Prenatal Development, Birth, and Postpartum Stages

Vocabulary flashcards covering prenatal development stages, brain development processes, testing options, teratogens, stages of labor, newborn assessments, and postpartum conditions.

Teratogens

Environmental agents or substances, such as drugs, alcohol, or smoking, that can cause detrimental effects or birth defects during prenatal development, particularly during the highly vulnerable embryonic stage.

Neurulation

The formation of the neural tube during the embryonic stage in the first trimester, which serves as the precursor to the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).

Neurogenesis

The generation of new brain cells/neurons, beginning massively at about $5\,\text{weeks}$ of gestation and continuing throughout the remainder of the prenatal period.

Neuromigration

The developmental process where newly formed brain cells move from their point of origin to specific locations in the brain to perform specialized functions.

Synaptic Pruning

The brain's process of eliminating overproduced or unused neural connections (synapses) that do not serve an active purpose.

Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)

A diagnostic prenatal test performed between $10$ and $12\,\text{weeks}$ using a long needle to obtain tissue for analyzing fetal genotype (e.g., Down syndrome), carrying a higher risk of spontaneous abortion.

Fetal MRI

A noninvasive imaging procedure providing detailed and accurate diagnostic images of the fetus, though it is expensive (costing upwards of $500\,\text{dollars}$) and may not be covered by insurance.

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

An assisted reproductive procedure where eggs are retrieved from the mother, fertilized with sperm in a petri dish, and then implanted into the uterine wall.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

A severe cluster of abnormalities caused by maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy, leading to limb and heart defects, learning problems, and neonatal withdrawal.

First Stage of Birth

The initial and longest stage of labor, lasting approximately $6$ to $12\,\text{hours}$, beginning with contractions and ending when the cervix is fully dilated.

Second Stage of Birth (Fetal Expulsion)

The stage of labor that begins when the cervix is completely dilated and involves pushing the baby through the birth canal, lasting about $45\,\text{minutes}$ to $1\,\text{hour}$.

Third Stage of Birth (Afterbirth)

The final stage of labor during which the placenta and attached umbilical cord are completely delivered and detached from the mother.

Lamaze Method

A prepared childbirth technique that teaches mothers controlled breathing and relaxation procedures to navigate labor contractions and delivery.

Cesarean Section (C-section)

A surgical delivery method performed when the baby or mother is in medical distress, or when natural vaginal delivery is physically unfeasible.

Apgar Scale

A standardized newborn assessment performed immediately after birth to evaluate health based on skin appearance, pulse, reflex irritability, muscle tone/activity, and respiration.

Low Birth Weight Infant

A newborn weighing less than $5\,\text{lbs } 8\,\text{oz}$ at birth.

Very Low Birth Weight Infant

A newborn weighing less than $3\,\text{lbs } 4\,\text{oz}$ at birth.

Extremely Low Birth Weight Infant

A newborn weighing less than $2\,\text{lbs}$ at birth.

Preterm Infant

An infant born before reaching full gestational maturity, specifically at $35$ or fewer weeks.

Small for Date Infant

A full-term infant whose birth weight is significantly below normal or average for their gestational age.

Postpartum Period

The adjustment period following childbirth during which the mother's body and hormone levels complete their return to a pre-pregnant state.

Postpartum Depression

A clinical depressive condition affecting roughly $1\text{ in }10$ ($10\%$) mothers after childbirth, typically lasting $3$ to $6\,\text{months}$.