Prenatal

Development
and Birth
Developmental Psychology
Ms. Shaine C. Hayag, RPm
Objectives

● Discuss the different periods of prenatal development and

environmental influences.
● Describe the birth process.
● Explain the changes that take place in the postpartum period.
Table of Contents

01 02 03
Prenatal The Birth Process The Postpartum
Development and Period
Environmental
Influences
01
The Prenatal
Development &
Environmental
Influences
 conception
occurs when a single sperm cell
from the male unites with an
ovum (egg)
 Prenatal Development
the process that occurs during
the 40 weeks prior to the birth of
a child, and is heavily influenced
by genetics
 Periods of Prenatal Development

embryonic
germinal period fetal period
period
first 2 weeks after occurs from 2 to 8 begins 2 months
conception, zygote weeks after after conception
created conception and lasts until birth
 germinal period

● Rapid cell division by the zygote

● Blastocyst - group of cells after about 1
week
● Trophoblast - outer layer of cells that
later provides nutrition and support for
the embryo
● Implantation - attachment of the zygote
to the uterine wall; occurs 10 to 14 days
after conception
Significant Developments in the Germinal Period
 embryonic period

● Three layers: andoderm, mesoderm, and

ectoderm
● Amnion - a bag that contains a clear
fluid (amniotic fluid) in which the
embryo floats
● Umbilical Cord - connects the baby to
the placenta
 embryonic period

● Placenta - group of tissues containing

mother and baby'’ intertwined blood
vessels
● Organogenesis - process of organ
formation during the first two months
of prenatal development
The Placenta and the Umbilical Cord
 Fetal period

● Rapid growth and change

● Viability - the age at which a fetus has a
chance of surviving outside the womb
○ currently 24 weeks; changes with
advances in medical technology
4, 586/ day
191/ hour
3/ minute
Milestones of Prenatal Development
Milestones of Prenatal Development
The Brain

● Babies have approximately 100

billion neurons (nerve cells) at birth
○ Architecture of the brain takes
shape during the first two
trimesters
○ Increases in connectivity and
functioning occur from the 3rd
trimester to 2 years of age
The Brain

● Neural tube develops 18 to 24 days

after conception
○ Anencephaly
○ Spina bifida
● Neurogenesis - the generation of
new neurons
○ Begins at fifth prenatal week and
continues throughout prenatal period
The Brain

● Neuronal migration - cells move

outward from their point of origin
to their appropriate locations
○ Occurs approximately 6 to 24 weeks
after conception
● Neural Connectivity - connections
between neurons benign to occur
○ 23rd prenatal week
Teratology & Hazards to Prenatal Development
● Teratogen - any agent that can cause a
birth defect or negatively alter cognitive
and behavioral outcomes
○ Drugs (prescription, nonprescription)
○ Incompatible blood types
○ Environmental pollutants
○ Infectious diseases
○ Nutritional deficiencies
○ Maternal stress
○ Advanced age of parent
Teratology & Hazards to Prenatal Development
● Dose - the greater the dose of an agent,
the greater the effect

● Genetic susceptibility - linked to the

genotype of the pregnant woman and
the genotype of the embryo or fetus

● Time of exposure - exposure to

teratogens does more damage when it
occurs
Sensitive Periods in Prenatal Development
Teratology & Hazards to Prenatal Development

● Prescription drugs - antibiotics,

antidepressants, some hormones

● Non-prescription drugs - aspirin and

diet pills
Teratology & Hazards to Prenatal Development

● Psychoactive Drugs - drugs

that act on the nervous system
to alter states of
consciousness, modify
perceptions, and change
moods
 caffeine

● Small risk of miscarriage and low birth

weight for those consuming more than
150mg daily
● Increased risk of fetal death for those
consuming more than 300mg daily
● FDA recommends not consuming
caffeine or consuming it sparingly
 alcohol

● Fetal alcohol syndrome - abnormalities

in newborn due to mother's heavy use
of alcohol in pregnancy
● Even light to moderate drinking during
pregnancy has been associated with
negative effects on the fetus
● FDA recommends no alcohol
consumption during pregnancy
 nicotine

● Associated with:
○ Preterm births and low birth
weight
○ Fetal and neonatal death
○ Respiratory problems
○ SIDS (sudden infant death
syndrome)
○ ADHD (attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder)
 cocaine

● Associated with:
○ reduced birth weight, length, head
circumference
● Linked to:
○ impaired connectivity of the
thalamus & prefrontal cortex
 marijuana

● Exposure to marijuana was related to

lower intelligence
● Linked to:
○ low birth weight
○ neonatal ICU
 heroin

● Infants whose mothers are addicted

shows several behavioral difficulties at
birth and attention deficits may appear
later in development
Teratology & Hazards to Prenatal Development

