IMPORTANCE OF CONCEPTION, PRENATAL DEVELOPMENT AND BIRTH

Introduction

Why should a teacher/educator worry about conception and prenatal development?

Teacher deal with students only after the come to school around 3 years of age. Is that
not the worry of the parent and the doctor?

But in fact, many of the development issues faced by teachers in the classroom begin
much before the birth of the child.

This is the reason why educators need to be aware of the issues regarding conception,
prenatal development and birth.

In fact, in India our ancient teachings tell us a lot about not just the physical conditions
of conception but also stress on the importance of mental attitude in the process of
conception.

As the great Hindu master Atreya says, “It is said a child is born from a mother, father,
concordance (clearer resonance) and nutrition.

There is always a connection agent between all these: the mind”.

Culture plays a major role in the way a woman perceives and prepares during the
period of pregnancy.

Each part of India and the world people have different values, beliefs and practices
related to pregnancy and child birth.

The overall principle involved during pregnancy and childbirth, is that the mental and
physical health of the mother should be paid special care. It is very important for women
to keep their mind stress free and be in a positive frame of mind during conception as
well as pregnancy.
Conception

Most of the time, women don’t know the exact day when they get pregnant. The doctor
will count the start of pregnancy from the first day of the last menstrual period. That is
usually about two weeks ahead of when conception actually occurs.

The processes involved in conception are as follows:

Ovulation: Each month inside the ovaries, a group of eggs start to grow in small, fluid-
filled sacs called follicles. Eventually one of the eggs erupts from the follicle (ovulation).
It usually happens about two weeks before the next period.

Hormones Rise: After the egg leaves the follicle, the follicle develops into something
called the corpus luteum. The corpus luteum releases a hormone that helps thicken the
lining of the uterus, preparing it ready for the egg.

The Egg Travels to the Fallopian Tube: After the egg is released, it moves into the
fallopian tube. It stays there for about 24 hours, waiting for a single sperm to fertilize it.
All this happens, on an average, about two weeks after the last period.

If the Egg Isn’t Fertilized: If no sperm is around to fertilize the egg, it moves through the
uterus and disintegrates. The hormone levels go back to normal. The body sheds the
thick lining of the uterus, and the monthly period starts.

Fertilization: If one sperm does make its way into the Fallopian tube and burrow into the
egg, it fertilizes the egg. The egg changes so that no other sperm can get in.

At the instant if fertilization, the baby’s genes and sex are set. If the sperm has a Y
chromosome, the baby will be a boy. If it has an X chromosome, the baby will be a girl.

Implantation: Moving to the Uterus: The egg stays in the Fallopian tube for about three
to four days, but within 24 hours of being fertilized it starts dividing very fast into many
cells.

It keeps dividing as it moves slowly through the fallopian tube to the uterus. Its next job
is to attach to the lining of uterus. This is called implantation.

Some women notice slight bleeding for one or two days around the time of implantation.
The lining of the uterus gets thicker and the cervix is sealed by a plug of mucus. It will
stay in place until the baby is ready to be born.

Within the first week, a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) can be
found in the blood. It’s made by the cells that eventually become the placenta.Within
three weeks, the cells begin to grow as clumps, and the baby’s first nerve cells have
already formed.
These are the biological details regarding conception. The development stages of
pregnancy are called trimesters or three-month periods, because of the distinct changes
that occur in each stage.

Students, now we will look into the three developmental stages of pregnancy.

Prenatal development

The process of prenatal development occurs in three main stages. The first two weeks
after conception are known as the germinal stage; the third through the eighth week are
known as the embryonic period; and the time from the ninth week until birth is known as
the foetal period.

Prenatal development first stage-the Germinal Stage

The germinal stage begins with conception, when the sperm and egg cell unite in one of
the two fallopian tubes.

The fertilized egg, known as a zygote, then moves toward the uterus, a journey that can
take up to a week to complete. Cell division begins approximately 24 to 36 hours after
conception.

Within just a few hours after conception, the singe-celled zygote begins making a
journey down the fallopian tube to the uterus where it will begin the process of cell
division and growth. The zygote first divides into two cells, then into four, eight, sixteen,
and so on.

Once the eight cell point has been reached, the cells begin to differentiate and take on
certain characteristics that will determine the type of cells they will eventually become.

