PSYC221

Developmental Psychology I
Week 4 - Thursday
Prenatal Development and Birth

Textbook chapter 3
Learning Objectives
1. Conception and genetics
2. Genetic and chromosomal disorders
3. Pregnancy and prenatal development
4. Substance-related problems in prenatal development
5. Maternal influences and fetal health
6. Birth and the neonate
3.4: Substance-Related Problems in Prenatal
Development
• Teratogen: Any environmental agent that has the potential to damage the
fetus when exposure occurs during the prenatal period
• E.g., radiation, alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs, prescription and over-the-counter drugs

• “teras”: malformation, monstrosity

• The extent of harm depends on the following factors

• Timing

• Dose and duration of exposure

 Table 3.5 Some Important Teratogens and Their Effects

Type of Teratogen Teratogen Possible Effects on Fetus

Maternal Diseases Cancer Fetal or placental tumor
Toxoplasmosis Brain swelling, spinal abnormalities
Chicken pox Scars, eye damage
Parvovirus Anemia
Hepatitis B Hepatitis
Chlamydia Conjunctivitis, pneumonia
Tuberculosis Pneumonia or tuberculosis
Drugs Inhalants Problems similar to those of fetal alcohol
spectrum disorder; premature labor
Accutane/vitamin A Facial, ear, heart deformities
Streptomycin Deafness
Penicillin Skin disorders
Tetracycline Tooth deformities
Diet pills Low birth weight
 Prescription and over-
the-counter drugs
The Timing of Teratogen Exposure

e.g., Thalidomide
• 1960s in Canada, Europe, and South America
Illegal drugs
• Marijuana
• shorter, weigh less, lower IQ at age 6
• Heroin and methadone
• born addicted
• if cared well by age 2, good development
• Cocaine
• placental problems, premature labour
• mothers: poor, abuse multiple substances
-> effect of cocaine or something else?
Tobacco
• slower growth in the womb
• lower weight at birth
• higher rates of learning problems and
antisocial behaviour
Alcohol
• mounting evidence for detrimental
effects
• can adversely affect an ovum prior to
ovulation or during its journey in the
fallopian tube
• can adversely affect a zygote prior to
implantation
 Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)

• A term encompassing a range of physical,

mental, and behavioural outcomes caused by
prenatal alcohol exposure

• Permanent birth defects

• More common than Down syndrome

• Consequences:
1. Growth deficiencies Becker, Randall, Salo, Saulnier, Weathersby (1994)
Animal Research; Charting the Course for FAS. NIAAA
2. Facial abnormalities Alcohol Health and Research World, 18 (1), 10-16

3. Brain damage
3.5: Maternal Influences and Fetal Health

1. Maternal diseases
• Rubella, HIV, Sexually Transmitted Diseases
(STDs)
2. Other maternal influences
• Diet, Age, Chronic illness, Environmental
hazards
• Maternal emotions
• Antenatal and Postnatal Depression
 3.6 Birth and the Neonate
• Assessing the neonate:
• Apgar scale
• Brazelton Neonatal
Behavioral Assessment
Scale
• Why is neonatal
assessment important?
Table 3.6 The Apgar Scale

Score
Indicator 0 1 2
Heart beats per 0 < 100 > 100
minute
Respiration Absent Weak cry Strong cry
Muscle tone Limp Some degree of All joints of arms
muscle contraction and legs strongly
indicated by flexed flexed
arm and leg joints
Reflexive response None Some Crying; withdrawal
when feet exposed of feet from
to stimuli stimulus
Color of lips, Blue Pink with bluish Pink
palms, soles of feet edges
Sample exam questions
End of Week 4.