Prenatal and Neonatal Quick Reference
Giving Birth During Adolescence
PSY FPX 6025 Assessment 1 In 2012, over 86,000 adolescents between the ages of 15 and 17 gave birth, which was more than 1 in every 4 adolescents to give birth before high school graduation. It is alarming to realize that nearly 1,700 adolescents in this age group give birth weekly, projecting the adolescent pregnancy epidemic. In addition, only 27% of adolescents aged 15 to 17 say that they never have sex (National Center For Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2019).
Best Practices for a Healthy Pregnancy
Precautions that guarantee a healthy pregnancy significantly enhance the possibility of a healthy birth. Early and regular prenatal care is also a key factor in guaranteeing a healthy pregnancy, with care starting ideally even before conception in the form of pre-pregnancy visits with health workers. Adequate nutrition, healthy weight gain, and vitamin supplementation are also essential practices to guarantee the health of both the mother and the developing fetus (American Psychology Association, 2020).
Supporting Lung Development
Development of the fetal lung occurs in several stages, with the pseudoglandular phase starting from week 5 to week 17 of pregnancy, followed by the subsequent stages up to the final stage, starting from approximately the 36th week of pregnancy. Surprisingly, the final month of pregnancy is also essential for lung development, emphasizing allowing babies to come to term as much as possible to minimize risks of premature birth (Chisholm, 2021).
Exercise for Fetal Lung Health
New evidence that was just presented at the 2021 European Respiratory Society International Congress suggests that exercising during pregnancy may improve fetal lung health and potentially reduce the risk of respiratory diseases such as asthma in later life. This study comes on the heels of previous studies linking compromised lung function at birth with greater susceptibility to respiratory disease (Ooko, 2021).
Impact of Environmental Factors
PSY FPX 6025 Assessment 1 Environmental reasons, like the mother’s exposure to chemicals, air fresheners, and cleaning products, are known to influence fetal growth in a significant manner. Other challenges like the type of water one uses while bathing and the vulnerability to infectious illness from bird flu and salmonella can impact fetal growth and development and highlight maternal lifestyle choices (Ooko, 2021).
Father’s Role in Prenatal Attachment
Father-child attachment begins during pregnancy, with caregiving behaviors such as the sound of the father’s voice and sensing the movement of the baby forming early attachment (Biller, 1976). At the birth of the baby, the attachment increases as fathers actively engage in caregiving, hence assisting in developing the emotional health and self-esteem of the child (Biller, 1976).
References
American Psychology Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.).
Ashley, J. M. (1999). Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
PSY FPX 6025 Assessment 1 Prenatal and Neonatal Quick Reference
Biller, H. (1976). The role of the father in child development. New York: M.E. Lamb (Ed.).
Chisholm, A. (2021, October 20). When are babies’ lungs fully developed. Retrieved from
https://www.verywellhealth.com
National Center For Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2019, December 19). Preventing Teen Pregnancy. Retrieved from CDC Division Of Reproductive Health:https://www.cdc.gov/
Ooko, S. (2021, September 22). Pregnancy exercise for healthy lungs of baby. Retrieved fromhttps://www.businessdailyafrica.com
PSY FPX 6025 Assessment 1 Prenatal and Neonatal Quick Reference
Susan E. Maier, J. R. (2001). In J. R. Susan E. Maier, Pre-natal alcohol exposure (pp. 168- 74). Texas, USA: Department of human anatomy and medical neurobiology.
