Becoming a parent can be challenging since one needs to be fully prepared for everything: from risks during pregnancy to the tricky questions from children. Although it is essential to learn as much as possible about the child’s development and the difficulties of upbringing, it is equally crucial to know about prenatal development details. While some people believe that birth comes naturally and there is no need to unfold the delicate information of critical periods during pregnancy, labor, and infantry, it is, on the other hand, a general necessity.
First, it is essential to note the critical periods of prenatal development, when the mother and the baby are the most vulnerable. The first period is between 4 to 8 weeks when the baby starts to develop its central nervous system, and it is the beginning of brain formation (Thewissen et al., 2021). For many parents, this is also the period when they are at a higher risk of having a miscarriage. The heart, upper limbs, eyes, lower limbs, and ears all start to develop around the same time, from 5 to 11 weeks (Thewissen et al., 2021). This is when the mother has to be extremely careful since, depending on the different variables, the risk of miscarriage can grow.
Moreover, every future parent’s primary task is to keep in mind the list of teratogens that could have an impact on the fetus’s development. The first is alcohol and drugs, which are the leading preventable cause of mental disabilities in future children. Excessive drinking and substance abuse can lead to the spectrum of disorders in the fetus and sometimes can resume premature birth, stillbirth, and miscarriage in the early stages of pregnancy (Braeken et al., 2016). Other teratogens can include exposure to pollution, radiation, and infectious diseases such as Covid-19. Therefore, mothers should be cautious in this tender period since every deed will have its consequence eventually.
To minimize the prenatal risks, it is essential to follow several rules. First, future parents have to visit a healthcare professional regularly. It is not uncommon for medics to prescribe the vitamins for the pregnant, which is useful for child’s development and the mother’s health. Avoiding any harmful substance is equally essential since they can cause lots of defects in a fetus’ growth and cause a miscarriage or stillbirth (Braeken et al., 2016). Following a healthy lifestyle is preferable during pregnancy and also after it. The mother needs to eat more nutritious foods, do some sports, such as yoga for pregnant can aid a future mother and the baby.
Moreover, it is essential to remember that certain infant risks can strike any baby, such as sudden infant death syndrome, but the parents can follow some course of action to minimize that risk. For example, during the first year of life, the baby has to sleep on its back, which minimizes certain risks and aids in preventing trauma to the bones (Braeken et al., 2016). The baby has to sleep in the room with the parents since someone needs to be close to the infant if it feels not right. It is also advantageous to breastfeed the baby for as long as possible, immunize it, and offer a pacifier, which can serve as a calming mechanism.
Some tips can help foster the infant’s healthy development in the three areas: perceptual, social, and motor. The best method of teaching one’s child is to explain them, talk to them, read books, and interact. Interaction is the most important thing for a child during the infant period. Moreover, parents need to help their children to develop their motor skills by giving them unique toys they can touch and explore (Braeken et al., 2016). Babies need to socialize with their parents and relatives, so someone must be near the child.
References
Braeken, M., Jones, A., Otte, R. A., NyklĂÄŤek, I., & Bergh, B. (2016). Potential benefits of mindfulness during pregnancy on maternal autonomic nervous system function and infant development.Psychophysiology, 54(2), 279-288. Web.
Thewissen, J., Hillmann, D., George, J., Stimmelmayr, R., Tarpley, R., Sheffield, G. & Suydam, R. (2021). Chapter 8: Prenatal development. Balaena Mysticetu: Biology and Human Interactions, 117-125. The Bowhead Whale