Prenatal Development Worksheet PDF

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Assignment for child & adolescent psychology to be used as a reference....

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PSY-355-Child and Adolescent Psychology Conception, Birth, and the Newborn Worksheet Part 1 Directions: Provide a 25- to 50- word summary of development during each of the prenatal stages listed below. 1 Month: During this stage, the growth rate is at its fastest. The embryo size increases to around ½ inch by the end of the 1st month. Blood also flows through veins, arteries, and a tiny heart. The embryo has the workings of a brain, liver, kidneys, and digestive tract. The sex isn’t determined yet. (Martorell et al, 2014, pp. 94). 7 Weeks: At this stage the fetus is under 1 inch long. Most of the facial parts are developed as well as the arms, hands, fingers, legs, knees, ankles, and toes. There is a small layer of skin surrounding the fetus. The heart beats steadily and the brain is working too. The sex organs begin to develop, and the digestive system produces its juices. (Martorell et al, 2014, pp. 94). 3 Months: The fetus at this stage weights and measures roughly 1 ounce and is about 3 inches long. More features of the body have developed, and the sex is easily detected. Also, organs are functioning, and the fetus can breathe and swallow. The fetus can move certain limbs and joints. (Martorell et al, 2014, pp. 94). 4 Months: At 4 months, the body is growing larger and measures about 9 inches and weighs roughly 6 ounces. The umbilical cord is about the length of the fetus and the placenta is also developed. The mother is able to feel movement and kicking, and the fetus’s reflexes have increased. (Martorell et al, 2014, pp. 94). 5 Months: Now the fetus weighs roughly 1 pound and about a foot in length. The personality of the fetus starts to show during this stage and begins kicking, squirming, hiccupping, and stretching. The

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heartbeat can also be heard by putting an ear to the mother’s belly. The fetus begins to grow hair (eyelashes & eyebrows) and lanugo covers the body too. (Martorell et al, 2014, pp. 94). 6 Months: The growing period has slowed down as the fetus is nearly 14 inches long and weighs about 1 ¼ pounds. There are fat pads under the skin, and it can fully move its eyes. The fetus can hear and hold a strong grip. (Martorell et al, 2014, pp. 94). 7 Months: At this stage the fetus is 16 inches long and weight about 4 pounds. Its reflexes are fully developed, and it can breathe, swallow, suck, and cry. The lanugo usually disappears at this stage but sometimes stays until birth. Head hair will continue to grow. (Martorell et al, 2014, pp. 94). 8 Months: At 8 months, the fetus is roughly 20 inches long and weighs about 6 pounds. As the baby gets bigger the womb gets smaller and the baby’s movement get curtailed. The baby develops a fat layer that will help adjust to temperatures outside of the womb. (Martorell et al, 2014, pp. 94). 9 Months/Newborn: The fetus stops growing about a week before its birth, usually weighing about 7 ½ pounds and being about 20 inches long. Boys usually tend to be a bit heavier and longer than girls. At this point, organs are functioning more efficiently and heart rate increases. More waste is removed through the umbilical cord and the red-like color of the baby’s skin begins fading away.

Part 2 Directions: Write a 150- to 300- word response to each of the following questions; include any references and APA citations in your answer: 1. What is a teratogen? How does it affect normal prenatal development? Provide at least two examples to support your response. Teratogen is “something that can cause or raise the risk for a birth defect in a baby” (Medical, n.d., para. 1). Alcohol and tobacco are examples of teratogens. Others might include toxic chemicals, some viruses, and street drugs. Around 5 percent of birth defects are caused by teratogens. Experts on this subject say that it can start to affect a baby’s growth in the womb in about 10 days after conception. After conception, “once the fertilized egg is attached to the uterus, the mother and the embryo share a blood supply” (Medical, n.d., para. 2). Any chemicals, drugs, or alcohol that the mother’s blood can and will lead straight to the baby and affects its © 2015. Grand Canyon University. All Rights Reserved.

growth and development. Teratogens can also affect body parts of babies while they are forming. Parts like the baby’s brain and spinal cord can be affected as they are very sensitive to teratogens. Avoiding drugs and exposure to the following are the best ways to limit the risk of teratogen exposure during pregnancy: excessive heat, herbal treatments, and ionizing radiation. 2. What are the differences in the roles of mothers and fathers in bonding with a newborn? How can a father be an active participant in raising a newborn? While the roles of mothers and fathers in bonding with a newborn baby are different, both are important. Mothers bond with their babies through the whole pregnancy process. They also form bonds through body language like smiling, singing, laughing, talking, reading, taking care of all their needs, and cuddling. Mothers and their babies usually form really strong bonds. Newborns will favor their mother over their father because they can detect their mother through familiar smells. Sometimes fathers can have hard or difficult times connecting to their baby, but the father’s role in a baby’s life is important. For fathers, it is important to have skin-to-skin cuddling and bonding time. Human touch is soothing for father and newborn as well as gentle talking and singing. They can interact by reading and speaking to them as well as it encourages language development and enhances their bond (Karas, 2021). Fathers who are involved in this process and stage of life show decreases in testosterone levels and can improve overall well-being, cognitive, physical, and social development. Sometimes it can take weeks to even months for the bonding or attachment to occur, but it does happen with time and patience.

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References Martorell, G., Papalia, D., & Feldman, R. (2014). A child’s world: Infancy through adolescence (13th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education. ISBN-13: 9780078035432 Medical Genetics: Teratogens. (n.d.). Stanford Children’s Health. https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=teratogens-overview-90-P09519 Karas, M. A. S. (2021). How can fathers bond with their newborns? UChicago Medicine. https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/forefront/pediatrics-articles/how-can-fathers-bondwith-their-newborns#:%7E:text=Fathers%20are%20an%20essential%20part,needs%20to %20the%20medical%20team.

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