst [Consist of 5-7 days].
When the blastocyst implants in endometrium of the
uterus [Consist of 8-9 days. After implantation
occurs, the blastocyst is called embryo. The embryo
will soon obtain nutrients from the mother’s blood
via a temporary organ called placenta.
- The germinal stage of pregnancy starts at the time
of conception, when the sperm and the egg combine
to the form of zygote.
2. Embryonic [ 3-8 weeks/2-8 weeks/5-10 weeks ]
- The baby begins a period of dramatic change known
as the embryonic stage.
- During this stage, the baby is called an embryo.
- Numerous changes occur during embryonic stage:
● The zygote becomes an embryo.
● The cell differentiation intensifies.
o After the implantation, the cell continues
to rapidly divide and clusters of cells begin
to take on different functions which is
called the differentiation.
o This is the process of gastrulation that
leads to the formation of 3 distinct layers
(Germ Layers):
▪ Ectoderm [Outer layer]
- Formation of skin, nails, hair,
brains, nervous tissues, cell,
nose, mouth, and other tissue.
▪ Mesoderm [Middle Layer]
- Developing the muscle, bone,
heart, tissue, lungs, reproductive
organs, lymphatic tissue, and
other tissue.
▪ Endoderm [Inner Layer]
- Developing the lining of lungs,
bladder, digestive track, tongue,
tonsil, and other organs.
o Each layer differentiate to different tissues
and structures.
o The process of differentiation ay nagttake
place over the period of weeks
simultaneously.
● Life support systems for the embryo develop.
● Organ appears.
[ Week 3:
o Binibigyan magdevelop ‘yung brain, heart, blood
cell, circulatory system, spinal cord, and the
digestive system.
[ Week 4:
o The development of bones, facial structures,
presence of arms, leg, then nagccontinue na
magdevelop and heart, brain, and nervous tissue.
[ At the end of 4th weeks:
o Embryo is ¼ inch in length.
o The heart, digestive system, backbone, and spinal
cord begin to form.
o Placenta (sometimes called “afterbirth”) begins
developing.
o The single fertilized egg is now 10,000 larger than
size at conception.
[ Week 5:
o Nabibigyan magdevelop ang eyes, nose, kidney,
lungs, then nagccontinue lang ng formation ang
heart, valves, brain, nervous tissue, and digestive
track.
[ Week 6:
o Nabibigyan magdevelop ang kamay, paa, then
continuation of the development of the brain, heart,
and circulation system.
[ Week 7:
o Nabibigyan magdevelop ang hair follicles, nipples,
eyelids, sex organs, first formartion of urine sa
kidney, and forst evidence of brain waves.
[ Week 8:
o The facial features of the baby are more distinct, then
the internal organs are well developed too, and also
the brain can now send a signal to muscles to move.
The heart development and external sex organ begin
to form.
[ At the end of 8th weeks:
o Embryo is 1 ⅛ inches in length.
o Eyes, nose, lips, tongue, ears, and teeth are forming.
o The embryo is moving, although the mother can not
feel the movement yet.
o Heart is functioning.
- Starts after the implantation then lasts after 8 weeks after the
conception.
● Organogenesis
- The process of organ formation during the first
two months of pre-natal period.
- These three layers form [Endoderm, Ectoderm,
Mesoderm], the support system for the embryo
 develop rapidly which are: placenta, umbilical o Feeding problems, such as difficulty
cord, amnion. swallowing.
o Hearing loss
- At the end of the embryonic stage, all essential external and o Vision problems
internal organs have been formed. The embryo is now referred ● German Measles
to as a fetus. - The pregnant women who have rubella virus expose their
unborn children as well, which could have severe
Two major direction of growth during embryonic stage: implications.
● Cephalocaudal Development - Infected childbearing can end in miscarriage, or the baby
- The development from head to toe. will be born with abnormalities such as cataracts,
● Proximodistal Development deafness, heart defects, and mental retardation.
- The development from midline outward.
| Arms and legs grow faster than the hands and ● Iodine Deficiency
feet. - The severe iodine deficiency that occurs during pregnancy
is known to cause cretinism and mental impairment.
- Most critical period of baby’s development. - Cretinism and mental retardation are known to be caused
- The embryo’s developmental processes create the foundation by severe iodine deficiency during pregnancy. There is
_________ . During this stage, potentially the emerging currently limited information on the cognitive deficiencies
environmental exposure or genetic flows are likely to have a of children whose mothers experienced iodine deficiency
damage impact on prenatal development. Perhaps they cause during pregnancy.
the embryo’s death or miscarriage. Birth abnormalities are
probably present in embryos if they survive and continue to Types of Cretinism
grow, and develop into fetuses. ○ Neurological Cretinism
| Symptoms are mental retardation, deaf mutism,
- Embryonic stage defects that affect the brain and intellectual squint, spastic diplegia, and disorders of stance and
development: gait.
