Child Development Flashcards
Adoptive family:
a family who has welcomed a child born to another into their family and legally adopted that child as their own.
Blended family:
a family consisting of a couple and their children from this and all previous relationships
Childless family
a couple who choose or cannot have children
Co-parenting:
when a divorced or separated parent shares equally with the other parent in the custody and care of a child
Culture:
the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social group
Esteem needs
people’s desires to have a stable and realistically positive evaluation of themselves
Extended family:
a family that extends beyond the nuclear family, including grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other relatives, who all live in one household
Family:
a group of people related to one another by blood, marriage, or strong bond
Foster family:
a family or adult who takes care of a child who is not his or her biological child
Love and acceptance needs:
include romantic relationships and ties to friends and family members, as well as our need to feel that we belong to a social group
Nuclear family:
a family that includes a couple and their dependent children: regarded as a basic social unit
Parenting:
involves rearing children and includes providing safety, supervision, and control; medical care; education; financially supporting needs; provide food, clothing, shelter; and protecting your child from harm; while shaping them to be a positive and productive asset to society
Physiological needs:
biological requirements for human survival
Prosocial behaviors
behaviors through which parties benefit from each other
Safety needs:
needs for freedom from illness or danger and for a secure, familiar, and predictable environment
Self-actualization needs:
the realization or fulfillment of one’s talents and potentialities while understanding the need for the greater good of those around you
Single parent:
a person bringing up a child or children without a partner
Society
a large group of interacting people in a defined territory, sharing a common culture
Support systems:
a network of people who provide basic needs, emotional support, and in some cases, financial support to a person
Universality
the quality of involving or being shared by all people or things in the world or in a particular group
Values
a person’s principles or standards of behavior; one’s judgment of what is important in life
Apprenticeship
an arrangement in which someone learns an art, trade, or job from the direction of another
Associate’s degree:
a degree granted after a two-year course of study, especially by a community or junior college
Bachelor’s degree:
a degree awarded by a college or university to a person who has completed undergraduate studies
Child development:
a sequence of physical, language, thought, and emotional changes that occur in a child from birth to the beginning of adulthood
Credentials:
qualifications from previous achievements, trailing, and general background that indicate a person is capable of doing a specific kind of work
Effective communication
:the ability to convey information to another person effectively and efficiently
Employability skills:
transferable skills that are useful in nearly every job
Entry level:
a job that requires minimal education, training, and experience
Graduate degree
an advanced academic degree in a specialized field of study, pursued after one has already obtained a bachelor’s degree
Internship:
the work done by a student or trainee in an organization, sometimes without pay, to gain work experience or satisfy requirements for a qualification
Adoption:
the action or fact of legally taking another’s child and bringing it up as one’s own, or the fact of being adopted
Amniocentesis:
the sampling of amniotic fluid using a hollow needle inserted into the uterus, to screen for developmental abnormalities in a fetus
Amniotic fluid
the fluid surrounding a fetus within the amnion
Artificial insemination:
the medical procedure of injecting semen into the vagina or uterus
Blastocyst:
a fertilized egg after 5 days, a rapidly dividing ball of cells
Cervix:
the lower, narrow end of the uterus that forms a canal between the uterus and vagina
Conception:
the joining of a sperm and egg, also known as fertilization
Diagnostic prenatal test:
testing the fetus before birth (prenatally) to determine whether the fetus has certain abnormalities, including certain hereditary or spontaneous genetic disorders
Embryo:
an unborn human in the very early stages of development, weeks 3–8, when cells continue to divide and begin to take on different functions
Embryonic stage:
the stage starting when the blastocyst implants into the uterus through the eighth week following fertilization
Fallopian tubes:
a pair of tubes through which female eggs travel from the ovaries to the uterus
Fetus:
a developing human from usually two months after conception to birth
Folate:
a B vitamin (found in dark leafy greens, oranges, nuts, beans, and peas) that the body needs to make DNA and other genetic material, and to help cells divide
Folic acid
a synthetic form of folate that is added to fortify foods
Full-term pregnancy:
when a baby is born between 39 weeks, 0 days and 40 weeks, 6 days
Germinal stage:
the first 1 to 2 weeks of prenatal life after fertilization, in which the fertilized egg (zygote) migrates to the uterus and becomes implanted in the endometrium
Gestational diabetes:
a condition characterized by an elevated level of glucose in the blood during pregnancy, typically resolving after the birth
Glucose:
a simple sugar that is an important energy source in living organisms and is a component of many carbohydrates
Group B strep:
an infection caused by a common bacterium (group B streptococcus); usually harmless in adults but potentially dangerous in newborns, producing symptoms such as fever, trouble feeding, and lethargy
HCG hormone
a hormone found in women’s blood and urine throughout pregnancy, and detectable in the blood shortly after implantation of the embryo in the uterus (roughly three weeks into a four-week menstrual cycle); increasing levels of HCG tell the body that it is pregnant, putting the womb to work creating a safe home for the baby to grow in
