Module 11:
Pre-natal Development
LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this Module,you should be able to:
* trace the course of the Pre-natal developmental process that you went through.
*explain the most common hazards to Pre-natal development
*become more appreciative of the gift of life manifested in an anti-abortion stand.
INTRODUCTION
All the developmental theories which we lengthily discussed dwelt on the developmental process after
birth. None of them was concerned with what development went on before [Link] make the
description of human development complete,it may be good to understand the beginnings of the child
and adolescent. In unit 1, Module 1 you met Naschielle and [Link] were asked what they were
before they have become what and who they are at [Link] is the concern of this Unit and Module
-pre-natal development
ABSTRACTION
Human life begins at conception
That which is in the mother's womb is indeed a developing human being. An unborn baby of eight (8)
weeks is not essentially different from one of eighteen (18) weeks or twenty-eight(28) [Link]
conception the zygote,the embrayo and the fetus are undeniably human life.
All that we have and all that we are have been there at the moment of conception! The fact that you
have brown eyes and black, straight or curly hair and the fact that you will turn bald at age 50 have been
there already at the moment of [Link] were added in the process of development is
nutrition.
The development that takes place in 3 stages proves that the developing embrayo in a mother's womb is
truly a human being.
The Stages of Pre-natal Development
[Link] Period (First 2 weeks after conception)- This includes the a) creation of the zygote,b)
continued cell division and c) and the attachment of the zygote to the uterine wall.
The following are the details of development during this period:
a) 24 to 30 hours after fertilization- the male (sperm) and female (egg) chromosome unite
b) 36 hours - the fertilized ovum, zygote,divides into two(2); 2 cells
c) 48 hours (2 days)- 2 cells become 4 cells
d) 72 hours (3 days)- 4 cells become a small compact ball of 16-32 cells
e) 96 hours (4 days)- hollow ball of 64-128 cells
f) 4-5 days- inner cell mass (blastocyst) still free in the uterus
g) 6-7 days- blastocyst attaches to the wall of uterus
h) 11-15 days- blastocyst invades into uterine wall and becomes implanted in it (implantation)
The blastocyst-the inner layer of cells that develops during the germinal period,develops later embrayo.
The trophoblast-the outer layer of cells that develops also during the germinal period,later provides
nutrition and support for the embrayo(Nelson, Textbook of Pediatrics,17th ed.,2004).
2. Embrayonic Period (2-8 weeks after conception)- In this stage,the name of the mass cells,
zygote,become [Link] following developments take place:
a) cell differentiation intensifies
b) life support systems for the embrayo develop and
c) organs appear
As the zygote gets attached to the wall of the uterus,two layers of cells are formed.
Endoderm-the inner layer of cells,develops into the digestive and respiratory systems.
The outer layer of cells is divided into two parts:
[Link]- is the outermost layer which becomes the nervous system,sensory
receptors(eyes,ears,nose) and skin parts(nails,hair).
[Link]-is the middle layer which becomes the circulatory, skeletal, muscular, excretory and
reproductive [Link] process of organ formation during first two months of pre-natal development
is called organogenesis.
As the three layers of the embrayo form,the support systems for the embrayo develop [Link]
life- support are the placenta,the umbilical cord and the aminon.
Placenta-is a life-support system that consists of a disk-shaped group of tissues in which small blood
vessels from the mother and the offspring intertwine but do not join.
Umbilical cord - contains two arteries and one vein that connects the baby to the placenta.
Aminon- is a bag or an envelope that contains a clear fluid in which the developing embrayo [Link]
these life-support systems develop from the fertilized egg and not from the mother's body.
[Link] Period (2 months to 7 months after conception)- Growth and development continue dramatically
during this [Link] details of the developmental process are as follows(Santrock,2002):
Teratology and Hazards to Pre-natal Development
Teratology- is the field that investigates the causes of congenital (birth) defects.A teratogen is that
which causes birth [Link] comes from the Greek word "tera" which means "monster".
Below are cluster of hazards to pre-natal development
[Link] and nonprescription drugs -these include prescription as well as nonprescription
[Link] is an example of a prescription drug that can be [Link] of harmful
nonprescription drugs are diet pills,aspirin,and coffee.
[Link] drugs-these include nicotine,caffeine and illegal drugs such as marijuana, cocaine and
heroin.
3. Environmental hazards- these include radiation in jobsites and X-rays, environmental pollutants,toxic
wastes,and prolonged exposure to heat in saunas and bath tubs.
[Link] maternal factors such as Rubella (German Measles),syphilis,genital herpes,AIDS, nutrition,high
anxiety and stress,age,(too early or too late,beyond 30).