Republic of the Philippines

Region VI- Western Visayas

CARLOS HILADO MEMORIAL STATE COLLEGE
Alijis Campus | Binalbagan Campus | Fortune Towne Campus | Talisay Campus
College of Education
The Child and Adolescent Learners and Learning Principles

PART 2: DEVELOPMENT OF THE LEARNERS AT VARIOUS STAGE

UNIT 1: PRE-NATAL PERIOD

MODULE 11: PRE-NATAL DEVELOPMENT

“The history of man for nine months preceding his birth would, probably, be far more
interesting, and contain events of greater moment than all three scores and ten years that follow
it.”

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

English Poet, Essayist, 19 Century
Objectives:

1. Trace the course of the pre-natal developmental process that you went through.

2. Explain the most common hazards to pre-natal development.

3. Become more appreciative of the gifts of life manifested in anti-abortion stand

Introduction:

All the developmental theories which we lengthily discussed dwelt on the developmental process
after birth. None of them was concerned with what development went on before birth. To make
the description of human development complete, it may be good to understand. The beginnings
of the child and the adolescent, the learners.

Life Before Birth:

The Development of the Unborn Child

The development of human life in the womb was once a mystery, but science and medicine
have changed that. Abortion advocates still try to dehumanize the developing baby in the
womb by speaking of the child as a “blob of tissue” or “uterine contents”. But ultrasound
images, pre-natal surgery and other advances in obstetrics are shattering the blob-of-tissue
myth.
Dr. Paul Rockwell, a New York Physician, made these profound observations after his
amazing encounter with a tiny unborn baby boy: “eleven years ago while I was giving an
anesthetic for a raptured ectopic pregnancy (at two months’ gestation), I was handed what I
believed was the smallest living human ever seen.
PAGE 1 OF 2

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CHMSC 2019-2020
COED-K.S.AMBONG
EDCALP
 Republic of the Philippines
Region VI- Western Visayas
CARLOS HILADO MEMORIAL STATE COLLEGE
Alijis Campus | Binalbagan Campus | Fortune Towne Campus | Talisay Campus
College of Education
The Child and Adolescent Learners and Learning Principles

The embryo sac was intact and transparent. Within the sac was as tiny human male
swimming extremely vigorously in the amniotic fluid, while attached to the wall by the
umbilical cord”. This tiny human was perfectly developed, with long, tapering fingers, feet
and toes. It was transparent, as regard the skins, and the delicate arteries and veins were
prominent to the ends of the fingers. “The baby was extremely alive and swam about the sac
approximately one time per second, with a natural swimmer’s stroke. This tiny human did not
look at all like the photos and drawings and models of ‘embryo’ which I have seen, nor did it
look like a few embryos I have been able to observe since, then, obviously because this one is
alive.
“When the sac was opened, the tiny human immediately lost his life and took on the
appearance of what is accepted as the appearance of an embryos at this stage (blunt
extremities, etc.).
“It is my opinion that if the lawmakers and people realize that this very vigorous life is
present. It is possible that abortion would be found more objectionable than euthanasia.
The point at which Dr. Rockwell witnessed this unborn baby eight weeks after conception
is during the period that a majority of abortionist describe as most desirable for performing an
abortion.
Source: http://www.mccl.org/Document.Doc?id=159
PAGE 2 OF 2

The Stages of Development:

Pre-natal development is divided into three (3) periods germinal, embryonic, and fetal.

1) Germinal Period (first 2 weeks after conception)

 Creation of the zygote.

 Continued cell division

 The attachment of the zygote to the uterine wall.

The Following are the Details of Development during this Period:

 24 to 30 hours after fertilization- The male (sperm) and female (egg cell) chromosomes
unites.

 36 hours- The fertilized ovum (zygote) divides into two (2) cells.

2
CHMSC 2019-2020
COED-K.S.AMBONG
EDCALP
 Republic of the Philippines
Region VI- Western Visayas
CARLOS HILADO MEMORIAL STATE COLLEGE
Alijis Campus | Binalbagan Campus | Fortune Towne Campus | Talisay Campus
College of Education
The Child and Adolescent Learners and Learning Principles

 48 hours (2 days)- 2 cells becomes 4 cells.

 72 hours (3 days)- 4 cells become a small compact ball of 16-32 cells.

 92 hours (4 days)- hallow ball of 62-128 cells.

 4-5 days- Inner cells mass (blastocyst) still free in the uterus.

 6-7 days- Blastocyst attaches to the wall of uterus.

 11-15 days- Blastocyst invades into the uterine wall and becomes implanted in it
(implantation).

In the germinal period, the differentiation of cells already begins as inner and outer layers of the
organism are formed. The Blastocyst, the inner layer of the cells that develops during the
germinal period, develops later into the embryo. The trophoblast, outer layer of the cells that
develops during germinal period, later provides nutrition and support for the embryo.

