Prenatal Development Flashcards
What is prenatal development?
The process which a human embryo or fetus grows and develops inside the mother’s womb. The prenatal period spans from conception to birth
What are the three stages of prenatal development?
1) Germinal stage (0-2 weeks)
2) Embryonic stage (3-8 weeks)
3) Fetal stage (9 weeks to birth)
What factors affect prenatal development?
- Genetics
- Maternal stress, age and health
- Environmental exposures
- Lifestyle choices
- Socioeconomic factors
How do genetics play a role in fetal development?
Genetic information determines the aspects like sex, physical characteristics and vulnerability to diseases / genetic conditions
How does the environment affect a fetal development?
The development can be affected by the mother’s health, nutrition and exposure to harmful substances
What is conception?
The joining of a sperm and egg, also known as fertilization, in the fallopian tube
What happens during the germinal stage? (0-2 weeks)
- A zygote is created then makes its journey down the uterus. It divides many times during this process.
- Two separate structures are created, the embryo and the placenta
- Zygote later turns into a blastocyst. It arrives at the uterus and implants into the uterine lining. If successful, body begins producing hormones to support a pregnancy
What happens during the embryonic stage? (3-8 weeks)
The blastocyst begins to take on distinct human characteristics and becomes an embryo. By the end of the eighth week, most of the embryo’s organs systems form and take shape
What happens during the fetal stage? (9 weeks to birth)
- Embryo turns to a fetus
- Major organs and body systems continue to grow and mature
- Gets its assigned sex at around nine weeks
- Can move its limbs
- Most of the growth (in weight & length), happen in this stage
Why is prenatal care important?
- To monitor the health and development of both mother and fetus throughout pregnancy
- Helps assess the health and development of the fetus to provide information and offer guidance
- Allows for early detection of any developmental abnormalities and implement preventive measures
Methods of monitoring fetal growth & development?
- Ultrasound
- Blood tests
- Fetal heart rate monitoring
- Amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling (CVS)
What is Amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling (CVS)?
Invasive tests that can diagnose chromosomal abnormalities and genetic disorders
What is medically assisted procreation? (MAP)
A range of medical techniques and procedures used to help individuals / couples conceive a child when unable to do so through natural means
What are some methods of medically assisted procreation? (MAP)
- Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
- Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)
- Artificial insemination
What is the process of In Vitro Fertilization? (IVF)
Extracting eggs from a woman’s ovaries and fertilizing them with sperm in a laboratory setting. The fertilized eggs (embryos) are then transferred to the woman’s uterus
What is the process of Intrauterine Insemination? (IUI)
Sperm is specially prepared and directly inserted into the woman’s uterus around the time of ovulation. This is less invasive and often less expensive but generally has a lower success rate
What is cryopreservation?
Eggs, sperm, and embryos are frozen and stored for future use. Useful for individuals undergoing treatments like chemotherapy, that might affect their fertility, or for those who wish to delay parenthood
What is surrogacy?
It involves a third party (surrogate) who carries and delivers a baby for another individual or couple
What are the benefits of medically assisted procreation? (MAP)
- Increased chances of pregnancy
- Genetic Screening
- Family building for all: provides options for singles, LGBTQ+ couples and those with fertility issues to build families
How do genetic factors affect prenatal development?
- Genetic disorders: down syndrome, sickle cell anemia
- Chromosomal abnormalities: Extra or missing chromosomes can lead to developmental problems or miscarriage
How do environmental factors affect prenatal development?
- Exposure to Teratogens
- Infections: Maternal infections such as rubella, zika virus, etc.
- Nutrition: Leads to low birth weight, premature birth, etc.
- Radiation: High levels of exposure can cause birth defects and increase risk of miscarriage
What are teratogens?
Substances that can cause birth defects, including alcohol, tobacco smoke, illicit drugs and environmental pollutants
What maternal health factors affect prenatal development?
- Age: Advance maternal or very young women have a higher risk of complications that can affect prenatal development
- Chronic health conditions: Diabetes, Hypertension, Obesity
- Mental health: Maternal stress, anxiety & depression can affect hormonal levels
- Lifestyle: Physical activity, diet and overall lifestyle
How do socioeconomic factors affect prenatal development?
- Access to healthcare
- Socioeconomic status: Limited access to healthcare, nutritious food and educational resources, contributing increased risks to the pregnancy
What other factors affect prenatal development?
- Multiple pregnancies: Twins or triplets
- Maternal immunity and vaccinations
Why is a multiple pregnancy risky?
Higher risk of premature birth and low birth weight compared to single pregnancies
