ECD

• Prenatal Development


  The process in which a baby develops from a single cell after conception into an embryo and later a fetus

  
• The average length of time for prenatal development to complete is 38 weeks from conception

  
• Prenatal Stage


  1. Conception to 2 weeks (Zygote)

  2. 2-8 weeks (Embryo)

  3. 9 weeks - Birth (Fetus)

  
• Prenatal Development


  The process in which a baby develops from a single cell after conception into an embryo and later a fetus

  
• The average length of time for prenatal development to complete is 38 weeks from conception

  
• Prenatal Stage


  1. Conception to 2 weeks (Zygote)

  2. 2-8 weeks (Embryo)

  3. 9 weeks - Birth (Fetus)

  
• Stages of Prenatal Development

  • First trimester (0-13 weeks)
  • Second trimester (14-28 weeks)
  • Third trimester (29 weeks - birth)

  
• Fetal Stage


  • Baby will continue to grow and develop till the end of the pregnancy
  • Looking and acting like a real baby (e.g. sucking, swallowing, bones become stronger)
  • Can start hearing your voice
  • Opening their eyes
  • Practicing how to breathe in amniotic fluid
  • More big movements
• Size of fetus at different stages
• Prenatal Environmental Influences


  • Drugs
  • Chemical factors
  • Heredity
  • Mother's health
  • Mother's age
  • Oxygen deprivation
  • Preterm (premature birth)
  • Small for date
  • Over the age of 35
  • Teenage mother
  • Physical Health (e.g. physically small mother, mother's diet)
  • Maternal Stress and Depression
  • Genes
  • Smoking
  • Alcohol
  • During the labor and delivery
• APGAR Test


  The very first test given to the newborn in the delivery room right after the baby's birth (Done Twice - 1 min & 5 mins)
• APGAR test is designed to quickly evaluate a newborn's physical condition and determine any immediate need for extra medical and emergency care
• Head circumference reflects the growth of the brain and is used to monitor the infant's health and detect abnormal brain/skull growth

  
• Arousal States


  • REM Sleep (8-9 hours)
  • Non-REM Sleep (8-9 hours)
  • Drowsiness (Varies)
  • Alert (2-3 hours)
  • Waking (2-3 hours)
  • Crying (1-2 hours)
• Reasons for measuring head circumference

  • Reflects the growth of the brain - assess the development of the central nervous system
  • Monitor the infant's health - detect an abnormal brain/skull growth

  
• Microcephaly


  Abnormally small head
• Macrocephaly


  Abnormally large head

  
• Causes of macrocephaly


  • Hydrocephalus
  • Brain tumors
  • Intracranial bleeding
  • Other lesions
• Arousal States


  6 States of Arousal in 24 hours a day
• Arousal States

  • REM Sleep
  • Non-REM sleep
  • Drowsiness
  • Alert
  • Waking
  • Crying
• Sleep stages

  • REM Sleep
  • Non-REM sleep
• Awake stages

  • Drowsiness
  • Alert
  • Waking
  • Crying
• REM Sleep


  • Eyelids closed
  • Rapid eye movement which can seen beneath eyelids
  • Gentle limb movement (body lies quietly)
• Non-REM sleep


  • Full rest (Light sleep > truly asleep > deep sleep; Startles at noises)
  • Eyelids are closed
  • No eye movement
  • Little or no body movement
• Drowsiness


  • Body is less active than REM sleep
  • Body is active than non – REM sleep
  • Eyes open and close
  • Either falling asleep or waking up (May doze)
• Alert

  • Eyes open and attentive (Face is bright; Body is quiet)
  • New born do not have much alert state at first few weeks, then it become frequently
  • More able to take in information and learn from experiences
• Waking


  • Uncontrolled or uncoordinated motor activity
• Crying


  • Sometimes involve in waking states/ activity (cries; may screams; disorganized body movement)
• Reasons why infant's ability to control and regulate body function/activity is important

  • Conserve of body energy
  • For processing & response to the environment better
  • Reflect brain maturation
• Bed sharing

  Sharing the same bed
• Separate surface co-sleeping

  e.g. Crib sleeping
• Reasons for co-sleeping


  • Breast feeding (calories light, not much protein, not much fat – good for the growth of an infant brain)
  • Breast feeding every 1 ½ to 2 hours
  • Sensation warm and protectiveness
• Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)


  Sudden, unexpected and unexplained death of an infant under 1 year old
• Brain cannot control heart beating and breathing because the body is too hot and too much carbon dioxide when the infant is sleeping and have to rebreathe exhaled air
• Ways to reduce the risk of SIDS


  • Place infants on their backs to sleep
  • Firm sleep surface (never place babies to sleep on soft surfaces e.g. soft mattress, fluffy comforter etc.)
  • Keeping the baby's sleep area in the same room where you or others sleep
  • Keep soft toys and pillows out of your baby's sleep area
  • Women should not smoke, drink alcohol during pregnancy
  • Do not smoke or allow smoking around your baby
  • Breastfeeding
  • Give your baby a dry pacifier that is not attached to a string for naps
  • Do not let your baby get too hot during sleep
  • Keep the room at a temperature that is comfortable for an adult
  • Follow health care provider guidance on baby's vaccines and regular health checkups