Summary and Objectives

• Explain key concepts like periods of prenatal developments (using terms like germ disk, blastocyst, vernix, and placenta), stages of birth, and newborn reflexes (like the babinski, palmer, and sucking).
• Discuss the methods of testing the health of the newborn (CVS, APGAR, Ultrasound).
• Apply your knowledge and think about Why this matters? by considering the real dangers of fetal alcohol syndrome and teratogens.

References

• Murkoff, H. & Mazel, S. (2008). What to expect when you are expecting.

Links

• Story of the Fetus Song (also as mp3)
• The Visible Embryo Project
• The Multi-Dimensional Human Embryo
• Explanation of embryonic differentiation
• Fetal pictures
• Interesting discussion of When does baby’s life begin?
• The big list of Teratogens
• National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
• The CDC’s Info page on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
• The Dangers of PCB’s:Polychlorinated biphenyls (used in paint and electric transformers).
• Vegan? Get your B12 for baby!
• Postpartum Depression
• Freud on Seuss’s Cat in the Hat . (Apparently babies remembered and were traumatized)
• Old fashioned ways of detecting pregnancy. Crazy thing is… Some work!
• The Moro Reflex
• More Reflexes
• Jaundice
• SIDS and more SIDS on the Web (also SIDS International).
• Biggest and best national study of children is still being planned.
• Causes of Scoliosis
• Do Parasites control us?