Prenatal

Development
By: Eleanor
Table of contents

01 02 03
Normal Fetal
Genetics Development
Development
Table of contents

04 05 06
The Fetus and
Birth Process The Mother the
Psychological
Development
Table of contents

07 08 09
Cultural Abortion Resources
Context of
Pregnancy
Genetic Inheritance
Gregor Mendel’s model of inheritance

● Chromosomes
○ Genes -> sequences of DNA
○ 23 chromosomes from each parent, Meiosis -> Zygote
○ Phenotype and Genotype

● Genes on an autosome
○ Autosomal dominant/recessive

● Epigenetics
Nature vs. Nurture
Controversy: Can behavior be inherited?
 Traits with single-gene dominant-recessive inheritance

Dominant Recessive

Curly hair Straight hair

Dark hair Blonde hair

Facial dimples No dimples

Normal hearing Deafness

Normal vision Nearsightedness

Freckles No freckles

Can roll tongue into U-shape Can’t (lol)

Genetic Variation

● Variability -> Adaptation to environment

○ Homozygous: Two copies of the same allele
○ Heterozygous: A combination of alleles for a given gene

● Gene mutation
○ sudden, permanent change in a gene
○ one source of harmful genes (or beneficial, once in a while)
Genetic disorder
Genetic Disorders
● What can cause genetic abnormalities?
○ Inherited from one or both parents
○ Mutations/Spontaneous development

○ Chromosomal Abnormalities
■ Inheriting too many or too few chromosomes
■ Causes: Age of the mother, gametes divided unevenly while forming
■ Deletion, duplication, inversion etc.
○ Environmental factors
■ maternal nutrition, exposure to toxins, prenatal care etc.
Prenatal Testing
● Prenatal screening
○ Checking for problems using affordable and noninvasive methods
○ routine ultrasounds, blood tests, and blood pressure measurement
● Prenatal diagnosis
○ Pursuing additional detailed information once a problem has been found
○ Sometimes more invasive
● Purposes of prenatal diagnosis:
○ timely medical or surgical treatment before or after birth
○ gives the parents the chance to abort a fetus
○ to give parents the chance to prepare
Prenatal Development
Fertilization

● Gametes (sex cells)

○ Male gametes (sperm): produced in the testes
■ Spermatogenesis: ~12 years of age

○ Female gametes (ova): stored in the ovaries

■ Present at birth but immature.
■ Each ovary contains ~250,000 ova, but only ~400 will become mature
eggs
■ Beginning puberty: One ovum ripens and is released about every 28
days (oogenesis)
Prenatal Development
Fertilization

● After ovum or egg ripens -> released from ovary and drawn into fallopian tube
● Reaches the uterus 3-4 days
● Typically fertilized in fallopian tube and continues journey to uterus
● At ejaculation, millions of sperm released into the vagina, but only a few reach
the egg
● Typically, only one fertilizes the egg
● Once a single sperm has entered the wall of the egg, wall hardens, preventing
other sperm from entering
● Tail of the successful sperm breaks off and the head of the sperm, containing
genetic information from the father, unites with the nucleus of the egg
● New cell (zygote) is formed, containing the combined genetic information from
both parents
Prenatal Development
First trimester: The germinal period (Weeks 1-2)

● Conception -> sperm fertilizes an egg (zygote), DNA is passed on

● Genetic makeup and sex of the baby are set

● Conception to implantation of the zygote in the lining of the uterus (~14 days)

● First week after conception: Zygote divides and multiplies (one-cell structure to
two-cell etc. = mitosis)

● After fourth division: Differentiation of the cells begins, becoming specialized

● After 5 days of mitosis -> 100 cells, after 9 months -> billions of cells.

● Fragile process: Fewer than one-half of all zygotes survive beyond first two
weeks
Prenatal Development
First trimester: The germinal period (Weeks 1-2)

● After ~7–10 days of division (150 cells): Travels down the fallopian tubes, implants
itself in the lining of the uterus

● ~60% of natural conceptions fail to implant in the uterus

Prenatal Development
Second trimester: The embryonic period (Weeks 3-8)

● Upon implantation -> embryo

● Blood vessels grow, forming the placenta, a structure connected the uterus
providing nourishment and oxygen via the umbilical cord.
● Cells continue to differentiate, basic structures develop
● Heart begins to beat, organs form and begin to function.
● 22 days after conception, neural tube forms along back of embryo (spinal cord and
brain)
● Cephalocaudal development (from head to tail) and Proximodistal development
(from the midline outward)
● Fourth week: Head develops and precursor to heart begins pulsing
Prenatal Development
Second trimester: The embryonic period (Weeks 3-8)

● Gills and a tail in early stages, but disappear by the end

● Embryo moves and responds to touch at this time
● ~20% organisms fail during this period, usually due to gross chromosomal
abnormalities
● Like germinal period, often the mother does not yet know that she is pregnant and
often unaware of the risks they introduce to the developing child during this time.
Prenatal Development
Third trimester: The fetal period (Weeks 9-40)

● After ~9 weeks -> fetus

● About the size of a kidney bean, begins to take on the recognizable form of a human
being
● 9–12 weeks: Sex organs begin to differentiate
● By 12th week: Fetus has all its body parts (incl. external genitalia)
● Following weeks: Hair, nails, teeth and the excretory and digestive systems develop
At ~16 weeks: Fingers and toes are fully developed, fingerprints are visible
● During 4-6th months: Eyes become more sensitive to light, hearing develops
● Respiratory system continues to develop. Reflexes like sucking, swallowing, and
hiccuping develop during 5th month
Prenatal Development
Third trimester: The fetal period (Weeks 9-40)

● Cycles of sleep and wakefulness are present at that time as well.