○ Hypothyroid Cretinism or Myxoedematous
● Alcohol Spectrum Disorder | It is less common and characterised by mental
- Also known as “fetal alcohol syndrome”, brought on retardation (although less severe than in
by a pregnant person’s alcohol intake. neurological cretinism), dwarfism, and
- The most commonly used substance that results in hypothyroidism with associated physical symptoms
birth abnormalities is alcohol. Fetal alcohol spectrum (e.g., coarse and dry skin, husky voice, delayed
disorder results from the embryo being exposed to sexual maturation).
alcohol in the mother's blood. This can lead to
cognitive problems, developmental delays, ● Chromosome Abnormalities
behavioral issues, and unique facial appearance in - Due to the extra copy of chromosomes they are born with
neonates. at birth, people with down syndrome experience altered
cognitive and physical development.
The following issues have been associated with - Due to the extra chromosome that down syndrome
alcohol spectrum disorder: patients are born with, their cognitive and physical
○ Developmental Delay appearance develop abnormally.
○ Irritability
○ Hyperactivity Down syndrome is frequently characterized by learning
○ Poor coordination and behavioral issues like:
○ Abnormalities of facial features. o Delays in speech and language development.
o Attention problems.
● Microcephaly o Sleep difficulties.
- Their head is significantly smaller than normal. o Stubbornness and tantrums.
- It happens when the brain of the baby doesn't develop o Delays in cognition.
accordingly. o Delayed toilet training.

The following issues have been associated with

Microcephaly:
o Seizures 3. Fetal [ 9 weeks - 38 weeks]
o Developmental delay, such as problems with speech - The fetus will continue to develop organs, including
or other developmental milestone (like sitting, the brain and spinal cord.
standing, and walking) - Fetuses will start to develop facial features.
o Intellectual disability (decreased ability to learn and - Fetal heartbeat may now be audible.
function in daily life)
o Problems with movement and balance.
[ Week 9 to 12.
o The arm, hand, fingers, finger’s feet, and toes are now
fully formed.
o Nagkakaroon na rin mga movement such as open and
close ng fist and mouth.
o By the end of the 3rd month [end of 1st trimester], mas
mababa na raw ang possibility ng miscarriages, and all
the organs and limbs are present and continue to develop
in order to become functional.
[ Week 13 - 16
o The reproductive organs and genitals are now fully
developed.
o Malalaman na sa ultrasound kung male or female ba
‘yung baby.
[ Week 16 - 26
o The brain and sensory nerves develop.
o The eyes and ears continue to develop.
o The fetus’s bones have already been developing, but they
now start to ossify, beginning with the clavicles and
bones in the legs.
o Alveoli form in the lungs.
o Considerable muscle development occurs.
o The intestines develop sufficiently that small amounts of
sugars can be absorbed from the amniotic fluid that is
swallowed.
[ Week 16
o The patterning of the baby’s hair has begun but not visible
yet.
o Their legs are more developed.
o Their hair is more uptight.
o Their ears are close to their final position.
[ Week 17
o The baby can move their joints and their skeleton.
o Soft cartilage is now harding to the bone.
o Umbilical cord is getting stronger and thicker.
[ Week 18
o The baby is flexing their hands and legs.
o The pregnant mommy is able to feel those movements.
[ Week 19
o Baby’s senses such as smell, vision, touch, and hearing are
developing.
o The baby is able to hear their mom’s voice.
[ Week 20
o The baby can swallow now, and their digestive system is
producing meconium.
| Meconium is the baby’s first poop.
[ Week 21
o Baby's movements have gone from flutters to full-on
kicks and jabs against the walls of womb.
[ Week 22
o The baby now looks almost like a miniature newborn.
o Features such as lips and eyebrows are more distinct, but
the pigment of the color of their eyes is not present yet.
[ Week 23
o Baby’s ears are getting better at picking up sounds. After
birth, they might recognize some noises outside the womb
and they are hearing inside now.
[ Week 24
o Baby cuts a pretty long and lean figure, but chubbier
times are coming. Their skin is still thin and translucent,
but that will begin to change soon too.
[ Week 25
o Baby's wrinkled skin is starting to fill out with baby fat,
making them look more like a newborn. Their hair is
beginning to come in, and it has color and texture
[ Week 26
o Baby is now inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid which
help them to develop their lungs. These breathing
movements are good practice for that first breath of air at
birth
[ Week 27
o This is the last week of second trimester. The baby sleeps
and wakes on a regular schedule, and their brain is very
active. Their lungs aren't fully formed, but they could
function outside the womb with medical help.
[ Week 28
o Baby’s eyesight is developing which may enable them to
sense light filtering and front he outside.
o They can blink and their eyelashes are grown in.
[ Week 27 to 38
o During weeks 27 to 38 after fertilization, the bones of the
fetus complete their development. The fetus also grows
rapidly during these final weeks, and its body fat
increases substantially. Its formerly wrinkled skin starts
to plump out as layers of subcutaneous fat are deposited.
▪ The fetus’s head hair grows thicker
and coarser while the lanugo is shed.
The waxy vernix covering the fetus
becomes thicker at first, but most of it
will disappear by birth.
▪ In preparation for breathing after
birth, the fetus will repeatedly mimic
breathing by moving the diaphragm.
By about week 32, the lungs are likely
to be fully developed so the fetus can
breathe on its own, should it be born
this early.
▪ The fetus can not only hear and feel
touch, but its eyes can now detect
light. In fact, the pupils can constrict
and dilate in response to light.
▪ During this phase, the fetus sleeps
much of the time. Its brain, however,
is continuously active.