Transcript PRENATAL DEVELOPMENT AND BIRTH

PRENATAL
DEVELOPMENT AND
BIRTH
Prenatal Environment
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Reciprocal influence
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Person and environment
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Good and bad influences important
Teratogen: Environmental agent
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Harms the developing fetus
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Critical Period: Organogenesis
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Dosage and duration
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Genetic make-up: Susceptibility
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The critical periods of prenatal development. Teratogens are more likely to
produce major structural abnormalities during the third through the eighth
prenatal week. Note, however, that many organs and body parts remain sensitive
to teratogenic agents throughout the nine-month prenatal period
Teratogens: Drugs
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Thalidomide (for morning sickness)
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All or parts of limbs missing
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Tobacco: Miscarriage, low birth
weight, SIDS, slows fetal growth
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Alcohol: FAS
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Small, facial deformities,
retardation
Cocaine: Processing difficulties
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(A) Characteristic features of a child with fetal alcohol syndrome
(FAS).
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(B) Child with FAS, illustrating many features in the drawing. Such
children may also have cardiovascular and limb defects.
Teratogens - Diseases
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Rubella (German Measles)
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Syphilis: Miscarriage, blind, deaf,
heart, brain
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Blind, deaf, heart, brain
After 18th week
AIDS: Mothers transmit to babies
(15%-35%)
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Prenatally, perinatally, postnatally
Teratogens: Environmental
Hazards
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Radiation: MR, leukemia, cancer,
mutations, spontaneous abortions,
etc.
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Avoid X-rays when pregnant
Pollutants
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In air and water
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Lead: MR (also postnatally)
The Mother’s State
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Age: Typically age 16-35
 15 or younger don’t seek prenatal
care
 Birth complications, low birth weight
 Over 35:Miscarriage, Down Syndrome
(father’s age also)
Emotion: Stress can stunt fetal growth
 Positive outlook most helpful
Nutrition: 25-35 lb weight gain
 Malnutrition: Smaller neurons, brain,
child
The Father’s State
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Research limited except for genetic
contribution
Father’s age can also be influential
 Over 35: Increased number
miscarriages, heart defects, Down
Syndrome
 Over 50: Higher risk for schizophrenia
Exposure to environmental toxins
 Radiation, anesthetic gases, pesticides
 Damage to genetic material in sperm
Postnatal Depression
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Baby Blues: mild, common
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Clinical depression: 1/10
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Previous depression common
Children of Depressed Mothers
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Insecurely attached, less
responsive
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Negative to other children
The Father’s Experience
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Accepted, expected in delivery rooms
Attend prenatal classes with wife
Experience described as a significant
event
Anxiety, stress common during delivery
Relief, pride, joy when baby is born
Sometimes depression following birth
Disappointed if sex does not resume soon
The Neonatal Environment
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Culture, early socialization, health status
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E.g., low birth-weight babies (8% in US)
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Less than 5½ lbs
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Strongly linked to low SES
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Environment: Neonatal intensive care
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Risk: Blindness, deafness, CP, autism,
cognitive, and later academic problems
Parenting must be attentive, responsive
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Modern technology permits survival of younger and smaller babies, but
many experts believe we have reached the lowest limits of viability at 23-24
weeks gestation.
Learning Objectives
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What are the advantages of breast feeding?
Are there disadvantages of breast feeding?
How can at-risk newborns be identified?
What treatments are available to optimize
development of at-risk babies?
To what extent are the effects of the prenatal and
perinatal environments long lasting?
What factors influence whether effects are lasting?
Breast or Bottle?
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Breast feeding most natural nutrition
Practices vary across cultures
Health benefits great for breast-fed infants
 At least first 6 months recommended
More likely to bottle feed: Factors
 Younger, low SES, less education,
employed, African American
US values toward breast feeding ambivalent
Low Birth-Weight Babies
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< 5½ pounds: “Small for date” or “preterm”
 Leading cause of infant mortality
 8% of all births, 65% of all infant deaths
Factors: Low SES, smoking, stress, multiples
Worse for minority, poverty, single-parent children
For most, significant catch-up growth
Low Birth-Weight Infants
 Greater risk for blindness, deafness, CP, autism,
health problems - especially respiratory problems
Factors Helpful for LBW Infants
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Breastfeeding, skin-to-skin contact,
massage
Responsive parenting, intellectual
stimulation
Early intervention programs work with
parents
 Childcare education and support
 Growth-enhancing home environment
Consistently attentive, responsive
parenting
Risk and Resilience
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Not all high-risk infants have problems
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Werner: Kauai Longitudinal study (40 yrs)
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Findings:
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Effects decrease over time
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Outcomes depend on postnatal environment
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Protective factors
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Personal resources
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Supportive postnatal environment