Chapter 4: Birth and Physical Development during the First Three Years Flashcards
anoxia
lack of oxygen, which may cause brain damage
APGAR scale
standard measurement of a newborn’s condition; it assesses appearance, pulse, grimace, activity, and respiration
Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS)
neurological and behavioral test to measure neonate’s responses to the environment
cell death
in brain development, normal elimination of excess brain cells to achieve more efficient functioning
central nervous system
brain and spinal cord
cesarean deliviery
delivery of a baby by surgical removal from the uterus
Denver Developmental Screening Test
screening test given to children 1 month to 6 years old to determine whether they are developing normally
depth perception
ability to perceive objects and surfaces three-dimensionally
differentiation
process by which cells acquire specialized structures and functions
doula
an experienced mentor who furnishes emotional support and information for a woman during labor
dynamic systems theory (DST)
Esther Thelen’s theory, which holds that motor development is a dynamic process of active coordination of multiple systems within the infant in relation to the environment
ecological theory of perception
theory developed by Eleanor and James Gibson, which describes developing motor and perceptual abilities as interdependent parts of a functional system that guides behavior in varying contexts
electronic fetal monitoring
mechanical monitoring of fetal heartbeat during labor and delivery
fine motor skills
physical skills that involve the small muscles and eye-hand coordination
gross motor skills
physical skills that involve the large muscles
haptic perception
ability to acquire information about properties of objects, such as size, weight, and texture, by handling them
infant mortality rate
proportion of babies born alive who die within the 1st year
integration
process by which neurons coordinate the activities of muscle groups
kangaroo care
method of skin-to-skin contact in which a newborn is laid face down between the mother’s breasts for an hour or so at a time after birth
lateralization
tendency of each of the brain’s hemispheres to have specialized functions
low-birth-weight babies
weight of less than 5½ pounds (2500 grams) at birth because of prematurity or being small-for-date
myelination
process of coating neural pathways with a fatty substance called myelin, which enables faster communication between cells
natural childbirth
method of childbirth that seeks to prevent pain by eliminating the
mother’s fear through education about the physiology of reproduction and training in breathing and relaxation during delivery
neonatal jaundice
condition, in many newborn babies, caused by immaturity of liver and
evidenced by yellowish appearance; can cause brain damage if not treated promptly
neonatal period
first 4 weeks of life, a time of transition from intrauterine dependency to independent existence.
neonate
newborn baby, up to 4 weeks
neurons
nerve cells
parturition
the act or process of giving birth
plasticity
- range of modifiability of performance
- modifiability, or “molding,” of the brain through experience
postmature
a fetus not yet born as of 2 weeks after the due date or 42 weeks after the
mother’s last menstrual period
premature infants
infants born before completing the 37th week of gestation
prepared childbirth
method of childbirth that uses instruction, breathing exercises, and social
support to induce controlled physical responses to uterine contractions and reduce fear and pain
