Prenatal Development and the Newborn Flashcards
(34 cards)
Stages of prenatal development
- Gamete
- embryonic
- fetal
When does zygote period begin
Begins when egg is fertilized in the outer part of the fallopian tube
When does zygote period end
The zygote period ends 2 weeks later when the blastocyst is impacted into the wall of the uterus
What happens in the zygote period
The placenta begins to form
What is the placenta, whats it’s role
A disposable organ formed from the outside of the blastocyst
Supplices oxygen, removes carbon dioxide, filters waste products, supplies nutrients
Embryo
blastocyst completely embedded in the uterine walls
What are the 3 body structures developed in embryonic period
Ectoderm: hair, outer layer of skin, nervous system
Mesoderm: muscles, bones, circulatory system
Endoderm: digestive system and lungs
Where is the embryo
Embryo is inside amniotic sac with amniotic fluid to ensure optimal temperature and cushioning
What does the umbilical cord do
Umbilical cord joins the embryo to the placenta
What happens in the fetal period
All regions of brain grow, specifically cerebral cortex
When do genital organs develop
Genetical organs develop in third month
What is vernix
Skin covered in greasy substance called vernix to prevent skin damage
What is age of viability
The age at which the fetus can survive on its own outside of the mother
What are 2 common fetal behaviours
- Babies swallow amniotic fluid, this prepares their stomach for the outside environment
- The movement of the chest wall helps a baby replicate breathing, helps respiratory system become functional
What are the main prenatal risk factors
- prologned stress
- nutriton
- thelidomide
How does prolonged stress cause prenatal risk
Can decrease oxygen to fetus and weaken mothers immune system
Can lead to unhealthy behaviors like smoking or drinking
Can cause: lower birth weight, premature baby, newborn irritability, feeding and sleeping problems during infancy, behavioral problems at 4 years
How does nutrition cause prenatal risk
Increase in infant mortality within a year if mother experienced famine in pregnancy
How does thalidomide cause prenatal risk
Medicine in 60s promoted to pregnant women for anxiety, trouble sleeping, tension, morning sickness
Caused harm to at least 10 000 children who developed abnormalities in limbs
Teratogen:
agent causing abnormal prenatal development
Social Determinants of health:
non-medical/social and economic factors that determines one’s health
What are the 3 stages of labour
Starts with muscles of uterus contracting and ends with cervix dilated to 10cm
Baby pushed out of birth canal
Placenta expelled
What are common birth complications
- Hypoxia
- premature/preterm baby
- small for date
Hypoxia
occurs in labor if umbilical cord squeezed or pinched shut, cutting off blood flow to baby
Premature/preterm baby:
baby born before 37 weeks
