Prenatal Development and the Newborn Flashcards
What is epigenesis? (Aristotle)
The emergence of new structures and functions in the course of development.
What are the three stages of prenatal development?
- Germinal. 2. Embryo. 3. Fetal.
When does the germinal stage occur? (time-wise)
From 0-2 weeks.
What are the major achievements of the germinal stage? (2)
- Rapid cell division. 2. Attachment to uterine wall.
When does the germinal stage start and end (as marked by achievements)?
Start: Conception. End: Attachment to uterine wall.
When does the embryo stage occur? (time-wise).
2nd to 8th week.
When does the embryo stage start and end (as marked by achievements).
Start: Attachment to uterine wall. End: Formation of bone cells.
What are the major achievements of the embryo stage? (4)
- Growth (1/4in-1in). 2. Cell differentiation. 3. Major organs formed. 4. Movement.
When does the fetal stage occur?
8th-38th week.
When does the fetal stage start and end (as marked by achievements)?
Start: Formation of bone cells. End: Birth.
What are the major achievements of the fetal stage? (4)
- Growth. 2. Movement felt by mother. 3. Hearing. 4. Sensitive to light.
What determines the differentiation of stem cells? (3)
- Location. 2. Neighboring cells. 3. Which genes are switched on.
What does not determine the differentiation of a stem cell?
Stage of development.
What is a neural tube? What does it become?
A groove formed in the top layer of differentiated cells in the embryo that eventually becomes the brain and spinal cord.
What is the amniotic sac?
A transparent, fluid-filled membrane that surrounds and protects the fetus.
What is the placenta?
A support organ for the fetus; permits selective materials to be transported from mom to fetus.
What is the umbilical cord?
A tube containing the blood vessels connecting the fetus and placenta.
What is cephalocaudal development?
The pattern of growth in which areas near the head develop earlier than areas farther from the head.
Does the embryo differentiate? If so? How?
Yes. It differentiates into three layers.
What is Thalidomide?
Teratogen that influences limb development.
What is a sonogram used for? (2)
- Determine the age of the fetus. 2. Check development of heart rate; structures, etc.
When does growth slow?
At around 7 months.
What is the current age of viability?
22-26 weeks.
What is the average birth length?
20in.
What is the average birth weight?
7 pounds.
Does father elements affect the child’s development (from conception)?
Yes, age, and stress.
What is the APGAR assessment?
Quick assessment of the infant after birth.
What are the five scales of the APGAR assessment?
Appearance, Grimace, Activity, Reflexes.
What is meant by the activity scale?
Muscle tone.
What is the United States rate of infant mortality?
5.8 death / 1,000 births.
What is the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (BNBAS) designed for?
Designed to assess infant functioning over the first month of life.
Which assessment is used mostly for research?
The Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (BNBAS).
Which assessment is used mostly for clinical use?
The APGAR.
What are the dimensions of the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (BNBAS)? (3)
- Neurological. 2. Behavioral. 3. Reflexes.
What is the neurological dimension of the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (BNBAS)?
Based on intensity of responses.
What is the behavioral dimention of the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (BNBAS)?
Focuses on state of arousal (sleep to crying).
What are reflexes?
Automatic, stereotyped response to a specific stimuli.
Do infant assessments generally correlate with psychological functioning later in life?
No.
What are the type of reflexes looked for? (4)
- Absent. 2. Weak or delayed. 3. Re-emerges. 4. Doesn’t drop out.
What type of reflexes are there? (4)
- Feeding. 2. Primitive. 3. Locomotion. 4. Postural.
What is a state?
A continuum of arousal ranging from deep sleep to intense activity.
What percent of sleep do newborns spend in REM sleep?
50%, which decreases over time.
At what weight are newborns said to be of low birth weight?
Those that weigh 5.5 pounds or less.
What are the long-term outcomes of those of low birth weight? (2)
- They have more developmental problems, including psychiatric ones. 2. Most generally end up within normal developmental measures
When does the fetus begin moving in the womb? What kind of movement is it?
5-6 weeks after conception. Simple bending of the head and spine.
When do hiccups begin to emerge?
At around 7 weeks.
By what week do the movements, that will be present at birth, emerge?
At around 12 weeks.
When does the fetus start breathing-like movements?
At around 10 weeks.
What is the dose-response relation?
A relation in which the effect of exposure to an element increases with the extent of exposure (prenatally, the more exposure a fetus has to a potential teratogen, the more severe its effect is likely to be).
What is the most sensitive or critical period of prenatal development?
The first two weeks.
When does every major organ undergo development (prenatally)?
Between the 3rd and 9th week.
What syndrome can occur if the mother uses opioids?
Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). A form of drug withdrawal.
What problems can occur if the the mother smokes while pregnant?
Results in less oxygen for baby. Can cause low birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and other problems such as, lower IQ, hearing deficits, ADHD.
What can result if the mother drinks alcohol while pregnant?
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).
What are the main symptoms of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)? (3)
- Facial deformities. 2. Intellectual disability. 3. Attention problems and hyperactivity.
What maternal factors influence prenatal development? (4)
- Age. 2. Nutrition. 3. Disease. 4. Emotional state.
What are the general effects of malnutrition?
Affects growth of fetal brain. Have smaller brains, containing fewer brain cells.
What is the awake-alert state?
A state in which infants are fairly inactive but attentive to the environment.
What is the quiet sleep state?
Deep sleep. Non-REM sleep.
What is the drowsiness state?
Transition between the alert and sleep states.
What is the awake-active state?
Movement with purpose, rhythmically stretching arms and kicking legs. This movement reinforces the connection between the baby’s brain and body muscles.
What is developmental resilience?
Successful development in spite of multiple and seemingly overwhelming developmental hazards.
What are the two characteristics of children with developmental resilience?
- Certain personal characteristics, especially intelligence, responsiveness to others, and a sense of being capable of achieving their goals. 2. Responsive care from someone.
What is the rooting reflex?
When stroked on cheek near mouth, they turn head in the direction of the touch and open their mouth.
What are the sucking and swallowing reflexes?
Sucking and swallowing when in oral contact of the mother’s breast.
What is the grasping reflex?
Newborns close their fingers around anything that presses against the palm of their hand.
What is the moro reflex?
Spreading/unspreading of arms in response to a loss of support.
What is the babinski reflex?
A reflex elicited when the sole of the foot is stimulated with a blunt instrument.
What can the babinski reflex tell us?
Normal, if toes curve down and inwards. Indicates nervous system damage if toes curve up.
