Human Growth before birth

For developmental researchers, lifespan studies start at conception. Researchers want to know as much about the biological aspects of development as possible. Studying the biology and processes that occur at each stage gives a deeper understanding of the impacts of the environment on growth.

From the information gathered, we have a greater understanding of how human life begins at conception and the stages at which different body parts start to form. This understanding also helps us to see at what point potential teratogens have and how they interfere with development. For example, mothers who took thalidomide during pregnancy for nausea in the 50s and 60s had babies with impairment to embryonic and fetal development. The connection was made initially made when babies born during that time to moms on thalidomide had deformed arms, legs, fingers, and toes, and they were missing. It was later learned that this teratogen impacted internal development as well, including facial muscles and the digestive system, even to the point that some babies were born without an anus.

Prenatal development is divided into the germinal, embryonic, and fetal periods, but you have probably heard it referred to as trimesters. The first trimester covers the germinal, embryonic, and first few weeks of the fetal stage. The first trimester is the first three months or roughly the first 12 or 13 weeks. I say around because months are not neatly packed into weeks, with months ranging from 28 days to 31 days so that the first trimester could be anywhere from 89 to 92 days or between 12 and 13 weeks.

The second and third trimesters cover the rest of the fetal period, with the second trimester covering months 4 to 6 and the third covering the 7^th month to birth. In weekly correspondence, the second trimester is roughly 12/13 weeks to the 25/26^th week. So that means the third trimester covers from the 25/26^th week until birth. I share this breakdown with you because much of the development is tracked through weeks of pregnancy.

The following two links give insight into fertilization and the first two weeks of development. Building a baby may be difficult for some of you due to the potential ethical perspectives.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5OvgQW6FG4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AX1XwKCYQE

Tasks:

- You can first give us the definition, then explain the term and related concepts IN YOUR WORDS. Make sure youclearly explain the terms and make at least one citation.

- Application to life:Based on the term/concept can be a term used for, discuss a real-life experience that applies the concept(s). Here is where you can share your birth experience - either giving birth or the stories shared with you about your birth.