As the cells multiply, they will also separate into two distinctive masses: the outer cells
will eventually become the placenta while the inner cells will form the embryo.Cell
division continues at a rapid rate and the cells then develop into what is known as a
blastocyst. The blastocyst is made up of three laters:

1. The ectoderm (which will become the skin and nervous system)
2. The endoderm (which will become the digestive and respiratory systems)
3. The mesoderm (which will become the muscle and skeletal systems).

Finally, the blastocyst arrives at the uterus and attaches to the uterine wall, a process
known as implantation.

Implantation occurs when the cells nestle into the uterine lining and rupture tiny blood
vessels.

The connective web o blood vessels and membranes that forms between them will
provide nourishment for the developing being for the next nine months.Implantation is
not always an automatic and sure-fire process,Researcher’s estimate that
approximately 58 percent of all natural conceptions never become properly implanted in
the uterus, which results in the new life ending before the mother is ever aware she is
pregnant. When implantation is successful, a single sperm succeeds in penetrating the
egg.

About 20 hours later the nucleus of the sperm fuses with the nucleus of the egg, forming
a single cell called a zygote.

A change in the zygote occurs which ends its capability of splitting into twins:
“singularity is achieved”.

Pregnancy begins when and if the zygote implants in the woman’s uterus. At this point
hormonal changes stop a woman’s normal menstrual cycle and cause a whole host of
physical changes.

Prenatal development 2nd stage-the Embryonic Stage

The mass of cells is now known as an embryo. The human embryo has a tail and bears
a striking resemblance to embryos of other vertebrates, from fish to mammals.

It has gill-like arches which will grow to form parts of the head and neck; in fish these
eventually develop into gills.

A primitive heart, which generates its own electrical rhythm, is located outside the body,
allowing the growing organism to circulate nutrients and waste products.

Like the embryos of many mammals, human embryos begin without gender. The
embryo is about half a centimeter in size. If a defect occurs during this stage of
development, a miscarriage is likely to result.
The beginning of the third week after conception marks the start of the embryonic
period, a time when the mass of cells becomes a distinct human being.

The embryo begins to divide into three layers each of which will become an important
body system.

Approximately 22 days after conception, the neural tube forms. This tube will later
develop into the central nervous system including the spinal cord and brain.

Around the fourth week, the head begins to form quickly followed by the eyes, nose,
ears, and mouth.

The cardiovascular system is where the earliest activity begins as the blood vessel that
will become the heart start to pulse.

During the fifth week, buds that will form the arms and legs appear.By the time the eight
week of development has been reached, the embryo has all of the basic organs and
parts except those of the sex organs.

It even has knees and elbows! At this point, the embryo weight is just one gram and is
about one inch in length.

Once cell differentiation is mostly complete, the embryo enters the next stage and
becomes a foetus. This period of development begins during the ninth week and lasts
until birth.

The foetus has the primitive beginnings of most of the major body organs.Organ
functions have not yet developed. The heart is beginning to form the typical four-
chambered structure of mammals. The foetus moves by reflex. No brain waves yet
exist.

The developing eyes start to move from the sides of the head toward the front, the
position for a primate.
The tail has disappeared. The foetus has begun to look human, with a rudimentary face,
limbs, hands and feet (webbing disappears).

It is structurally immature and functionally quite limited. It weights 1/30 of an oz. (1 g.)
and is about 3 cm. long.About 70% of abortions have taken place by this point.

Prenatal development 3rd stage - the Foetal Stage

At 12 Weeks’ Gestation the second trimester of pregnancy begins. External genital

organs begin to differentiate. More kinds of reflex movements appear.

The brain is not yet well enough organized to control movements or form even the most
basic perceptions. It will not be for some time.

At 16 Weeks’ Gestation the body of the foetus grows dramatically. It weighs about 6
ounces. Its organs continue to grow and differentiate.

It has no awareness (including no awareness of pain), because the part of the brain that
deals with thought and perception, called the neocortex, has not yet begun to develop
the necessary interconnections.

The pregnant woman will soon begin to feel the foetus’ movement for the first time.At 20
Weeks’ Gestation the rate of foetal growth becomes slower. Its internal organs continue
to mature. The lungs remain immature.

The eyelids are completely fused. In the foetal brain, the first few synapses, or
connections, begin to form among the nerve cells in the neocortex, with the greatest
part of the process of interconnection yet to follow.