2) Embryonic Period (2-8 weeks after conception)

 Mass cell (zygote) become embryo.

 Cell differentiation intensifies.

 Life-support systems for the embryo to develop

 Organs appear.

Organogenesis:

The process of organ formation during the first two months of pre-natal development.

 Endoderm- The inner layer of cells, develops into the digestive and respiratory systems.

 Ectoderm- The outermost layer becomes the nervous system, sensory receptors (eyes, ears,
nose), and skin parts (nail and hair).

 Mesoderm- The middle layer which becomes the circulatory, skeletal, muscular, excretory,
and reproductive systems.

As the three layers of the embryo form, the support systems for the embryo develop
rapidly:

3
CHMSC 2019-2020
COED-K.S.AMBONG
EDCALP
 Republic of the Philippines
Region VI- Western Visayas
CARLOS HILADO MEMORIAL STATE COLLEGE
Alijis Campus | Binalbagan Campus | Fortune Towne Campus | Talisay Campus
College of Education
The Child and Adolescent Learners and Learning Principles

 Placenta- is a life-support system that consists of disk-shaped group of tissues in which

small blood vessels from the mother and the offspring intertwine but do not join.

 Umbilical Cord- Contains two arteries and one vein that connects the baby to the placenta.

 Amnion- Is a bag or an envelope that contains a clear fluid in which the developing baby
floats.

All these embryo life-support systems develop from the fertilized egg and not from the mother’s
body.

3) Fetal Period (2-7 months after conception)

 Growth and development continue dramatically during this period.

The Details of Developmental Process:

3 Months after Conception

 Fetus is about 3 inches long and weighs about 1 ounce.

 The fetus becomes active moves its arm and legs, opens and closes its mouth, moves its
head; the face, forehead, eyelids, nose, chin can now be distinguished; upper and lower arms,
hands, and lower limbs, and genital can now be identified as male and female.

4 Months after Conception

 Fetus is about 6 inches long and weighs 4-7 ounces.

 Growth spurt occurs in the body’s lower part.

 Pre-natal reflexes are stronger.

 The mother feels the arm and leg movement for the first time.

5 Months after Conception

 Fetus is about 12 inches long and weighs close to a pound.

 Structures of the skin (finger nails and toenails) have formed.

 The fetus becomes more active.

6 Months after Conception

 Fetus is about 14 inches long and weighs one and half pound.

4
CHMSC 2019-2020
COED-K.S.AMBONG
EDCALP
 Republic of the Philippines
Region VI- Western Visayas
CARLOS HILADO MEMORIAL STATE COLLEGE
Alijis Campus | Binalbagan Campus | Fortune Towne Campus | Talisay Campus
College of Education
The Child and Adolescent Learners and Learning Principles

 Eyes and eyelids are completely formed.

 Fine layer covers the head.

 Grasping reflex is present and irregular movement occurs.

7 Months after Conception

 Fetus is about 16 inches long and weighs 3 pounds.

8-9 Months after Conception

 Fetus grows longer and gains substantial weight, about 4 pounds.

Teratology and Hazards of Pre-Natal Development:

Teratology is the field that investigates the causes of congenital (birth) defects. A teratogen is
that which causes birth defects. It came from Greek word “tera” which means “monster”.

Clusters of Hazards to Pre-Natal Development:

1. Prescription and Non-prescription Drugs

These includes prescription as well as non-prescription drugs. Antibiotics is an example of

prescription that can be harmful. Examples of harmful non-prescription drugs are diet pills,
aspirin, and coffee.

Examples:

 In 1961, many pregnant women took in thalidomide, a tranquilizer to alleviate their morning
sickness that gave rise to several deformed babies.
 Cocaine exposure during pre-natal development is associated with reduced birthweight,
length and head circumference, impaired motor development, impaired information
processing, and poor attention skills.
2. Psychoactive Drugs

These includes nicotine, caffeine, and illegal drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and heroin.

Examples:

 Researchers found that pregnant women who drink more caffeinated coffee were more likely
to have preterm deliveries and newborns with lower birthweight compared to their
counterparts who did not drink caffeinated coffee.

5
CHMSC 2019-2020
COED-K.S.AMBONG
EDCALP
 Republic of the Philippines
Region VI- Western Visayas
CARLOS HILADO MEMORIAL STATE COLLEGE
Alijis Campus | Binalbagan Campus | Fortune Towne Campus | Talisay Campus
College of Education
The Child and Adolescent Learners and Learning Principles

 Heavy drinking by pregnant women results to the so-called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)
which is a cluster of abnormalities that appears in the children of mothers who drink alcohol
heavily during pregnancy. These abnormalities include facial deformities and defective
limbs, face, and heart. Most of these children are below average in intelligence and some are
mentally retarded.
 Fetal and neonatal deaths are higher among smoking mothers. There are also higher incidents
of preterm births and lower birthweights among children with smoking mothers.
 On the average, maternal heroin addicts deliver smaller than average size babies with more
incidence of toxemia, premature, separation of placenta, retained placenta, hemorrhaging
after births, and breech deliveries.
(http://www.yale.edu/ynhts/curriculum/units/1980/5/80.05.03.x.html#f)
3. Environmental Hazards

These includes radiation in jobsites and x-ray, environmental pollutants, toxic wastes, and
prolonged exposure to heat in saunas and bathtubs.