● Brain continues to grow and develop, nearly doubling in size from weeks 16 to 28
● Majority of the neurons in the brain developed by 24 weeks (although still
rudimentary)
● At 24 weeks: Fetus can feel pain
● First chance of survival outside the womb (Age of viability) is reached at ~22-26
weeks.
● By 24 weeks (6 months): Hearing has developed and fetus can respond to sounds
● Internal organs have formed enough that a fetus born prematurely at this point has
a chance to survive outside of mother’s womb
Prenatal Development
Third trimester: The fetal period (Weeks 9-40)

● 7th-9th months: Fetus is primarily preparing for birth (exercising muscles, lungs
begin to expand and contract, developing fat layers under the skin)
● Layer of fat -> insulation to help baby regulate body temperature after birth
● ~36 weeks: Fetus is almost ready for birth
● By week 37: Fetus’s organ systems are developed enough that it could survive
outside the mother’s uterus without many risks
● Fetus continues to gain weight and grow in length until ~40 weeks.
● Fetus has very little room to move, birth becomes imminent
Stages Of Birth
First Stage:

● Labor may start with blood or amniotic fluid discharge

● Cervix dilates
● Can take a long time

Second Stage:

● Baby passing through the Birth Canal

● Umbilical cord is clamped and cut

Third Stage:

● Birth the Placenta

● Usually painless
The Mother During the First Trimester
During early pregnancy, you may experience…
● fatigue, possible nausea
● a slight weight gain (1-2 kg)
● increased heart rate and breathing
● tender and larger breasts
● frequent urination due to pressure on the bladder
● mood swings
● uncertainty about your feelings regarding pregnancy.
The Mother During the Second Trimester
● Improved well-being with reduced fatigue, morning sickness, and
mood swings.
● Potential difficulty concentrating at work or home.
● Average weight gain of around 6 kilograms.
● Anxiety about tests, like ultrasounds, but these ensure proper care
if health issues are found.
● Changes in hair and nails, either thicker and stronger or softer and
prone to breaking.
● Food cravings for sweet, spicy, or fatty options.
● Possible aversion to certain foods due to taste or smell.
The Mother During the Third Trimester
● Ongoing forgetfulness.
● Increased fatigue and discomfort.
● Possible annoyance due to discomfort.
● Worries about approaching labor.
● Expected weight gain of about 5 kilograms, including baby,
amniotic fluid, placenta, breasts, blood, and uterus.
● Back pain may be present.
● Difficulty sleeping due to discomfort.
● Pressure on the lungs from the baby, making breathing harder.
● Occasional Braxton Hicks contractions, not indicative of labor
onset.
Psychological Changes During Pregnancy
● Pregnancy brings about significant psychological changes,
often leading to ambivalence, mood fluctuations, and various
emotional states, from anxiety to excitement.
● These changes affect body image, emotions, and sexual
experiences, altering the role of women.
● Worries about pregnancy, delivery, and even
pregnancy-related phobias can arise, impacting the decision
to become pregnant.
The Fetus and the Psychological Development
Cultural Context of Pregnancy
What is Abortion
Abortion, the medical or surgical termination of a
pregnancy
Psychological Aspect of Abortion

● Research on the psychological repercussions of abortion provides mixed findings.

● Although certain studies do not detect a higher occurrence of psychological problems, abortion
may result in conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and difficulties in
interpersonal relationships.
● The extent of these effects is influenced by factors such as the reason for the abortion, the specific
procedure, the stage of pregnancy, and individual, societal, economic, religious, and cultural factors
that shape a woman's perspective on the matter.
● It's common for women to underestimate the need for psychological support, yet symptoms can
surface within a year following the abortion, emphasizing the significance of identifying high-risk
individuals susceptible to these challenges.
Resources
● Lazzara, J. (2020, June 26). Birth and Postpartum. Pressbooks.
https://open.maricopa.edu/devpsych/chapter/chapter-3-birth-and-the-newbor
n-child/Pregnancy stages and changes. (n.d.).
● Better Health Channel.
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/pregnancy-stages-and-
changesBjelica, A., & Kapor-Stanulović, P. (2004, January 1).
● Pregnancy as a psychological event. Medicinski Pregled; Serbian Medical Society.
https://doi.org/10.2298/mpns0404144bPsychological Effects of Abortion.
● An Updated. (2020, September). Eastern Journal of Medicine. Retrieved
November 1, 2023, from
https://jag.journalagent.com/ejm/pdfs/EJM_25_3_477_483.pdf
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