Infertility:
not being able to get pregnant (conceive) after one year (or longer) of unprotected sex
In vitro fertilization:
a medical procedure whereby an egg is fertilized by sperm in a test tube or elsewhere outside the body
Lanugo:
fine, soft hair, especially that which covers the body and limbs of a human fetus or newborn
Maternal-fetal care doctor:
doctor of obstetrics who has three additional years of training in helping women through high-risk pregnancies
Menstruation:
the process in a woman of discharging blood and other materials from the lining of the uterus at intervals of about a month
Miscarriage:
the spontaneous loss of a woman’s pregnancy before the 20th week that can be both physically and emotionally painful
Morning sickness:
nausea and vomiting during pregnancy; potentially occurring at any time of day and common during the first trimester
Neural tube:
a hollow structure from which the brain and spinal cord form; defects in its development can result in congenital abnormalities such as spina bifida
Ovulation:
the process in which a mature egg is released from the ovary
Ovum:
a single cell released from the female reproductive organ (ovaries), which is capable of developing into a new organism when fertilized with a sperm cell
Placenta previa
a condition in which the placenta partially or wholly blocks the neck of the uterus, thus interfering with the normal delivery of a baby
Preeclampsia:
a condition in pregnancy characterized by high blood pressure, sometimes with fluid retention and proteinuria
Prenatal development:
the process of growth and development within the womb from fertilization to delivery
Prenatal testing:
testing that includes blood tests, urine tests, and ultrasounds; used to help check on the well-being of the mother and growing baby
Preterm labor:
occurs when regular contractions result in the opening of the cervix after week 20 and before week 37 of pregnancy, potentially leading to premature birth; the earlier the occurrence of premature birth, the greater the health risks for the baby
Placenta:
the organ that develops/attaches in a woman’s uterus during pregnancy, provides oxygen and nutrients to the growing baby, and removes waste products from baby’s blood
Screening prenatal test:
testing that can identify whether a baby is more or less likely to have certain birth defects, many of which are genetic disorders
Stillborn
is when a fetus dies after the mother’s 20th week of pregnancy; when the baby may have died in the uterus weeks or hours before labor
Trimester:
one of the three divisions of three months each during pregnancy, in which different phases of fetal development take place
Ultrasound:
a procedure that uses high-energy sound waves for viewing inside the body, by making echoes that form pictures of the tissues and organs on a computer screen (sonogram)
Umbilical Cord
a ropelike structure that connects a developing embryo or fetus to the placenta
Uterus
a hollow, pear-shaped organ in a woman’s pelvis, where a fetus develops and grows
Vernix caseosa:
a white, creamy, naturally occurring biofilm covering the skin of a baby during the last trimester of pregnancy
Zygote:
a fertilized egg, created when sperm meets an egg in one of the fallopian tubes
Accutane:
a prescription medicine used to treat severe acne, and the most widely used environmental toxin
Achondroplasia
a bone-growth disorder that prevents the changing of cartilage (particularly in the long bones of the arms and legs) to bone; characterized by dwarfism, limited range of motion at the elbows, large head size (macrocephaly), small fingers, and normal intelligence
Albinism:
a birth defect that affects the production of melanin (the pigment that colors skin, hair and eyes); a lifelong condition that does not get worse over time
Cleft lip / Cleft palate:
a gap in upper lip or palate; caused by heredity or environment or both
Color blindness:
a birth defect where a person has a reduced ability to distinguish between colors when compared to the standard for normal human color vision; usually affects only males
Cystic fibrosis:
a hereditary disease resulting in the secretion of thick mucus that blocks internal passages, including those of the lungs, causing respiratory infections; also affects the pancreas, resulting in a deficiency of digestive enzymes and impaired nutrition
Dominant gene:
the stronger gene that expresses a trait that first appears or is visibility expressed in the organism as a dominant trait
Down syndrome / Trisomy 21:
a genetic disorder characterized by a broad skull, blunt facial features, short stature, and learning difficulties; caused by the presence of an extra chromosome 21
Duchenne muscular dystrophy:
a genetic disorder that results in the progressive weakness and shrinking of the muscles; most commonly transmitted genetically by female carriers, but usually affects only males
Environmental influences
things and people in a person’s surroundings (e.g., mother’s health, family, friends, home, community, life experiences)
Fraternal twins:
dizygotic twins, which result from the fertilization of two separate eggs during the same pregnancy, so the twins share half of their genes, just like any other siblings, and may be of the same or different sexes
Gene
the basic physical and functional unit of heredity, with genes being made up of DNA
Genetic
relating to genes or heredity
Hemophilia
a medical condition typically caused by a hereditary lack of a coagulation factor, most often factor VIII, in which the ability of the blood to clot is severely reduced, causing the sufferer to bleed severely from even a slight injury
Hereditary influences:
all traits passed down from one generation to the next (e.g., eye, skin, and hair color)
Huntington’s disease:
a hereditary disease marked by degeneration of the brain cells and causing chorea and progressive dementia
Hydrocephalus