Examples:

 Research found that chromosomal abnormalities are higher among the offspring of fathers
exposed to high levels of radiation in their occupation.
 Radiation from x-ray also can affect the developing embryo and fetus, with the most
dangerous time being the first several weeks after conception when women do not yet know
that they are pregnant.
 Researchers found that toxic wastes such as carbon monoxide, mercury and lead caused
defects in animals exposed to high doses.
 Early exposure to lead affects children’s mental development.
 Prolonged exposure of pregnant mothers to sauna and hot tubs raises the mother’s body
temperature creating fever that endangers the fetus. The high temperature due to fever may
interfere with cell division and may cause birth defects or even fetal death if the fever occurs
repeatedly for prolonged period of time.
4. Other Maternal Factors such as Rubella (German Measles), Syphilis, Genital Herpes,
AIDS, Nutrition, High Anxiety and Stress, Age (too early or too late, beyond 30s)
 A rubella (German Measles) in 1964-65 resulted to 30,000 pre-natal and neonatal (newborn)
and more than 20,000 affected infants who were born with malformation including mental
retardation, blindness, deafness, and heart problems.

6
CHMSC 2019-2020
COED-K.S.AMBONG
EDCALP
 Republic of the Philippines
Region VI- Western Visayas
CARLOS HILADO MEMORIAL STATE COLLEGE
Alijis Campus | Binalbagan Campus | Fortune Towne Campus | Talisay Campus
College of Education
The Child and Adolescent Learners and Learning Principles

 Syphilis damages organs after they have formed. These damages include eye lesion, which
can cause blindness, and skin lesion. When syphilis is present at birth, other problems
involving the Central Nervous System and Gastrointestinal tract can develop.
 About one-third of babies delivered through a herpes-infected birth canal die, another one-
fourth become brain damaged. A mother can infect her child in three ways: (1) During
gestation across placenta; (2) During deliveries through contact with maternal blood or
fluids; (3) Postpartum (after birth) through breastfeeding.
 Studies show that increased stress during pregnancy leads to premature birth and reduced
birth weight, other studies have shown that increased stress during pregnancy is related to
ADHD even schizophrenia later in life. (familyanatomy.com/2009/04/20/the-effects-of-
stress-during-pregnancy)
 It is recognized that maternal malnutrition during pregnancy may result to inadequate growth
in the fetus. If fetus does not receive enough nourishment, the rate of cell division is seriously
hampered. An extremely deprived fetus may have 20% fewer brain cells than normal. If an
infant has been malnourished both in utero and infancy, the brain may be as much as 60%
smaller than that of the normal child.
(http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1980/5/80.05.03.x.html#f)
 Folic acid is necessary for pregnant mothers. Folic acid can reduce the risk of having a baby
with a serious birth defects of the brain and spinal cord, called the neural tube, a baby with
spina bofida, the most common neural tube defect is born with a spine that is not closed. The
exposed nerves are damaged leaving the child with varying degrees of paralysis and
sometimes mental retardation. (http://www.squidoo.com/folicacidpregnant)
 As maternal age increases the risk for numerical chromosomal abnormalities increases.
(http://en.wikipedia.org.wiki/maternal_age_effect)
 The mortality rate of infants born to adolescent mothers is double that of infants born to
mother in their twenties.
 A baby with Down Syndrome rarely is born to mother under age 30 but is slightly higher
over 1 in 100, and by age 50 it is almost 1 in 10, the risk is also higher before the age 18.
5. Paternal Factors
 Fathers’ exposure to lead, radiation, certain pesticides, and petrochemicals may cause
abnormalities in sperm that lead to miscarriage or disease such as childhood cancer.
 As in the case of older mothers, older fathers also may place their offspring at risk for certain
defects.

7
CHMSC 2019-2020
COED-K.S.AMBONG
EDCALP
 Republic of the Philippines
Region VI- Western Visayas
CARLOS HILADO MEMORIAL STATE COLLEGE
Alijis Campus | Binalbagan Campus | Fortune Towne Campus | Talisay Campus
College of Education
The Child and Adolescent Learners and Learning Principles

Human Life begins at Conception:

8
CHMSC 2019-2020
COED-K.S.AMBONG
EDCALP