NAEYC Reflection Essays - Fertility, Embryology, Midwifery

NAEYC Reflection Amber Williamson ECH/205 March 27, 2017 Yvonne Gould NAEYC Reflection NAEYC is full of different standards that are important to understand and learn to help children grow and develop appropriately. In the stages of prenatal development, genetic disorders, and environmental influences on the development of a fetus, it is critical that we understand the connection with these developments and why they are important in the start of a child's life. We all know that development of children starts during infancy but it starts during the prenatal period. During this time, there are remarkable changes that happens and it paves the way for the future of the child's development. There are three main steps that occur during prenatal development. First is the germinal stage that takes place in the first two weeks after conception. During this stage, the egg and sperm meet; then the egg moves to the uterus and begins cell division. After cell division, blastocyst begins with the development of skin, nervous, digestive, respiratory, muscle, and skeletal systems. Second is the embryonic stage, this is the second and third month. In this stage, the embryo separates into three different layers known as the body system. Within about a month the head followed by the nose, eyes, mouth, and ears are formed. Then the cardiovascular system begins as the blood vessels and heart become one and makes a heartbeat. All the major organs are development except for the reproductive ones. The last stage is the fetal stage. This stage happens around the third month of pregnancy until mom gives birth. In this stage the reproductive organs begin to develop and the baby continues to grow and become stronger. Towards the end of the pregnancy, the baby will begin to prepare for life outside the womb. Their lungs will start to contract and expand to build up the muscles for breathing. Some mothers look at prenatal development as a normal process, but for others there may be some issues that occur. As a mother, we all hope that we have a very easy and simple pregnancy but that is not always the case. Things can go wrong, in which are usually genetic and/or environmental problems. Some genetic problems that may occur during the prenatal development may be Down syndrome, also known as trisomy 21, and is the most common genetic anomaly that can be determined during pregnancy. This is caused by and extra copy of the 21st chromosome. There are also inherited diseases can be another source. Sickle cell anemia is an example of an inherited disease. There are also sex chromosomes problems that can occur such as Turner syndrome. This is caused by only having one X chromosome. Environmental issue is also critical during prenatal development. A toxic environment can affect the fetus when the mother is allowing these dangerous issues to affect her. If the mother is using drugs and alcohol, this can cause issues with the development of the fetus. It is poisoning the nutrients that the fetus is needing to grow appropriately. Maternal diseases can also have negative impact on the fetus. Examples of maternal diseases include herpes and AIDS. Herpes virus is the most common condition that has a major effect on the fetus. It can cause deafness, brain swelling, or mental retardation. The prenatal period is a time for growth and development but it has a great vulnerability and should be taken with caution, some of the dangers can be avoided while other cant. It is important for expecting mothers to be willing to put their fetus above all and take care of themselves as well. While there are also some things that mothers can avoid, genetic problems may be unavoidable. The best thing that any mother to be can do is to get the best prenatal care they possibly can and do what they can to make their womb a retreat for the unborn to relax and grow. References Environmental Impacts on Prenatal Development Source: Boundless. "Environmental Impacts on Prenatal Development." Boundless Psychology Boundless, 08 Aug. 2016. Retrieved 28 Mar. 2017 from https://www.boundless.com/psychology/textbooks/boundless-psychology- textbook/human-development-14/prenatal-development-71/environmental- impacts-on-prenatal-development. (2017). Retrieved from https://www.boundless.com/psychology/textbooks/boundless-psychology- textbook/human-development-14/prenatal-development-71/environmental- impacts-on-prenatal-development-274-12809/ Stages of Prenatal Development Share. (2017). Retrieved from https://www.verywell.com/stages-of-prenatal-development-2795073 Problems With Prenatal Development. (2017). Retrieved from https://www.verywell.com/problems-with-prenatal-development-2795120 NAEYC Standards for Early Childhood Professional Preparation. (2017). Retrieved from http://www.naeyc.org/ecada/standards