Development from Conception Through Young Adult

Development Overview

Focus: Chapter 22, Conception through Young Adult (birth through early twenties).
Understanding that growth and development occurs throughout the lifespan. These processes are orderly and continuous.

Three Stages of the Fetus:
- Pre-embryonic Stage (Conception to Third Week):
- Formation of three distinct cell layers:
  - Endoderm (Inner Layer):
  - Develops into respiratory, digestive systems, liver, and pancreas.
  - Mesoderm (Middle Layer):
  - Forms skeleton, connective tissue, cartilage, muscles, and circulatory, lymphoid, reproductive, and urinary systems.
  - Ectoderm (Outer Layer):
  - Becomes the brain, spinal cord, nervous system, and skin, hair, nails.
- Note: Most individuals may not yet realize they are pregnant during this stage.
- Embryonic Stage (Fourth to Eighth Week):
- Basic organs are established.
- Importance: Many women may still be unaware of their pregnancy, risking exposure to harmful substances or behaviors detrimental to the developing fetus.
- This stage is crucial as organs are forming, making the embryo especially vulnerable to teratogens like alcohol, tobacco, and drugs.
- Fetal Stage (Ninth Week to Birth):
- Body organs and systems continue to grow; they are already formed by the end of the eighth week.
- Vulnerability to congenital anomalies is highest during the embryonic stage (fourth to eighth week).

Key characteristics:
- Appearance of reflexes:
- Moro, stepping, grasp, sucking, swallowing, blinking, sneezing, and yawning.
- Lack of reflexes like sucking and swallowing may indicate failure to thrive.
Temperature Regulation:
- Neonates cannot effectively regulate body temperature; hence, they are prone to rapid changes in temperature.
Sensory Response:
- Responds primarily to environmental stimuli.
Stool and Urine Elimination:
- Newborns exhibit active crying and a quiet alert state.

Weight Standards:
- Average male weight: 22 pounds
- Average female weight: 21 pounds
- Birth weight typically triples by one year.
Brain Development:
- Brain reaches half of its adult size during the first year, crucial for learning abilities.
Motor Skills:
- Development of motor skills includes basic movements and recognition of body temperature control.
Deciduous Teeth:
- Eruption typically occurs between four to six months.

Freud’s Stages:
- Oral stage emphasizes immediate gratification of needs (sucking, eating).
Erikson’s Stages:
- Basic trust establishment through consistent care.
Developmental Tasks:
- Tasks include eating, walking, and talking.
Importance of Attachment:
- Attachment and bonding are critical; lack thereof can result in emotional detachment issues later.
Temperament Variability:
- Children may show different temperaments (easy-going, difficult, etc.).

Common issues include:
- Accidental injuries, SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), failure to thrive, and child maltreatment.
Nursing Role:
- The nurse’s essential role includes teaching family and caregivers for infant health.

Growth Milestones:
- Rapid brain growth, increase in long bone length, and muscle growth.
- Children will typically weigh four times their birth weight by age two.
Motor Development:
- Tasks include walking, running, climbing, and fine motor skills such as using fingers for small objects.

Piaget’s Stages:
- Sensorimotor development continues; understanding object permanence begins.
- Recognition of self as an individual distinct from others develops.
Language Development:
- Language begins to develop around one year, with short sentences by age two.

Freud’s Stages:
- Anal stage focuses on toilet training.
Erikson’s Stages:
- Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt; major tasks include learning control over elimination, distinguishing right from wrong.

Physical Characteristics:
- Head size approaches adult size by age six, with increased coordination.
- Average weight of preschoolers is about 45 pounds.
Motor Abilities:
- Development includes jumping, skipping, throwing, and basic drawing skills.

Piaget’s Stage:
- Transitioning into pre-operational stage; egocentrism decreases as socialization increases.
Social Mimicry:
- Play becomes related to real-life events, with constant questions reflecting curiosity.

Freud’s Stages:
- Phallic stage with a focus on genital development.
Erikson’s Stages:
- Initiative vs. Guilt; involves developing a conscience and understanding social roles.

Growth Metrics:
- Brain reaches 90-95% of adult size, with motor skills progressing significantly.
- Height increases by 2-3 inches, and weight by 3-6 pounds annually.

Piaget’s Stage:
- Concrete operational stage with logical thinking and problem-solving.
Social Awareness:
- Awareness of feelings and perspectives of others emerges, developing classification systems.

Freud’s Stages:
- Latency stage focusing on identification with one's biological sex.
Erikson’s Stages:
- Industry vs. Inferiority; focus on learning skills, personal independence, and moral development.

Concerns include:
- Obesity, accidents, communicable diseases, ADHD, learning disabilities, chronic illnesses, and enuresis.

Rapid Growth Indicators:
- Hands, feet, and long bones grow rapidly; increase in muscle mass occurs.
Puberty:
- Begins between 9-13 years in girls and 10-14 years in boys, with three stages:
- Prepubescence: initial sexual characteristics develop.
- Pubescence: further development, ova and sperm produced.
- Postpubescence: full reproductive maturity.

Piaget’s Stage:
- Formal operational stage allowing for abstract concepts, deductive reasoning, and long-term goal setting.

Freud’s Stages:
- Genital stage permitting full sexual function.
Erikson's Stages:
- Identity vs. Role Confusion; peer influence intensifies, with emphasis on establishing self-concept and values.
Health Issues:
- Key concerns include injuries, substance abuse, suicide, pregnancy, nutritional problems, sexually transmitted infections, and stressors related to life transitions and relationships.