Chapter 5: Birth and the Newborn's Readiness for Life

Question 1

the environment surrounding birth

Answer 1

perinatal environment

Question 2

the period of the birth process lasting from the first regular uterine contractions until the cervix is fully dilated

Answer 2

first stage of labor

Question 3

the period of the birth process during which the fetus moves through the birth canal and emerges from the mother’s body (also called delivery)

Answer 3

second stage of labor

Question 4

expulsion of the placenta (afterbirth)

Answer 4

third stage of labor

Question 5

a quick assessment of the newborn’s heart rate, respiration, color, muscle tone, and reflexes that is used to gauge perinatal stress and to determine whether a neonate requires immediate medical assistance

Answer 5

Apgar test

Question 6

a test that assesses a neonate’s neurological integrity and responsiveness to environment stimuli

Answer 6

neonatal behavioral assessment scale (NBAS)

Question 7

each involve a delivery in which physical and psychological preparations for the birth are stressed and medical assistance is minimized

Answer 7

Natural and prepared childbirth

Question 8

surgical delivery of a baby through an incision made in the mother’s abdomen and uterus

Answer 8

Cesarean section

Question 9

a hospital birthing room or other independent facility that provides a homelike atmosphere for childbirth but still makes medical technology available

Answer 9

Birthing center

Question 10

term used to describe the strong affectionate ties that parents may feel toward their infant; some theorists believe that the strongest bonding occurs shortly after birth, during a sensitive period

Answer 10

Emotional bonding

Question 11

strong feelings of sadness, resentment, and despair that may appear shortly after childbirth and can linger for months

Answer 11

Postpartum depression

Question 12

paternal analogue of maternal emotional bonding; term used to describe fathers’ fascination with their neonates, including their desire to touch, hold, caress, and talk to the newborn baby

Answer 12

Engrossment

Question 13

a lack of sufficient oxygen to the brain; may result in neurological damage or death

Answer 13

Anoxia

Question 14

a delivery in which the fetus emerges feet first or buttocks first rather than head first

Answer 14

Breech birth

Question 15

a blood protein that, when present in a fetus but not the mother, can cause the mother to produce antibodies. These antibodies may then attack the red blood cells of subsequent fetuses who have the protein in their blood

Answer 15

RH factor

Question 16

infants born more than three weeks before their normal due date

Answer 16

Preterm infants

Question 17

infants whose birth weight is far below normal, even when born close to their normal due date

Answer 17

Small-for-date (or small-for-gestational-age) babies

Question 18

a serious condition (also called hyaline membrane disease) in which a preterm infant breathes very irregularly and is at risk of dying

Answer 18

Respiratory distress syndrome

Question 19

A severe form of depression suffered by about 6.5 to 12.9 percent of new mothers leaves these women feeling like they don’t want their babies, perceiving their babies to be “difficult,” and not interacting with their babies. These feelings can last for months. What is the term for this form of depression?
a. maternity depression
b. maternity blues
c. postpartum depression
d. post-birth depression

Answer 19

c. postpartum depression

Question 20

What is the term for oxygen deprivation at birth?
a. breech delivery
b. anoxia
c. oxygen depletion
d. umbilical cord insufficiency

Answer 20

b. anoxia

Question 21

What is the disorder in which a deficiency in surfactin causes irregular breathing or stops breathing?
a. persistent fetal respiration
b. persistent respiratory distress
c. respiratory distress syndrome
d. respiratory surfactin disorder

Answer 21

c. respiratory distress syndrome

Question 22

The delivery of a baby occurs during the __________ stage of labor.

Answer 22

second

Question 23

Juanita seemed fine at birth and scored well on the Apgar test. However, a few days after her birth she was given the __________ test, which assessed her reflexes, changes in her state, her reactions to comforting, and her reactions to social stimuli. She scored very low on this test and the doctors suspected that she might have _____________.

Answer 23

Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS); brain damage

Question 24

When a mother is unable to push effectively during delivery, a baby is sometimes pulled from the birth canal using ________________ or ______________.

Answer 24

Obstetrical forceps; vacuum extractor

Question 25

a father’s initial emotional response to his newborn, with close contact with the newborn soon after birth

Answer 25

Engrossment

Question 26

A mother’s initial emotional response to her newborn, with close contact with the newborn soon after birth

Answer 26

Emotional bonding

Question 27

unlearned and automatic response to a stimulus or class of stimuli

Answer 27

Reflex

Question 28

inborn responses such as breathing, sucking, and swallowing that enable the newborn to adapt to the environment

Answer 28

Survival reflexes

Question 29

reflexes controlled by subcortical areas of the brain that gradually disappear over the first year of life

Answer 29

Primitive reflexes

Question 30

levels of sleep and wakefulness that young infants’ display

Answer 30

Infant states

Question 31

state of active or irregular sleep in which the eyes move rapidly beneath the eyelids and brain wave activity is similar to the pattern displayed when awake

Answer 31

REM sleep

Question 32

theory proposing that REM sleep in infancy is a form of self-stimulation that helps the central nervous system develop

Answer 32

Autostimulation theory

Question 33

unexplained death (also called crib death) of a sleeping infant who suddenly stops breathing

Answer 33

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

Question 34

Markus notices that his newborn son spends many hours sleeping. While his son sleeps, his eyes appear to be moving rapidly under his closed eyelids. Markus also finds that when he spends time giving his new son lots of different things to look at and explore visually, this eye movement during sleep is less pronounced. Which theory would developmental psychologists say is supported by Markus’s experiences?
a. irregular sleep
b. REM sleep
c. autostimulation
d. visual stimulation

Answer 34

c. autostimulation

Question 35

Which of the following is NOT a viable recommendation to help lower the chances of sudden infant death syndrome?
a. Ensure that the infant’s sleeping environment is free from soft materials.
b. Have the baby tested for the SIDS virus by a pediatrician.
c. Do not allow smoking in the baby’s environment.
d. Consider breastfeeding the baby, if possible.

Answer 35

b. Have the baby tested for the SIDS virus by a pediatrician.

Question 36

Which of the following statements is FALSE concerning infants’ crying?
a. Crying is an infant state by which an infant communicates his or her distress.
b. Shrill and nonrhythmic crying may be an indication of brain damage.
c. Crying diminishes rapidly over the first 2 weeks of life as the baby’s brain matures.
d. Crying diminishes over the first 6 months of life, partially because parents become better at preventing infants from becoming distressed.

Answer 36

c. Crying diminishes rapidly over the first 2 weeks of life as the baby’s brain matures.

Question 37

Baby’s eyes are open and breathing is irregular; may become fussy and display various bursts of diffuse motor activity.

Answer 37

Alert Activity

Question 38

Intense crying that may be difficult to stop and is accompanied by high levels of motor activity.

Answer 38

Crying

Question 39

Baby is still, with eyes closed

Answer 39

Regular sleep

Question 40

By 2 to 6 weeks of age, babies are sleeping approximately ______ hours per day.

Answer 40

14 to 16

Question 41

__________ is an active, irregular state of sleep characterized where brain wave activity resembles wakefulness.

Answer 41

REM

Question 42

____________ reflexes disappear in the first year of life, signifying that development is proceeding normally.

Answer 42

Primitive