Ch 4- Further Discussion of Prenatal Development Flashcards
When does ovulation occur?
Tends to occur near the midpoint of a woman’s cycle
Infertility
Defined as the inability to become pregnant after 1 year of trying.
What is the most common 1st medical step in reproductive technology?
To have the woman take a drug that stimulates the ovaries to ripen and release eggs.
The absence of testosterone in a normally developing XY male may result in:
the development of testes with, however, a female reproductive system.
When does sexual differentiation (due to hormonal activity) begin?
During the embryonic period during the 7th and 8th prenatal weeks, just before it becomes a fetus.
Stem Cell
A cell that can be translated into any area of the body where it will take on the function of other cells in that area. Theses cells are not specialized yet, so they are promising for treating diseases like Parkinson’s and Diabetes.
When (during a pregnancy) will a baby’s sensory organs be functioning?
At the end of the second trimester (6 months into pregnancy)
i.e. it is effective to play classical music for baby at this point.
Age of Viability
The point at which survival outside of the uterus might be possible. (It is from 22-28 weeks into the pregnancy vs a full term pregnancy which is from 38-40 weeks in length).
Teratogen
as any drug (aspirin), disease (like German measles), or environmental agent (like lead).
True or False: The genetic makeup of a fetus can influence the impact of a teratogen
True.
Thalidomide & Side-effects
Was a drug used in the early 1960s to help pregnant women deal with morning sickness. It is currently used to treat leprosy, TB, and forms of cancer. But, when used by pregnant women in the 1960s it caused birth defects, such as ear and eye malformations, and limb formations (flapper arms/legs).
DES (diethylstibestriol) & Side-effects
Teratogen whose effects were not evident until years later. Female offspring of women who took DES while pregnant often had difficulty getting pregnant, and some had rare vaginal cancers.
The most likely impact on a child of significant exposure to led is…
Cognitive impairment, sometimes mental retardation.
Ideally, how much weight should a woman gain during her pregnancy?
25-30 lbs
Genes and Effects of Smoking While Pregnant
- birth weight
- elevated antisocial behavior (can engage in wrongdoings without feeling guilt) and found that this behavior could be linked to genes but not to smoking
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
Leads to children with increased seizures, hyper activity, and mental retardation and affects physical appearance.
Lucy has been getting drunk nightly throughout most of her pregnancy. Her baby is born with widely spaced eyes, a flat nose, and a small head. Later tested in the mental retardation IQ range. Lucy’s baby has:
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
Holly has been snorting cocaine often while pregnant. Her baby is born with low birth weight, is malnourished, and is showing withdrawal symptoms.
Is there more significant impairment if harm is earlier or later in pregnancy?
Earlier.
A stillbirth is any fetal death occurring on or after __ weeks of gestational age.
20.
The impact of maternal stress is most severe on pregnancy when the stress is _____ and _____. These babies are more at risk for increased _____ and ______.
Will relatively brief stressors usually have a significant impact?
Prolonged and severe.
Irritability and crying.
No.
If mom to be is anorexic, and gains only 12 pounds during the pregnancy, the baby will be at increased risk for cognitive impairment. These kids, if malnourished in early life may well exhibit ______ _____.
Stunted growth.
When children with stunted growth are normally fed later, many of these kids show “_____ __ growth” and may attain their full genetic potential height as adult—but these kids may remain permanently impaired cognitively/intellectually (IQ).
Catch up growth.
Severe Perinatal anoxia and Side-effects
Lack of oxygen during the birthing process.
- Increases the risk of child having cerebral palsy.
- Great difficulty controlling muscle movements.
Why do C-Section deliveries continue to be popular?
Doctors and moms sometimes prefer having a scheduled, rather than unexpected, birth.
In terms of Infant Mortality: (3 things)
(A) the current rate is less than 1% in western industrialized nations.
(B) The rate is twice as high for black infants as white infants.
(C) In some areas of sub-Saharan Africa, the mortality rate of infants is about 15%.
Neo-Natal period
The first months after birth.
What is the leading cause of infant mortality?
Prematurity.
Extremely low birth weight infants are at risk for: (3 things)
Blindness
Deafness
Autism
