prenatal development

Question 1

when does the neural tube develop and what does it become?

Answer 1

3-4 weeks, becomes brain and spinal cord

Question 2

what occurs during the embryonic stage?

Answer 2

organs form

Question 3

when do reflex-like reactions such as swallowing appear?

Answer 3

around 10 weeks

Question 4

when might mother first feel baby moving?

Answer 4

around week 13 - kicking may be felt around week 14

Question 5

when is a fetus viable outside the womb with medical attention?

Answer 5

around week 28

Question 6

what is considered premature birth?

Answer 6

birth before 38 weeks

Question 7

which senses develop in the womb?

Answer 7

movement, taste, smell, hearing, vison and learning

Question 8

how do fetuses move in the womb?

Answer 8

active rubbing / touching face and umbilical cord, explore surroundings with hands

Question 9

what behaviour predicts handedness after birth?

Answer 9

thumb-sucking

Question 10

how do fetuses respond to sound?

Answer 10

heart rate changes to parental voice - can recognise and remember sounds

Question 11

name key studies on prenatal hearing and learning

Answer 11

Voegtline et al 2013, Kisilevsky et al 2003, Webb et al 2015, DeCasper & Spence 1986

Question 12

what are teratogens?

Answer 12

factors causing defects, disruptions or deformations in fetal development

Question 13

examples of teratogens

Answer 13

drugs (opioids, cigarettes, alcohol), maternal health (nutrition, stress), environmental factors (pollution), diseases (zika, covid), specific compounds (lead, radiation, thalidomide), new issues like mircoplastics

Question 14

what are the main principles of teratogen impact?

Answer 14

dose-response relationship, fetal programming, and critical / sensitive periods

Question 15

what defects did thalidomide cause?

Answer 15

limb disruption, brain / internal organ damage, chronic pain, poor mental / emotional health in adults

Question 16

when is thalidomide most dangerous?

Answer 16

4th-6th week after conception

Question 17

what developmental principle does thalidomide illustrate?

Answer 17

critical and sensitive periods

Question 18

what did project ice storm study?

Answer 18

objective and subjective measures of stress during pregnancy

Question 19

when is stress most impactful on fetal development?

Answer 19

mid to late pregnancy

Question 20

what outcomes can maternal stress affect?

Answer 20

temperament, cognitive outcomes, and fetal programming via HPA axis changes

Question 21

what is fetal programming?

Answer 21

experiences in womb (nutrition, stress, illness) guide development, with effects potentially appearing later in life

Question 22

how does pollution affect prenatal development?

Answer 22

causes premature birth, intrauterine (within uterus) growth restriction via placenta damage, hormonal disruption, inflammation and oxidative stress

Question 23

what is a dose-response relationship in teratogen exposure?

Answer 23

higher exposure increases risk and severity of damage

Question 24

example of a successful intervention to reduce pollution-related fetal harm

Answer 24

Japan’s 1992 emission control law : reduced NOx and SO2 - 10% decrease in fetal death rate

Question 25

what affects prenatal development?

Answer 25

teratogens, maternal stress, drugs, nutrition, illness and environmental factors