PRENATAL

DEVELOPMENT

LIFEBEFOREBIRTH
Thegrowthofanunborn
child
 Humanlifebeginsatconception

CONCEPTION
a single sperm cell (male) penetrates
the outer coating of the egg (female)
and fuses to form
ONE FERTILIZED EGG
The process is also known
asfertilization.
Conception is most likely to happen if
sex is performed prior to ovulation.
THESTAGESOFPRENATAL
DEVELOPMENT
3 Stages of Prenatal development:

1. Germinal Period
2. Embryonic Period
3. Fetal Period
1.GerminalPeriod

The period of prenatal development that takes place

in the first 2 weeks after conception. This period
includes the following:

Creation of Zygote
Continued cell division
Attachment of the zygote to the uterine wall
(implantation)
Zygote

The fertilized egg

a)24to30hoursafterfertilization
(theunionofsperm&eggcell)
b)In36hours,thefertilized
ovum (zygote)dividesinto2cells
c)After2days(36hrs),2cells
become4cells
d)In3days,4cellsbecomea
smallcompactballof1632cells
e)96hours(4days),hollowball
of64128cells
f)In45days,innercellmass
(blastocyst)stillfreeintheuterus
g)In67days,blastocyst
attachestothewallofuterus
h)1115days,blastocystinvades
intouterinewallandbecomes
implantedinit.(implantation)
2.TheembryonicPeriod

The period of prenatal development that occurs 2 to 8

weeks after conception. The zygote becomes EMBRYO
Cell differentiation intensifies
Life-support systems for the embryo development
Organs appear
Embryo

an unborn offspring in the process of development, in

particular a human offspring during the period from
approximately the second to the eighth week after fertilization.
Celldifferentiation

Two layers of cells are

formed:

Inner Layer or the

Endoderm
Outer Layer or the
Ectoderm and
Mesoderm
Endoderm

Develops into the Digestive and Respiratory

Systems
Ectoderm(outermostlayer)

Becomes the Nervous System, Sensory Receptors,

( eyes, ears, nose) and skin parts (nails, hair)
Mesoderm(middlelayer)

Develops into the Circulatory, Skeletal, Muscular,

Excretory and Reproductive Systems
Celldifferentiation

ORGANOGENESIS: the process of organ formation

during first two months of prenatal development.
LifeSupportSystems

Placenta: 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.
Amnion: is a bag or an envelope that contains a clear fluid in
which the developing embryo floats.
Howthesupportsystemswork

Umbilical Cord

Amnion
FetalPeriod

Growth and development continue dramatically during this

period. The details of the of the developmental process are as
follows(Sanrock, 2002)
(a)3monthsafterconception

About 3 inches long, weighs about 1 ounce

Fetus has become active
Moves its arms and legs
Opens and closes its mouth
Moves its head
Cont

Face, forehead, eyelids, nose, chin can now be

distinguished
the upper arms, lower arms, hands and lower limbs
Genitals can now be identified as male or female
(b)4monthsafterconception

Fetus about 6 inches long, and weighs 4 to 7 ounces

Pre-natal reflexes are stronger
Mother feels arm and leg movements for the first
time
(c)5monthsafterconception

Fetus is about 12 inches long

Weighs close to a pound
Structures of the skin have formed(fingernails,
toenails)
Fetus is more active
(d)6monthsafterconception

Fetus is about 14 inches long

Weighs about 1 pound
Eye & eyelids are completely formed
Fine layer of head covers the head
Grasping reflex is present
Irregular movements occur
(e)7monthsafterconception

Fetus is about 16 inches long

Weighs 3 pounds
Fetus becomes active and you clearly feel its movements
brainand taste buds are now developed
begins training its gastrointestinal tract and thats why it
swallowsamniotic fluids
If the birth begins now the baby will live. Though the lungs
are still underdeveloped.
(f)8monthsafterconception

Fetus weighs more than 2.1 kg(4.7lb) and 45cm(17.7inches) from head to
heel
Sense of hearing is now even more developed, may be able to recognize
songs and lullabies if you play them
(g)9monthsafterconception

baby is now fully formed

will gain weight at the rate of about an ounce per day during the last
month before the birth. Your baby is getting fatter and its skin is less
rumpled.
baby will continue to kick and punch although it will move lower in your
abdomen to under your pelvis (this is a process called ''lightening'').
Your baby's lungs are now mature and your baby will have a great chance
of survival if born a little early. Your baby is now about 20 inches (51 cm)
long and weighs approximately 6 to 9 pounds (2700 to 4000 grams)
Your baby may be born anytime between the 37th and 42nd week of
pregnancy.
TeratologyandHazardsto
PrenatalDevelopment
Teratology

The field of study that investigate the causes of

congenital (birth) defects.
Teratogen

Non-genetic material or agent that can cause harm to the embryo if

ingested or contracted by the mother
Pass through the placenta
HazardstoPrenatal
Development
Prescription and Nonprescription Drugs
Psychoactive Drugs
Environmental Hazards
Other maternal factors such as Rubella (German Measles), Syphilis, Genital
Herpes, AIDS, nutrition, high anxiety and stress, age
PrescriptionandNonprescriptionDrugs
PsychoactiveDrugs
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome(FAS)

Cluster of abnormalities that appears in the

children of mothers who drink alcohol heavily
during pregnancy
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome(FAS)
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome(FAS)
FolicAcid

Folic acid is necessary for pregnant mothers. It can reduce the

risk of having a baby with a serious birth defect of the brain
and spinal cord, called the neural tube. A baby with spina
bifida, the most common neural tube defect is born with a
spine that is not closed. The exposed nerves are damaged,
leaving the child with varying degrees of paralysis and
sometimes mental retardation.