Child Physical Development

Sonogram and Respiration

In prenatal care, sonograms often allow observation of the baby's respiration which can be brief.

Stages of fetal development: germinal, embryo, and fetus.
The age of viability is closely related to lung development and the baby's ability to sustain itself post-birth.

The placenta serves as an organ that provides nutrients to the developing fetus and is connected to the fetus via the umbilical cord (comprising two arteries and one vein).
It is crucial for the placenta to be properly attached to the uterus for healthy fetal development.
- Typical pregnancies involve three sonograms:
1. Initial check to ensure the zygote is in the uterus, preventing a tubal pregnancy (a potentially life-threatening situation).
2. Second sonogram around three months for sex determination.
3. Final sonogram close to delivery to confirm placenta placement away from the birth canal to avoid complications (e.g., placenta previa).

Condition: Placenta previa - occurs when the placenta detaches and obstructs the birthing process, posing a threat to the mother and child.
The placenta also filters harmful substances but cannot block all teratogens.

Definition: Teratogens are harmful substances that affect fetal development and can lead to birth defects.
Examples of teratogens:
- Drugs (including over-the-counter medications): Many cannot be safely taken during pregnancy.
- Viruses: Certain viruses associated with maternal high fevers may increase the risk of schizophrenia in offspring.
- Household cleaners and exposure to high-stress environments.
- Specific foods: For instance, consumption of mercury-rich fish (e.g., tuna) is discouraged.
Notable teratogen: Alcohol - can result in Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), leading to cognitive and physical abnormalities in the child, identifiable at birth.
Historical example: Thalidomide, a medication used in the 1970s for nausea, caused limb deformities in infants, leading to its withdrawal from the market.
Smoking during pregnancy is linked to low birth weight and increased risk of conditions like cleft palate.

At birth:
- Newborns exhibit well-developed senses of touch, smell, and taste.
- Hearing abilities are nearly adult-like, with sensitivity to high-pitched sounds being an exception.
- Vision: Very limited - newborns see only about 12 inches away (the distance from the mother's face during feeding).
- Lacks color vision and can only perceive contrasts in light (black, white, shades of gray).
- Cones, photoreceptors responsible for color vision, develop by 1-2 months of age.
Early stages involve difficulty focusing on moving objects due to weak eye muscles; this phenomenon is termed strabismus (crossed eyes).

Newborns show a preference for:
- Human voices and faces, sticking to familiar smells (like that of the mother).
- Evidence shows that infants prefer face-like images over abstract forms.
Habituation: A decrease in response to repeated exposure to the same stimulus, leading to increased interest in novel stimuli.
- Observation study: Infants looked at a novel object for a shorter duration after being shown the same object multiple times.

Definition of Maturation: The process of physical development through which children progress through various milestones.
Key milestones include:
- By 2 months: Developing head control (turning head).
- By 3 months: Pushing up while lying on the stomach.
- By 4-5 months: Complete rolling over capability.
- By 6 months: Sitting up with support.
- By 7 months: Stronger tummy muscles allowing for unsupported sitting.
- By 10-11 months: Standing while holding onto objects.
- By 12-13 months: Walking independently begins.
Important Note: While the sequence of developmental milestones is universal, the timing varies among individual children due to physical readiness, which is dependent upon the development of the cerebellum for balance and coordination. Parents are advised against comparing their child’s milestones with those of peers, as development rates differ from child to child.