At 28 Weeks’ Gestation the eyes are open. The body begins to fatten. The greatest
degree of interconnection of the neocortex of the brain begins rather abruptly at about
the 28th week.

Foetal wakefulness and sleep periods begin to appear. Brain wave EEG patterns are
about to change.

This point has been called the onset of cognitive awareness or brain life. The lungs are
maturing, which increases the chances of survival in the event of premature delivery.
The early body systems and structures established in the embryonic stage continue to
develop.

During the third month of gestation, the sex organs begin to differentiate and by the end
of the month all parts of the body will be formed. At this point, the foetus weighs around
three ounces.
The end of the third month also marks the end of the first trimester of pregnancy.During
the second trimester, or months four through six, the heartbeat grows stronger and
other body systems become further developed.

Fingernails, hair, eyelashes and toenails form.

Most noticeably, the foetus increases quite dramatically in size, increasing about six
times in size. The brain and central nervous system also become responsive during the
second trimester.

Around 28 weeks, the brain starts to mature much faster with activity that greatly
resembles that of a sleeping newborn.

During period from seven months until birth, the foetus continues to develop, put on
weight, and prepare for life outside the womb.

The lungs begin to expand and contract, preparing the muscles for breathing.While
prenatal development usually follows this normal pattern, there are times when
problems or deviations occur.

Birth

The process of childbirth, starts weeks before the mother feels her first contraction.Her
body will be preparing for the upcoming event in several ways. The first of these events
may be an increase of circulating blood volume, which can be recognized by mild or
moderate swelling.

Her body is designed to prepare for the blood loss after birth by providing her with more
blood before labour begins.
Because the blood must be held somewhere, the body will increase the capacity of the
circulatory system by swelling tissues.

Another event is the increase of irregular rhythmic contractions known as Braxton-

Hicks. These contractions are important for preparing the uterine muscle for the
upcoming labour and birth.

Muscle is strengthened by use, and these irregular contractions are effectively bicep
curls for the uterus. Although some women are troubled by Braxton-Hicks contractions,
most find them painless.

Sometimes the Braxton-Hicks come at regular intervals for a few hours. That is ok. This
is called pre-labour, which refers to the work her body does to prepare for labour.It
becomes real labour when the contractions will be less than 10 minutes apart, getting
progressively closer together and progressively stronger.

The mother may also notice that your breasts begin to secrete a thick yellow fluid known
as colostrums. This will be the baby’s first food.

Although it is low in calories compared to mature milk, it is packed with

value.Colostrums have a very high concentration of protein and antibodies from the
mother’s immune system, which protect the baby from illness for the first few days.

High levels of some vitamins and minerals may further protect the baby and may be
important in the continued development of the heart, brain and central nervous system.
Some women recognize when they have lost their mucus plug, others have no idea
when or if it happened.

The mucus plug is a grey “blob” of mucus that closes the mother’s cervix to protect the
uterus during pregnancy. Another signal of impending labour is what is termed “bloody
show.” This is blood-tinged mucus from the cervix as it thins and dilates.

The mother may begin to notice that over the last few hours her Braxton-Hicks
contractions are getting closer together and lasting a little longer.
She may also find her body is clearing itself with a mild diarrheal.These should be
indications to she is probably moving into true labour.It can be very normal to start early
labour, have it stop, and then have it start again in about 48 hours.

Ideally, contractions will get progressively longer, stronger and closer together. These
contractions will help align the baby properly and push the baby and the bag of waters
against the cervix to stretch it around the baby’s head.

Therefore we see that birth is a multi-stage process. The foetus leaves the woman’s
body, comes into the world, breathes for the first time, uses new senses and organs,
and exists independent of its mother.When a baby is born its voice is heard.

Conclusion

We already discussed why it is important for educators to know about these facts.

Often in the course of our work, we are in contact with women who are going through
the process of conception and childbirth.

What is the advice we can give them as educators? It is only when the biological and
the mental frame of the mother and child are healthy before, during and after birth that
we educators get to see a healthy child in our classes when they are 3 years old.

That is why it is important for us to know about the important facts regarding conception
and birth.When you speak to parents and pregnant women, you should tell them that
pregnancy should not be considered only a 9 month journey but as a yearlong journey.

Knowing that the firsts few weeks of pregnancy are the most vital to the development of
the baby, a mother should be healthy and avoid any harmful activities and substances
near the times of conception.