The prenatal development period may be divided into three stages; the germinal stage, the embryonic period, and finally the fetal period. The germinal period begins when the baby is conceived and the zygote moves down the fallopian tube to the uterus. Here, the cells begin to differentiate and separate into masses, forming the placenta and later the embryo. As the mass moves further down the uterus, the mass of cells attaches itself to the wall of the uterus, in a process referred to as implantation (Cole et al., 2018). The web of blood vessels and membranes provides a source of sustenance development over the pregnancy period. Implantation may fail and the pregnancy would then be terminated even before the mother knows she is expectant. The embryonic period marks the beginning of the development of human features as well as the Central Nervous System. The embryo develops neurons that may relocate to the brain and form rudimentary neural networks. The fetal stage is the longest prenatal phase which marks the development of sex organs and reflexive motions of the fetus. Similarly, body organs continue to develop and the fetus develops stronger muscles and heartbeats that prepare it for life outside the womb.
Although the baby is protected during prenatal growth by the womb, it may be affected by external factors by changes that affect the mother, like nutrition or stress. A mother who is under stress or is overly emotional may release stress hormones that may penetrate the placenta and affect the fetus (Cole et al., 2018). The fetus’s nutritional reception depends on the mother’s diet, and mothers may need to take foods rich in minerals that enhance the fetus’ development. Pregnant mothers who suffer malnutrition or are undernourished increase the risk of bearing children with retarded growth, lower birth rates, or they may even have a miscarriage. Additionally, the fetus my adjust its metabolism for a deficient environment and when the baby is born in an environment with an adequate supply of nutrients, permanent changes in metabolism may make it more susceptible to conditions like obesity or diabetes. The fetal development may also be affected by non-prescription drug intake, which may harm the development, and infections or other health conditions that may also be passed to the baby during delivery.
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The delivery process begins with changes in the mother’s body that force the fetus out of the womb and ends when the placenta is expelled. The first stage is marked by uterine contractions that make the cervix dilate while the mother’s pelvic bones become more flexible (Cole et al., 2018). This stage varies in length and it may last for days. The second stage is marked with the baby being pushed from the cervix to the vagina, normally coming out head first. If the baby appears in another position, both the mother and the baby are at risk of complications and death. The final stage of labor is after the baby has been delivered and the placenta and other fetal membranes are expelled from the uterine wall.
Knowledge about the fetal development through the prenatal period is important for mothers and health care providers so that they may provide efficient prenatal care. This knowledge may help to prevent complications that may arise and to help mothers to care for their pregnancies and infants through information-based decisions ( NIH, 2019 ). This knowledge may be used to inform the dietary choices of mothers and also help to select medications that may be taken without harming the fetus. Additionally, this information would be helpful for preconception care where mothers may be informed on the steps that they may take to ensure they have increased chances of having healthy pregnancies. Mothers may also anticipate changes that may occur to their bodies and as such, they have the chance to prepare for all steps including successful delivery.
References
Cole, M., Cole, S. R., & Lightfoot, C. (2005). The development of children . Macmillan.
NIH. (2019). What is prenatal care and why is it important?. Retrieved 12 September 2019, from https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/pregnancy/conditioninfo/prenatal-care
