Lesson 6: Parenthood, Prenatal Development, and Birth PDF

Lesson 6 Parenthood, Prenatal Development and Birth Dr. Merriam S. Silin  Prenatal Environment Hazards Teratology = the field that investigates the cause of congenital (birth) defects. A teratogen is that which causes birth defects; coming from the Greek word “tera” which means “mo...

Lesson 6 Parenthood, Prenatal Development and Birth Dr. Merriam S. Silin  Prenatal Environment Hazards Teratology = the field that investigates the cause of congenital (birth) defects. A teratogen is that which causes birth defects; coming from the Greek word “tera” which means “monster.”  Hazards to Prenatal Development 1. Prescription and non-prescription drugs inclusive of antibiotics. Examples of harmful drugs are diet pills, aspirin and coffee. Cocaine exposure during pre natal development is associated with reduced birth weight, length and head circumference, impaired motor development, impaired information processing and poor attention skills. 2. Psychoactive drugs includes nicotine, caffeine and illegal drugs such as marijuana, cocaine and heroin. Pregnant women who drink more caffeinated coffee were more likely to have preterm deliveries and newborns with lower birth weight. Heavy alcohol drinking results in fetal alcohol syndrome which is a cluster of abnormalities that appears in the children of mothers who drink alcohol a lot during pregnancy. These abnormalities include facial deformities and defective limbs, face and heart. Most of these children have below average intelligence and some are mentally retarded. Fetal and neonatal deaths are higher among smoking mothers, and there are also higher incidence of preterm births and lower birthweights. On the average, maternal heroine addicts deliver smaller than average sized babies with more incidence of toxemia, premature separation of placenta, retained placenta, hemorrhaging after birth, and breech deliveries. 3. Environmental hazards = radiation in job sites, x-rays, environmental pollutants, toxic wastes and prolonged exposure to heat in saunas and bath tubs. Fathers exposed to high radiation could have children born with chromosomal abnormalities. Prolonged exposure to sauna or hot tubs raises the mother’s temperature creating fever that may endanger the fetus, may interfere with cell division and may cause birth defects or even fetal death. 4. Other maternal factors = Rubella (German measles), syphilis, genital herpes, AIDS, nutrition, high anxiety, stress and age (too early or too late). A mother can infect her child in 3 ways: 1) during gestation across the placenta, 2) during delivery through contact with maternal blood or fluids, and 3) postpartum (after birth) through breast feeding. As maternal age increases, the risks for numerical chromosomal abnormalities increases. Likewise, the mortality rate of infants born to adolescent mothers is double that of infants born to mothers in their twenties 5. Paternal factors = fathers’ exposure to lead, radiation, certain pesticides and petrochemicals may cause abnormalities in sperm that lead to miscarriage or diseases such as childhood cancer. As in the case of older mothers, older fathers may also place their offspring at risk for certain defects.  Conception Human life begins from the moment of conception. The developing fetus from conception to 5 months goes through the cephalocaudal trend wherein the head grows more than the body. The same pattern occurs in the head area because the top parts of the head, the eyes and brain, grow faster than the lower parts such as the jaw. The proximodistal trend is the pre-natal growth from 5 months to birth when the fetus grows from the inside of the body outwards  The Birth Process Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SadPJSE8fPw for a video of the birth process.  The Newborn Myelination is the process by which the axons are covered and insulated by layers of fat cells, begins prenatally and continues after birth. At birth the newborn’s brain is about 25 percent of its adult weight. Shortly after birth a baby’s brain produces trillions more connections between neurons than it can possibly use. The brain eliminates connections that are seldom or never used. The infant’s brain is literally waiting for experiences to determine how connections are made.  Reflexes of the Newborn The newborn has some basic reflexes which are automatic and serve as survival mechanisms before they have the opportunity to learn. Many of these reflexes will subside within a few months as the baby grows and matures. 1. Sucking reflex – initiated when something touches the roof of an infant’s mouth. A strong sucking reflex helps to ensure they can latch onto a bottle or breast. 2. Rooting reflex – most evident when an infant’s cheek is stroked. The baby responds by turning his or her head in the direction of the touch and opening their mouth for feeding. 3. Gripping reflex - babies will grasp anything that is placed in their palm. The strength of this grip is strong and most babies can support their entire weight in their grip. 4. Curling reflex = when the inner sole of a baby’s foot is stroked the infant responds by curling his or her toes. When the outer sole of a baby’s foot is stroked, the infant will respond by spreading out their toes. 5. Startle/Moro reflex - infants will respond to sudden sounds or movements by throwing their arms and legs out, and throwing their heads back. Most infants will usually cry when startled and proceed to pull their limbs back into their bodies 6. Galant reflex = shown when an infant’s middle or lower back is stroked next to the spinal cord. The baby will respond by curving his or her body toward the side which is being stroked. 7. Tonic Neck Reflex = the tonic neck reflex is demonstrated in infants who are placed on their abdomens. Whichever side the child’s head is facing, the limbs on that side will straighten, while the opposite limbs will curl.