Chapter III: DEVELOPMENT OF THE LEARNER AT VARIOUS STAGES

MODULE 10: PRE-NATAL DEVELOPMENT

Introduction

It is important to understand the beginning stage of human development. The

more we know how all it began, the easier it becomes to grasp the truth about our well-
being. By learning more about pre-natal development, we can conquer our doubts on
how did we exist, how life becomes meaningful. We begin to see the dawn of truth
about our existence and the changes due to physical development in our body.

Learning Objectives

At the end of this module, you are expected to:

 explain the stages in pre-natal development;

 demonstrate knowledge on factors that influence pre-natal development of

learners.

Learning Content

 Prenatal Development

How did you come to be who you are? From beginning as a one-cell structure to
your birth, your prenatal development occurred in an orderly and delicate sequence.

There are three stages of prenatal development: germinal, embryonic, and fetal.
Let’s take a look at what happens to the developing baby in each of these stages.

Germinal Stage (Weeks 1–2)

In the discussion of biopsychology earlier in the book, you learned about genetics
and DNA. A mother and father’s DNA is passed on to the child at the moment of
conception. Conception occurs when sperm fertilizes an egg and forms a zygote. A
zygote begins as a one-cell structure that is created when a sperm and egg merge. The
genetic makeup and sex of the baby are set at this point. During the first week after
conception, the zygote divides and multiplies, going from a one-cell structure to two
cells, then four cells, then eight cells, and so on. This process of cell division is called
mitosis. Mitosis is a fragile process, and fewer than one-half of all zygotes survive
beyond the first two weeks (Hall, 2004). After 5 days of mitosis there are 100 cells, and
after 9 months there are billions of cells. As the cells divide, they become more
specialized, forming different organs and body parts. In the germinal stage, the mass of
cells has yet to attach itself to the lining of the mother’s uterus. Once it does, the next
stage begins.

Embryonic Stage (Weeks 3–8)

After the zygote divides for about 7–10 days and has 150 cells, it travels down
the fallopian tubes and implants itself in the lining of the uterus. Upon implantation, this
multi-cellular organism is called an embryo. Now blood vessels grow, forming the
placenta. The placenta is a structure connected to the uterus that provides nourishment
and oxygen from the mother to the developing embryo via the umbilical cord. Basic
structures of the embryo start to develop into areas that will become the head, chest,
and abdomen. During the embryonic stage, the heart begins to beat and organs form
and begin to function. The neural tube forms along the back of the embryo, developing
into the spinal cord and brain.

Fetal Stage (Weeks 9–40)

When the organism is about nine weeks old, the embryo is called a fetus. At this
stage, the fetus is about the size of a kidney bean and begins to take on the
recognizable form of a human being as the “tail” begins to disappear.

From 9–12 weeks, the sex organs begin to differentiate. At about 16 weeks, the
fetus is approximately 4.5 inches long. Fingers and toes are fully developed, and
fingerprints are visible. By the time the fetus reaches the sixth month of development
(24 weeks), it weighs up to 1.4 pounds. Hearing has developed, so the fetus can
respond to sounds. The internal organs, such as the lungs, heart, stomach, and
intestines, have formed enough that a fetus born prematurely at this point has a chance
to survive outside of the mother’s womb. Throughout the fetal stage the brain continues
to grow and develop, nearly doubling in size from weeks 16 to 28. Around 36 weeks, the
fetus is almost ready for birth. It weighs about 6 pounds and is about 18.5 inches long,
and by week 37 all of the fetus’s organ systems are developed enough that it could
survive outside the mother’s uterus without many of the risks associated with premature
birth. The fetus continues to gain weight and grow in length until approximately 40
weeks. By then, the fetus has very little room to move around and birth becomes
imminent. The progression through the stages is shown in Figure 2.
Physical Development from the Start

When healthy babies are born, some of their internal systems, such as those developed
for breathing and processing food, are developed and functional. However, infants
require responsive care from loving adults, proper nutrition, and appropriately
stimulating environments to support the best possible physical development. Infant and
toddler physical development occurs quickly, and it is essential to understand physical
development during various stages.

From birth, infants want to explore their world. While each child has their own schedule
for development and mastering new skills, infants are often eager early on to move their
mouths, eyes and bodies toward people and objects that comfort or interest them. They
continue to practice skills that let them move closer to desired objects. Ongoing
observation and frequent conversations with their families can help you learn what
infants and toddlers are able to do, what they are learning to do, and in what areas they
could use your support.

Signs of Physical Development - Infants & Toddlers

By 3 months  Does notice hands

 Support head well
 Using hands to grasp or hold objects
By 6 months  Sucking
 Gaining weight or growing in height
 Responding to sounds and voices
 Bring objects to mouth
 Roll over from front to back or back to front
 Flexible limbs (arms, legs)
 Strong limbs (arms, legs)
 Using hands to grasp or hold objects

By 12 months  Pointing to communicate needs or ideas

 Crawling or sitting on own
 Picking up small objects

By 18 months  Imitating
 Playing with toys
 Scribbling or picking up objects to, for example, put in a
container
 Self-feeding

By 24 months  Physically active

 Scribbling or stacking blocks
 Showing interest in playing with toys

By 36 months  Active
 Feeding self
 Helping dress or undress self
 Interested in playing with a variety of toys
Activity

Activity 1. In your own words, identify the three stages in pre-natal development?
Explain.

Activity 2. List five examples of hazards in the pre-natal development and state how it
affects the child.

Activity 3. Interview a mother. What are the struggles that she has undergone during
her pregnancy? List 5 examples of these struggles and how did she
overcome it.

Self-Assessment

Write a 3-4 paragraph essay with regard to human abortion. Support your answer
whether you agree or disagree.

References

 Corpuz, B. et.al (n.d.). The Child and Adolescent Learners and Learning
Principles.

 Pre-natal Development: What we learn inside the womb.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UA-Tk9qlG9A
 How a child's brain develops through early experiences.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMyDFYSkZSU