Prenatal Development And Birth

Question 1

What Is the Zygote stage?

Answer 1

Between 0-2 weeks
Conception to implantation

Question 2

What is the Embryo Stage?

Answer 2

Between 3-8 weeks
Structural development i.e. Neural tube becomes brain and spinal chord.
Miscarriage risk high

Question 3

What is the Foetus stage?

Answer 3

9-38 weeks
Brain development
12 wks - sex
17-20 wks - mother feels movement
22-26 wks - viability

Question 4

What are the risks of Prenatal development?

Answer 4

Teratogens (environment)
i.e. prescription drugs, illegal drugs and legal drugs.

Question 5

What is Thalidomide?

Answer 5

Drug for morning sickness
Causes structural abnormalities
Withdrawn In 1961

Question 6

What is Diethylstilbestrol (DES)

Answer 6

Hormone used to prevent miscarriage (1947-64)
Caused productive problems and cancer in offspring

Question 7

What Is Spina Bifida

Answer 7

Neural tube fails to close properly
Birth defect
Can be as a result of low folic acid intake during pregnancy

Question 8

How Long did Thalidomide take to cause affect?

Answer 8

Day 20 - Brain damage
Day 21 - eye abnormalities
Day 22 - Ears + Face abnormalities
Day 24 - arms
Day 28 - Leg damages
Day 42 + no ill effects

Question 9

How does caffeine affect pregnancy?

Answer 9

Cause miscarriage and low birth rate

Question 10

How does Tobacco affect pregnancy?

Answer 10

Miscarriage and prematurity
Affects placenta causing poor nutrition and low birth weight
ADHD
Roza et al 2007 - Affects head circumference and BPD measurement
Uk - 6% smoke until brith

Question 11

How does alcohol affect pregnancy?

Answer 11

Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) up to 17% of children have it in UK
stunted growth
mental retardation
distorted facial features
Foetal Alcohol spectrum disorder

Question 12

How may radiation impact pregnancy?

Answer 12

Miscarriage, cancer, stunted growth, physical defects
Prematurity, LBW, cognitive delays
i.e. X-rays, Nuclear, Pollution-lead

Question 13

What are examples of infectious disease?

Answer 13

TORCH
Toxoplasmosis
Other (Aids/HIV)
Rubella
CMV
Herpes

Question 14

What is Zika Virus

Answer 14

• Mosquito born infection
• cause fever in mother
• Infects foetal brain tissue
• Lifelong sensory, motor and cognitive disability
• No vaccine yet

Question 15

Risks: maternal factors

Answer 15

Age: fertility problems, miscarriage and chromosomal damage more likely the older you are
Teen mums also at risk
Weight gain
Prenatal care
Health
Pre eclampsia
Gestational diabetes

Question 16

APGAD Scoring system

Answer 16

Activity (muscle tone)
Pulse
Grimace (reflex irritability)
Appearance (slim colour)
Respiration

Question 17

What complications may occur when baby is premature

Answer 17

Before 36 weeks
Risk of cognitive delay
May cause respiratory distress syndrome
Inadequate surfactant (liquid in lungs which sends 02 into blood)
Low birth weight causes motor and cognitive problems in the long term

Question 18

Stimulation programmes for preterm babies

Answer 18

Previously babies would be isolated to protect them but under stimulation causes delay in development.
Skin to skin (Kangaroo care)
Massages

Question 19

Breathing Bear Study

Answer 19

• Investigated the sleep/wake states of preterm babies
• At 33weeks (conceptual age) babies randomly assigned to breathing or non breathing bear
• 35 weeks, sleep wake states were recorded
• BB babies, less crying, fewer startles
• BB babies more likely to smile than grimace when sleeping and opposite for NB
  Thoman et al, 2012

Question 20

Massage Stimulates Growth Study

Answer 20

• Preterm infants were assigned to treatment and control groups
• Treatment group had 3, 15 min massages daily for 10 days
• control infants had no massage
• Massage group were discharged earlier than non massage
• massage group gained more weight per day
  Field, 1990

Question 21

Parent interventions - why preterm babies less care

Answer 21

• Physical appearance
• High pitched cry
• Feeding difficulties
• Lower responsiveness
• Nature of intervention (i.e. massage or infant self regulation)
• Intervention intensity and duration