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• Prenatal stage


  The period inside the mother's womb

  
• Neonatal stage


  The first 4 weeks after birth
• Infant stage


  From the first to the twelfth month
• Early childhood


  From 1 year to 5 years
• Late childhood


  From 6 years to 10 years
• 80% of brain cells are formed by the age of 3 years
• Physical growth


  • Increase in height and weight
• Psycho-social development


  • Mental and social skills developed through interactions with the environment
• Understanding the psycho-social development of a child helps identify the needs, importance of fulfilling the needs and ways of fulfilling them
• The foundation of growth takes place during the prenatal and infant stages of life
• A rapid physical growth is seen during the prenatal and infant stages
• Muscle strength and mobility are developed with physical growth
• Mental and social skills are developed through interactions with the environment
• The Sri Lankan law permits a girl to get married once she completes 18 years
• It is important to ascertain whether the girl has adequate physical and mental maturity before marriage
• The family should be financially stable to bring up a child
• Marriages between blood relatives can lead to genetic disorders in the offspring
• Folic acid is very important for a woman who is planning on becoming pregnant
• Sufficient folic acid levels in her body before and during pregnancy helps to prevent the baby developing brain and spinal cord abnormalities
• Every girl who has completed 15 years should get the rubella vaccination to prevent getting German measles
• A woman hoping to get pregnant after marriage, should plan it properly
• Medical advice can be sought from health services, attending family health clinics and maternity clinics with proper planning
• A girl can have an uncomplicated pregnancy and safe motherhood with proper planning
• During the prenatal stage the mother should be aware of the progress of her pregnancy
• The expected healthy birth weight of a baby is between 2.5 kg to 3.5 kg
• If the mother does not take a balanced diet during pregnancy, nutritional deficiencies will affect the growth of the embryo
• The child will have a low birth weight, be born prematurely, have suboptimal mental functions or be prone to infections if the mother does not take a balanced diet
• The mother should be free of physical and mental stress during pregnancy
• Other members of the family should share the household work and make the pregnant mother comfortable
• The foundation for the future of the prenatal baby depends on the balanced diet taken by the mother, as well as the mother being in a good mental and social state as well as being free of diseases
• Neonatal stage


  The period from birth to 28 days
• During the neonatal stage the baby is exposed to the new environment through the mother
• The nutrients needed for the baby's physical growth are supplied through breast milk
• Activities indulged in by the mother affect the baby's psycho-social development
• A good mental and physical state in the mother is important for good psycho-social development of the baby
• Physical needs in neonatal stage

  • Nutritional needs
  • Growth
  • Protection
• Psycho-social needs in neonatal stage

  • Love
  • Stimulation for mental development
• Breast milk is the most important form of nutrition that can be given to a baby during the first six months of life
• Importance of breast milk

  • All the necessary nutrients and required amount of water for the first six months can be obtained
  • Colostrum secreted in the first few days after birth helps protect the baby from infections and aids digestive system
  • It is the safest and cleanest food
  • It is always at the correct temperature
  • It is available at any time the baby requires
  • It strengthens the bond between mother and baby
  • It helps protect baby from diseases
  • It helps prevent obesity in the future
  • It helps increase the baby's mental development
  • It helps develop resistance against allergies
• Infant stage


  From 1 month to 12 months