Prenatal Development Paper

One of the amazing and surprising things about prenatal development I learned was that there are signs that learning occurs in simple forms (Levine and Munsch). Reading and talking to an unborn baby has always been recommended, however I honestly believed the purpose was to soothe and introduce your voice to your baby. Technology today has given more awareness for the mother and unborn child.

There are many women that do not know they are pregnant when prenatal developments have begun to take place. Understanding prenatal development and the birthing process are vital to a healthy pregnancy and delivery. Prenatal development is complex and although the expectant mother may follow the guidelines or orders given by her doctor, complications may

occur and the pregnancy not always go as planned. Since all children are different in physical and emotional growth, to teach or care for these children an understanding of their development would be essential.
Development of a child begins from conception and continues throughout the course of their young lives into adolescence and adulthood. Prenatal and infant development is the beginning of their life journey, therefore this is the most crucial time in development which many things can disrupt. Alcohol, tobacco, drugs and a mother’s mental health can cause a disturbance in an infant’s development. There are some impacts on their development that cannot be detected or prevented soon enough, such as a congenital defect.
One way to support an expectant mother would be to encourage her to communicate any concerns she may have or is feeling, during pregnancy and after the birth of the child to a family member, counselor, or doctor. A family’s support is a key component to a healthy pregnancy and also postpartum. Another way would be to make sure that the mother has someone nearby to call if needed after arriving home with her new baby for the first few days.