Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Prenatal Development and Birth
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 4
Chapter 4- Prenatal Development
• Time of fastest development in life span
• Environment extremely important
• Conception
– Ova travels from ovary to uterus
– Penetration by 1 of 300-500 sperm
– Outcome: single-celled ZYGOTE
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 4
Prenatal Stages
•
Germinal period: days 1-14
– Implantation: 1/2 are successful
•
•
– Miscarriage: 15% (recognized) to 50%
Embryonic period: 3rd to 8th week
– Organogenesis, Sexual differentiation
Fetal period: 9th week – birth
– Proliferation, migration
– Differentiation of stem cells
– Ends in tremendous brain development
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 4
Prenatal Environment
• Reciprocal influence
– Person and environment
– Good and bad influences important
• Teratogen: environmental agent
– Harms the developing fetus
– Critical Period: Organogenesis
– Dosage & duration
– Genetic make-up: susceptibility
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 4
Figure 4.3
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 4
Teratogens-Drugs
•
Thalidomide (for morning sickness)
– All or parts of limbs missing
• Tobacco: miscarriage, low birth weight, SIDS,
slows fetal growth
• Alcohol: FAS
– Small, facial deformities, retardation
• Cocaine: Processing difficulties
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 4
Figure 4.6
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 4
Teratogens - Diseases
• Rubella (German Measles)
– Blind, deaf, heart, brain
• Syphilis:miscarriage, blind, deaf, heart, brain
– After 18th week
• AIDS mothers transmit to babies (15%-35%)
– Prenatally, perinatally, postnatally
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 4
Teratogens – Environmental Hazards
• Radiation: MR, leukemia, cancer, mutations,
spontaneous abortions, etc.
– Avoid X-rays when pregnant
• Pollutants
– In air and water
– Lead - MR (also postnatally)
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 4
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 4
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 4
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 4
The Mother’s State
• Age: typically age16 – 35
•
•
– 15 or younger don’t seek prenatal care
• Birth complications, low birth weight
– Over 35: miscarriage, Down Syndrome
(father’s age also)
Emotion: stress – can stunt fetal growth
– Positive outlook most helpful
Nutrition: 25-35 lb weight gain
– Malnutrition: smaller neurons, brain, child
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 4
Figure 4.8
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 4
The Perinatal Environment
• Birth Process: 3 step process
• Possible Hazards
– Anoxia – Oxygen shortage: can be severe
– Complicated delivery
• Cesarean (“C”) section
• Medications: can reach baby
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 4
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 4
The Mother’s Experience
• Severe pain, anxiety
– 77% rate it as positive experience
• Psychological factors
– Attitude, knowledge, support
• Cultural factors
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 4
Postnatal Depression
• Baby Blues, mild, common
• Clinical depression: 1/10
– Previous depression common
• Children of depressed mothers
– Insecurely attached, less responsive
– Negative to other children
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 4
The Neonatal Environment
• Culture, early socialization, health status
•
– E.g., low birth-weight babies (8% in US)
• Less than 5 1/2 lbs
• Strongly linked to low SES
• Environment: neonatal intensive care
• Risk: blindness, deafness, CP, autism,
cognitive, and later academic problems
Parenting must be attentive, responsive
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 4
Risk and Resilience
• Not all high-risk infants have problems
• Werner: Kauai Longitudinal study (40 yrs)
• Findings:
– Effects decrease over time
– Outcomes depend on postnatal
environment
– Protective factors
• Personal factors
• Supportive postnatal environment