● Incompatible blood types

(Rh factor) - can cause
mother's immune system to
produce antibodies that will
attack the fetus
Teratology & Hazards to Prenatal Development

● Environmental hazards:
○ Radiation
○ Environmental pollutants
and toxic wastes
Teratology & Hazards to Prenatal Development

● Maternal Diseases:
○ Sexually transmitted
diseases (syphilis, gential
herpes, AIDS)
○ Rubella
○ Diabetes
Teratology & Hazards to Prenatal Development

● Maternal Factors:
○ Maternal diet and nutrition
○ Maternal age
○ Emotional states and stress
● Paternal Factors:
○ Exposure to teratogens
○ Paternal age
 Prenatal Care

● Typically includes:
○ Screening for manageable
conditions and treatable diseases
○ Medical care
○ Educational, social, and nutritional
services
● CenteringPregnancy: relationship -
centered program
 02
Birth
Process
 Stages of Birth

Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3

uterine contractions baby's head begins to umbilical cord,

begin at 15 to 20 move through dilated placenta, and other
minutes apart and cervix opening and membranes are
last up to 1 minute, eventually emerges detached and
becoming closer and from the mother's expelled (afterbirth)
more intense with body
time
 Childbirth Setting and
Attendants
● 99% deliveries take place in hospitals
● Lying-in or Maternity Clinics
● Compared to doctors, midwives:
○ Typically spend more time than doctors
counselling and educations patients
○ Provide more emotional support
○ Are typically present during the entire
labor and delivery process
 Methods of Childbirth

● Typical pain medication:

○ Analgesia - pain relief
○ Anesthesia - blocks sensation in
an area of the body (can also
block consciousness)
○ Oxytocics - synthetic hormones
used to stimulate contractions
 Methods of Childbirth

● Natural childbirth - aims to

reduce pain by decreasing
fear and using
breathing/relaxation
techniques
 Methods of Childbirth

● Prepared childbirth - special

breathing techniques;
education about anatomy and
physiology
Other natural techniques
used to reduce pain:
● Waterbirth - giving birth in a tub of
warm water
● Massage
● Acupuncture - insertion of very fine
needles into specific locations in the
body
● Hypnosis - the induction of a
psychological state of altered attention
and awareness
● Music therapy - utilizes music to reduce
stress and manage pain
 Methods of Childbirth

● Cesarean delivery - the baby

is removed from the mother's
uterus through an incision
made in the abdomen
Transition from Fetus
to Newborn
Anoxia
A condition in which the
fetus has an insufficient
supply of oxygen

Apgar Scale
Assessed at 1 minute and 5
minutes after birth
Apgar Scale
Preterm and Small for Date Infants

Low birth weight infants

infants weigh less than 5lbs 8oz at
birth

Preterm infants
those born 3 weeks or more before
full term

Small for date infants

whose birth weight is below
normal when the length of the
pregnancy is considered
 Preterm and Small for Date Infants

● Rate of preterm births has

increased:
○ Number of births to mothers 35
years and older
○ Rates of multiple births
○ Management of maternal and fetal
conditions
○ Substance abuse
○ Stress
 Preterm and Small for Date Infants

● Causes of low birth weight:

○ Poor health and nutrition
○ Cigarette smoking
○ Adolescent births
○ Use of drugs
 Preterm and Small for Date Infants

● Possible consequences:
○ Language development delays
○ Lower IQ scores
○ Brain injury
○ Lung of liver diseases
○ More behavioral difficulties
○ Learning disabilities
○ ADHD
○ Breathing problems (asthma)
 Preterm and Small for Date Infants

● Nurturing Low Birth Weight

and Preterm Infants
○ Kangaroo Care - involves skin-to-skin
contact
○ Massage Therapy
○ Breastfeeding
03
The
Postpartum
Period
Postpartum period
● last about six weeks or until the
mother'’ body has completed its
adjustment and has returned to
a nearly pre-pregnant state
Physical Adjustments
● Fatigue
● Hormone changes
● Return to menstruation
● Involution - process by which the
uterus returns to its pre-pregnant
size 5-6 weeks after birth
● Weight loss or return to exercise
Emotional and
Psychological
Adjustments
● Emotional fluctuations
● "Baby Blues"
● Postpartum Depression
A Father's Adjustments
● Many fathers feel that the baby
gets all of the mother's attention
● Parents should set aside time to be
together
● Father's reaction is improved if he
has taken childbirth classes and is
an active participant in the baby's
care
Bonding
● the formation of a connection,
especially a physical bond,
between parents and the
newborn in the period shortly
after birth
 Thanks
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