Lecture 2 prenatal development/ Development in

infancy
Prenatal development
Key issues
o There are 3 stages of prenatal development o Physical development
- Germinal - Body change
- Embryonic - Brain development
- Foetal - Sleep
o Cognitive development
- Investigating Perception
- Visual perception
Germinal stage - Object permanence
o Psychosocial development
- Emotional development
o This is the first stage of development and begins when sperm fertilizes the
egg
o Rapid cell division follows – mitosis
o When the zygote implants in the wall of the uterus it is miniscule
o Over time, tendrils or stems penetrate the uterus wall- beginning physiological dependence
o
Time frame Description

Before conception In ovulation, the ovary releases an egg into the fallopian tube
Conception At fertilisation, the egg, and the sperm fuse
Day 1 The egg divides into 2 cells
Day 4 The egg becomes a morula- a solid ball of cells
Day 5 The blastocyst- a hollow ball of cells, hatches from the coat
that surrounded the egg

Embryonic stage

o 2nd to 3rd week of gestation until around the end of the 8th week
o During this stage, increases 2 million % in size
o Amniotic sac, placenta & umbilical cord develop
o Most miscarriages that occur take place during this stage
o The inner mass differentiates into 3 layers: Endoderm – forms the lungs and digestive tract and other vital organs
 Mesoderm – muscles, skeleton
 Ectoderm – forms the sensory cells and nervous system
 Time frame Description

Day 7 Implantation is underway

Day 9 The zygote consists of 2 cell layers, the chorion
begins to form
Day 16 Gastrulation is occurring producing 3 cell
layers: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm
Day 21 The neural tube is forming
Day 25 The yolk sac will become incorporated into the
umbilical cord
Day 36 Embryo is vaguely fish like, with eyes, heart,
paddle limbs
Day 48 Fingers start to form
Day 52 The embryo begins to look like a person

Risks in prenatal development

Teratogens
o Exert their effects largely during critical periods of development and have specific effects
o Different teratogens may produce the same effect and the longer a foetus is exposed, the more likely the
harm
Environmental agents such as:
Legal drugs including:
- aspirin overuse – low birth weight, lower IQ and poor motor control
- Too much caffeine- higher risk of miscarriage and low birth weight
- Smoking & drinking- higher spontaneous abortions, prematurity, low birth weight, and a higher rate of
SIDS
Illegal drugs including:
- Drugs like heroin, morphine, methamphetamine & cocaine
- Cocaine – physical defects e.g., brain damage
Behavioural abnormalities- high pitched prolonged crying, irritable behaviour, depression
Many mothers who are addicted during pregnancy have babies who are addicted also- the baby also goes
through withdrawal at birth
Environmental toxins:
x- ray, lead, mercury, herbicides, pesticides, household cleaners and even cosmetics
Lead- prematurity and low birth weight, brain damage and physical defects as well as cognitive function
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) – once used routinely in electrical transformers

Parental factors
Age
 mothers
young- tend to live in risky environments
old – more difficult to conceive and greater risk of babies with down syndrome
 fathers – deteriorating quality of sperm
Diet
 mother – poor diet means more chance of miscarriage, stillbirth, low birth weight, poorer cognitive
abilities
 father- sperm quality related to things like smoking and coffee (negative), and zinc (positive)
Emotional state
 when a pregnant is happy and calm it allows the baby to develop in a happy and calm environment
however emotions like stress and anxiety can increase particular hormones in your body, which
can have a negative affect on the babies developing body and brain
Diseases and disorders
 maternal cold or flu with fever during pregnancy may be linked to birth defects and can increase
risk of pregnancy loss
biological development