Chapter Five: Prenatal Development, the Newborn, and the Transition to Parenthood

Abortion

A medical procedure that removes and embryo or fetus and placenta from a woman's uterus

Active Labor

The second phase in the first stage of labor in which contractions become longer, stronger, and more frequent and the cervix dilates to four cm

Amnion

The inner fetal membrane that surrounds the fetus and is filled w/ amniotic fluid

APGAR Scale

An assessment of a newborn's overall condition at 1 minute and 5 minutes after birth that is based on the newborn's activity level, pulse, grimace, appearance, and respiration

Blastocyst

A hollow ball of cells that consists of the inner cell mass (which becomes the embryo) and an outer ring of cells (which becomes the placenta and chorion)

Cephalocaudal Development

A principle whereby development proceeds from the head region down through the body

Cervix

The narrow, lower end of the uterus

Couvade

A sympathetic pregnancy in which a man experiences a variety of symptoms associated with pregnancy or childbirth while his partner is pregnant

Critical Period

A period of time during which development is occurring rapidly and the organism is especially sensitive to damage, which often is severe and irreversible

Depression with Peripartum Onset

A major depression that occurs in the last month of pregnancy or the first couple of months after birth

Doula

A trained, knowledgeable companion who supports a woman during her labor and delivery

Early Labor

The first phase in the first stage of labor in which contractions are usually not painful but the cervix begins to thin out and dilate

Embryo

The developing organism from conception to the end of the second month of a pregnancy

Embryonic Stage

The prenatal stage that lasts from 2 weeks to 2 months post conception

Endocrine Disruptors

Chemicals that interfere with the functioning of the hormonal systems of the body

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs)

A range of impairments in a child resulting from consumption of alcohol during a pregnancy

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

A condition in the child resulting from heavy or binge consumption of alcohol during a pregnancy; associated w/ characteristic facial features, small stature, and a small head, as well as cognitive deficits and trouble controlling behavior and regulating emotions

Fetal Stage

The prenatal stage that lasts from Week 9 post conception until birth

Fetus

The developing organism from the end of the eights week post conception until birth

Germinal Stage

The prenatal stage that lasts from conception to 2 weeks post conception

Gestational Age

The age of the developing fetus, measured from the mother's last menses

Infant Mortality

The rate of infant death within the first year of life

Infant States

Different levels of consciousness used to regulate the amount of stimulation an infant receives; states range from crying to deep sleep

Infertility

The inability to conceive w/i one year of frequent, unprotected sex

Inner Cell Mass

A solid clump of cells in the blastocyst, which later develops into the embryo

Kangaroo Care

A practice where the baby is placed in skin to skin contact with the parent's bare chest or breasts and draped w/ a blanket

Low Birth Weight

A full term infant who weighs less than 5 lbs 8 oz

Miscarriage

The natural loss of pregnancy before the fetus reaches a gestational age of 20 weeks

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

A group of conditions that are caused by drug withdrawal from a substance the infant was exposed to prenatally

Organogenesis

The process in prenatal development by which all of the major organ systems of the body are laid down

Ovulation

The release of a mature egg from an ovary

Ovum

An unfertilized egg

Placenta

The organ that supports a pregnancy by bringing oxygen and nutrients to the embryo from the mother through the umbilical cord and carrying away fetal waste products

Premature (or Preterm)

A birth that occurs before a gestational age of 37 weeks

Shaken Baby Syndrome

Shaking a baby so hard that the baby's brain bounces against the inside of the skull, causing bruising, bleeding, or swelling in the brain

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

The death of an apparently healthy infant; the rate of SIDS peaks b/w the ages of 1 and 4 months

Teratogens

Agents that can disrupt prenatal development and cause malformations or termination of the pregnancy

Toxoplasmosis

An infection caused by a parasite found in cat feces, cat litter, or ground soil

Transition

The third phase in the first stage of labor in which contractions come in rapid succession and last up to 90 seconds each, with little or no pause between them, and which ends when the cervix has dilated to ten cm

Trophoblast

The outer ring of cells in the blastocyst that later develops into the support system for the pregnancy

Ultrasound

A prenatal test that uses high frequency sound waves to create an image of the developing embryo's size, shape, and position in the womb