an increase of cerebrospinal fluid around the brain, resulting in an enlargement of the head in infants, because the bones of the skull are still unfused and the fluid can be drained into the abdominal cavity
Identical twins:
monozygotic twins, which result from the fertilization of a single egg that splits in two, so the twins share all their genes and are always of the same sex
Infectious disease
a disorder caused by organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites
Inherited
derived genetically from one’s parents or ancestors
Multiple births:
giving birth to more than one child at a time
Phenylketonuria (PKU):
a condition in which the body is unable to process and use a specific protein that is present in nearly all foods
Prenatal development
the process of growth and development within the womb, in which a single cell zygote becomes an embryo, a fetus, and then a baby
Psychoactive substances
drugs or other substance that affects how the brain works and cause changes in mood, awareness, thoughts, feelings, or behavior
Recessive gene
the trait that is present at the gene level but is masked and does not show itself in the organism (weaker gene)
Sexually transmitted disease (STD):
an infection transmitted through sexual contact, caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites
Sickle cell anemia:
malformed red blood cells that deprive the body of oxygen; caused by inheriting defective recessive genes from both parents; more commonly occurs in African Americans
Spina bifida
a congenital condition in which part of the spinal cord or meninges protrudes through a cleft in the spinal column, resulting in loss of voluntary movement in the lower body
Tay- sachs disease:
a rare, inherited disorder that destroys nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord; typically found in people with certain ancestry, such as Eastern European Jews
Tourette syndrome:
a nervous system disorder involving repetitive movements or unwanted sounds
Toxoplasmosis
a parasite that can cause blindness, hearing loss, and learning disabilities, and death; found in cat litter and some raw meats
Trisomy 13:
a condition in which a person has an extra chromosome 13
Trisomy 18:
a condition that causes severe developmental delays due to an extra chromosome 18
Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS):
a rare pregnancy condition affecting identical twins or other multiple births; occurs in pregnancies where twins share one placenta (afterbirth) and a network of blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients essential for development in the womb
Active labor:
when the cervix will dilate from 6 to 10 centimeters and contractions will become stronger, closer together, and regular
Alternative birth center:
offers an option for women having a low-risk pregnancy who want to give birth with minimal intervention in a cozy home-like setting
Amniotic sac:
the fluid-filled sac that contains and protects a fetus in the womb
Anesthesiologist:
a person who specializes in preoperative care, developing anesthetic plans, and the administration of anesthetics
Braxton-Hicks contractions
mild, irregular contractions during pregnancy
Breech birth:
when a baby is positioned feet or bottom first in the uterus
Certified nurse midwife:
someone who focuses on preconception, pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum, and newborn care
Cesarean section:
the surgical delivery of a baby through a cut (incision) made in the mother’s abdomen and uterus
Dilate
to widen
Doulas
a trained companion who is not a healthcare professional and who supports another person through a significant health-related experience like childbirth
Epidural:
an injection in a woman’s back to stop her from feeling pain in part of her body; commonly given for pain relief in childbirth
Episiotomy
a surgical cut made at the opening of the vagina during childbirth to enlarge the opening for the baby to pass through
Home delivery:
giving birth at home
Lamaze method
a method that stresses special breathing patterns and other natural relaxation techniques for dealing with pain; focuses on labor and delivery as a natural event and encourages laboring women to move around, if they like, and follow their body’s urges to push
Natural childbirth:
childbirth without routine medical interventions
Obstetrician
a doctor who specializes in pregnancy, childbirth, and a woman’s reproductive system
Premature labor:
when a woman’s body starts getting ready for birth more than three weeks before the due date
Standard hospital delivery:
giving birth at a hospital
Transition
the process or period of changing from one state or condition to another
Water birth:
when at least part of a woman’s labor, delivery, or both happen while in a birth pool filled with warm water
Breastfeeding:
the action of feeding a baby with milk from the breast
Maternity leave:
a period of absence from work granted to a mother before and after the birth of her child
Perineum
the area between the anus and the vagina
Postpartum
the time following childbirth; may refer to issues pertaining to the mother following childbirth
Postpartum blues
commonly include mood swings, crying spells, anxiety, and difficulty sleeping; typically begin within the first two to three days after delivery, and may list for up to two weeks
Postpartum depression
depression suffered by a mother following childbirth, typically arising from the combination of hormonal changes, psychological adjustment to motherhood, and fatigue; may be mistaken for baby blues at first, but the signs and symptoms are more intense and last longer, and may interfere with the ability to care for the baby and handle other daily tasks; symptoms usually develop within the first few weeks after giving birth, but may begin earlier—during pregnancy—or later—up to a year after birth
Postpartum psychosis:
rare sever mental illness characterized by extreme difficulty in responding emotionally to a newborn baby; typically develops within the first week after delivery; may lead to life-threatening thoughts or behaviors and requires immediate treatment
Support system:
a network of people who provide an individual with practical or emotional support
