Prenatal Development

Physical: During prenatal development the first two milestones are important to becoming a developing fetus. During the first two-weeks the one-celled zygote will multiply and form into a blastocyst. Next it will implant itself within the uterine lining. At this stage it will begin to develop amnion, chorion, the yolk sac, the placenta, and the umbilical cord. At the third and fourth week the embryo begins to develop the spinal cord, brain. The heart, muscles, backbone, ribs and digestive tract are forming (Berk, 2013). Language: Fetuses will begin to react to sound, especially his mothers voice during the second trimester of development. During the third trimester of a prenatal development a fetus is experiencing rapid brain development. Brain development is critical for language to grow when a child reaches infancy and preschool age. Cognitive: During the 9-12 weeks of development a fetus is beginning to develop behavioral capacities, such as kicking, thumb sucking, opening mouth, and even practicing breathing. At 25-28 weeks or the third trimester and the fetuses brain development will cause further increases in sensory and behavioral capacities. Sensitive Period: After the first two weeks of pregnancy prenatal development can be compromised by exposure to Teratogens. Teratogens are environmental agents that can cause damage during the prenatal period such as, drugs abuse, lack of medical care, heredity, poor

nutrition, etc. Depending on the type of Teratogens and the amount will determine the type of damage and severity of damage to the developing embryo. Atypical: Fetal activity is important for understanding brain development: An active fetus is a good indicator that the fetus has a healthy neurological development. This will foster the infants adaptability later in childhood. A fetus that is not active may be slow to warm and slow to adapt later in life (Berk, 2013). Social Factors that Influence Development: The mothers lifestyle, socio economic status, and level of stress can influence a fetuss healthy development. A mother who is suffering from poor nutrition during the prenatal period greatly influences the development of the fetuss immune system and organs. Newborns that were exposed to poor nutrition and family stress during the prenatal period will often have high-pitched cries, are irritable and may suffer from learning disabilities later on. Strategies: A mother can prevent damage to her unborn child by taking care of her health during pregnancy. The World Health Organization recommends that pregnant women be seen by a skilled healthcare provider at least four times during her pregnancy (about.com). In addition she should maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle, avoid any drug or alcohol use, and possibly seek genetic counseling if there are concerns about heredity. However, some of these strategies may not be possible in impoverished areas of our world. 30% of women in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa do not receive this recommended prenatal care (about.com).

http://geography.about.com/od/populationgeography/a/Unsafe-Motherhood-And-

Childhood-Around-The-World.html