Prenatal Development

What

are the characteristics of a

good parent?
Why have children?
Benefits & drawbacks of having
children
Role of birth control
Ethnic and regional differences in
having children

How

large a family?
Why do you think each
country has a different
average number?
How does time period play
a role on deciding # of
children?

Is

there a best time

during adulthood to
have a child?
Young vs. old parents
Fertility issues

Any environmental agent that causes

damage during the prenatal period.

Can you name some specific teratogens?

Harm done by teratogen depends on the

following factors:
Dose
Heredity
Other negative influences poor nutrition, lack of
medical care
Age

 Prescription

and Non-prescription

Drugs
Tobacco
Environmental Pollution
Infectious disease (ex: AIDS,
chicken pox, mumps, tuberculousis,
malaria) may result in miscarriage,
physical malformations, MR, and/or
low birth wt and prematurity.

Mothers:

severe malnutrition
extreme stress
Amount of exercise
blood incompatibility
age
previous births

 Alcohol

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)

1. slow physical growth
2. pattern of facial abnormalities (short
eyelid openings, thin upper lip,
smooth or flattened lip)
3. Brain injury small head and
impairment in 3 of following areas:
memory, language, attention span,
activity level, planning and reasoning,
motor, social skills.

Do

you think it is
possible to identify
and accurately
research the effects
of ever possible
teratogen? Why or
why not?

How old is the organism when it is exposed

to the teratogen? Is it at a time point when
fetus is most vulnerable and still forming?

Critical period time point in prenatal

development when organism is most
vulnerable to teratogen

What precautions do you think that couples

must take once the mother has gotten
pregnant? (Before, during and after the
pregnancy.)

 Pregnant

women will encounter

harmful teratogens on a daily basis.
No control. Teratogens become
harmful and damaging at a certain
level/dosage (threshold effect).

What

is the encountered dosage and

frequency of exposure?

What

happens when teratogens have

been combined together?
(interaction effect)

 Certain

disorders and diseases

are more common in certain
ethnic groups.

Folic

acid vitamins before trying

to get pregnant.

Gender

males are often at

greater risk.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=dHRZjTiFEHs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=LafUmARkPpg

Seeking information
Reading books on pregnancy & childbirth
Enrolling in a parenting/prenatal class (community
centers)
Checking out websites

Helps mother feel confident (what about

father?)

The

baby becomes a
reality
Womans abdomen enlarges
Ultra-sound images/sounds
Baby kicking
Touching the abdomen

Models of effective parenthood

Thinking about important models of parenthood in
own life
Coming to terms with any personal negative
experiences

The parental relationship

Context of the parents relationship. How happy is
the marriage? Satisfied?
Excitement of first pregnancy
Better prepared to handle any changes

Birth and the Newborn Baby

http://www.today.com/video/today/3898908
4#38989084

 To

assess the newborns physical

condition quickly
Doctors and nurses
Rating of 0, 1, or 2
At 1 minute and again at 5 min after
birth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=zY87wohJl9I

or more infant in good physical

condition
4 to 6 - infant requires assistance in
establishing breathing and other vital
signs.
Below 3 infant in serious danger
and requires emergency medical
attention.

 Color
Muscle

Tone
Heartbeat
Respiration
Reflex Irritability
Each category rated on a scale
of 0-2

Fetal monitors electronic instruments

that track the babys heart rate during
labor. Is baby in distress? Lack of oxygen?
Delivered immediately?
Strapped across mothers abdomen
throughout labor
Threading a recording device through the
cervix and place under babys scalp

 Pain

killers
Analgesics drugs to relieve pain
Anesthetics
Epidural analgesia drug is
delivered continuously through a
catheter into small space in lower
spine.
Instruments
Forceps and vacuum extractor

Induced

labor

Started artificially
Break the amnion fluid
Give mother oxytocin
hormone that stimulates
contractions

 Artificial

rupture of membranes to
speed up labor.
Insert amnio-hook (large crochet
hook with small sharp end). Snag
amniotic membrane.
High risk of infection
Lack of cushion for babys head

Oxytocin injected into vein through an IV.

Stimulates contractions.
Induction of labor &
use of pain meds can interfere with natural
hormone process of giving birth.

Endorphins calm & pain relieving effects. Natural

morphine-like effects. Decrease perception of pain.

Adrenaline secreted in response to stress, fear,

and extreme pain.

 Cesarean

Delivery
Surgical birth
Doctor makes incision in
mothers abdomen
Lifts baby out of the uterus

Breech
Baby is buttocks or feet first and needs
to be turned. Increases chance of
squeezing umbilical cord as the large
head moves through the birth canal.
Depriving infant of oxygen.

Need an immediate cesarean delivery

Frank Breech bottom first with feet up

near the head. Bottom come out first.

Complete Breech bottom first with legs

crossed Indian style. Knees bent & feet near
the buttocks.

Footing Breech one or both feet come

out first. Leg or legs in place to come out
first during delivery.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=O6jddbdeFUo

Anoxia
Inadequate oxygen supply

Preterm infants - (born several weeks

before due date). Before 35 weeks.

Small for date infants below their

expected weight considering length of
pregnancy.

 Less

than 5.5 lbs = low birth

weight

Less

than 3 lbs 5 ounces = very

low birth weight

Less

than 2 lbs 3 ounces =

extremely low birth weight

Joyous happy occasion for extended

family. Religious and cultural rituals.

Connection between parents and child.

Developing that parental bond.

Quick connection with mother if want to

breast feed. Latching on.

Postpartum Depression sense of

inadequacy and sadness

 Changes

in the family system

Demands of new parenthood
Are there other children?
Is she a single mother? How much
available extended support?
Parents age have they waited to
pursue occupational goals and life
experience?

 Financial

responsibilities &
changes if mother stays
home with baby
Gender roles
Effect on marital satisfaction
and communication

http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=wfhpgPnGhkA

Getting into groups of 3-4 students. Devise

a therapeutic program for mothers battling
post-partum depression.