Assignment: Conception To Birth
Assignment: Conception To Birth
Assignment: Conception To Birth
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Conception to Birth
There are three major stages from conception to birth. They are the germinal stage (first two weeks following conception); the embryonic stage (until the end of the eighth week); and the fetal stage (until birth). Complete a table, like the one below, making sure to identify the development that happens in each stage and how the development is affected by outside influences, both positive and negative. Finally, list your recommendations for the healthy development of a child.
Stages Development Influences Affects Recommendations
Germinal
Embryonic
Fetal
Post your table in the discussion forum and share examples from your own experience or from the experience of others that can be associated with prenatal development.
Development happens quickly during the prenatal period, which is the time between conception and birth. This period is generally divided into three stages: the germinalstage, the embryonic stage, and the fetal stage. The two-week period after conception is called the germinal stage.
Development happens quickly during the Prenatal Period, which is the time between conception and birth. This period is generally divided into three stages: the germinal stage, the embryonic stage, and the fetal stage.
Stage 1: The Germinal Stage
The two-week period after conception is called the Germinal Stage. Conception occurs when a sperm cell combines with an egg cell to form a Zygote. About thirty-six hours after conception, the zygote begins to divide quickly. The resulting ball of cells moves along the mothers fallopian tube to the uterus.
Around seven days after conception, the ball of cells starts to become embedded in the wall of the uterus. This process is called Implantation and takes about a week to complete. If implantation fails, as is quite common, the pregnancy terminates. One key feature of the germinal stage is the formation of a tissue called the Placenta. The placenta has two important functions:
Passing oxygen and nutrients from the mothers blood into the embryo or fetus
Removing waste materials from the embryo or fetus
Stage 2: The Embryonic Stage
The Embryonic Stage lasts from the end of the germinal stage to two months after conception. The developing ball of cells is now called an Embryo. In this stage, all the major organs form, and the embryo becomes very fragile. The biggest dangers are teratogens, which are agents such as viruses, drugs, or radiation that can cause deformities in an embryo or fetus. At the end of the embryonic period, the embryo is only about an inch long.
Stage 3: The Fetal Stage
The last stage of prenatal development is the Fetal Stage, which lasts from two months after conception until birth. About one month into this stage, the sex organs of the fetus begin to form. The fetus quickly grows as bones and muscles form, and it begins to move inside the uterus. Organ systems develop further and start to function. During the last three months, the brain increases rapidly in size, an insulating layer of fat forms under the skin, and the respiratory and digestive systems start to work independently.
Fetal Viability
Around twenty-two to twenty-six weeks after conception, the fetus reaches the age of viability, after which it has some chance of surviving out-side the womb if it is born prematurely. The chances of a premature babys survival increase significantly with each additional week it remains in the mothers uterus.
Adverse Factors Affecting Fetal Development
Although the womb provides protection, the fetus remains indirectly connected to the outside world through its mother. Several factors that are linked to the mother can harm the fetus:
Poor nutrition
Use of alcohol
Smoking
Use of certain prescription or over-the-counter drugs
Use of recreational drugs such as cocaine, sedatives, and narcotics
X-rays and other kinds of radiation
Ingested toxins, such as lead
Illnesses such as AIDS, German measles, syphilis, cholera, smallpox, mumps, or severe flu
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Mothers who drink heavily during pregnancy may have babies with fetal alcohol syndrome. Babies with this syndrome may have problems such as small head size, heart defects, irritability, hyperactivity, mental retardation, or slowed motor development. Fetal alcohol syndrome is incurable.
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