INFANCY AND TODDLERHOOD
BIRTH AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
Birth Process
• Parturition– brings on labor
• 2 weeks before delivery
• Uterine contractions
• Braxton-Hicks contractions
• First: Dilation of cervix
• Second: Descent and emergence of the baby
• Third: Expulsion of the placenta.
Assessments: Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral
Cesarean Delivery Assessment (NBAS)
• Surgically removing baby from uterus through Tests responses to physical and social environment
abdomen • Motor organization
• Often used when labor progresses slowly • Reflexes
• Common with: • Attention and interactive capacity
▪ First and/or large babies • CNS instability
▪ Older moms
▪ Mothers with previous C-sections Infant Arousal States
Unmedicated Delivery
Natural Childbirth
Mother receives training in fitness, breathing and
relaxation.
• Traditional cultures - Use of ‘doula’ Experienced
helper provides emotional support to mother.
Medicated Deliveries
*Pudendal block
• Relaxing analgesic
• Epidural
Size and Appearance of the Newborn
Average neonate is (US):
o20 inches long
o7.5 pounds
• Fontanels– soft plates of head
• Lanugo– fuzzy prenatal hair
• Vernix caseosa– oily protection against Childbirth Complications
infection. Birth trauma
• Witch’s milk- secretion that sometimes leaks • Postmaturity
from the swollen breasts of newborn boys and • Prematurity
girls around the 3rd day of life. • Low birthweight
• Weighing less than 5½ lbs.
Body Systems of the Newborn • Very low birth weight
Breathing: Anoxia or hypoxia can lead to birth trauma - less than 3 ½ lbs.
• Meconium- Stringy waste in fetal intestinal tract • Prematurity and low birth weight are the 2nd
• Neonatal Jaundice leading cause of infant death, after birth defects.
• Yellowing of skin and eyeballs
• Caused by immaturity of the liver Maternal Traits That Increase Risk of Low
• Half of all babies experience Birthweight
• Usually baby does not need treatment Underage or over-age
• Uneducated and poor
• Poor nutrition
• Smoking and drinking
, • Stress
• Infections and high blood pressure Nutrition: Breastfeeding
• Breast milk almost always the best food
Immediate Treatment for Prematurity • More digestible
Intravenous feeding • Reduces allergic reactions
• Surfactant • Minimizes numerous infections
• Isolette – controlled environment, like an incubator • May reduce risk of SIDS
• Kangaroo care • Better cognitive performance
• Recommendation is babies exclusively breastfeed for 6
Post-maturity & Stillbirth months
• Postmature: 42 weeks or more
• Dystocia Other Nutritional Concerns
• Stillbirth: Death of fetus at or after 20th week of Solid food introduced 2nd half of first year
gestation • Malnutrition
• Reduction may be due to fetal monitoring • Overweight
❑Parental obesity strong predictor
SIDS: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
• ‘Crib Death’ Reflexes: Unlearned & Protective Behaviors
• Sudden death of infant under 1 year of age Postural- Reactions to changes in posture or balance
• Cause of death unexplained Locomotor
• May have underlying biological defect (heart gene • Resemble later- appearing voluntary movements
mutations) • Walking and swimming reflexes
• May be associated with sleeping on stomach
• Triple risk model
Deaths from Injuries
90% of injury deaths in infancy due to:
• Suffocation
• Motor vehicle accidents
• Drowning
• Residential fires or burns
Immunizations
No causal connection between vaccines and autism or
other disorders
Proportions of Physical Growth
Growth: Height and Weight
Early Senses of Touch & Pain
Touch
• First sense to develop
• Rooting reflex
• Able to experience pain at birth
Early Senses of Smell & Taste
• Begins to develop in womb
• Newborns prefer sweet tastes
BIRTH AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
Birth Process
• Parturition– brings on labor
• 2 weeks before delivery
• Uterine contractions
• Braxton-Hicks contractions
• First: Dilation of cervix
• Second: Descent and emergence of the baby
• Third: Expulsion of the placenta.
Assessments: Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral
Cesarean Delivery Assessment (NBAS)
• Surgically removing baby from uterus through Tests responses to physical and social environment
abdomen • Motor organization
• Often used when labor progresses slowly • Reflexes
• Common with: • Attention and interactive capacity
▪ First and/or large babies • CNS instability
▪ Older moms
▪ Mothers with previous C-sections Infant Arousal States
Unmedicated Delivery
Natural Childbirth
Mother receives training in fitness, breathing and
relaxation.
• Traditional cultures - Use of ‘doula’ Experienced
helper provides emotional support to mother.
Medicated Deliveries
*Pudendal block
• Relaxing analgesic
• Epidural
Size and Appearance of the Newborn
Average neonate is (US):
o20 inches long
o7.5 pounds
• Fontanels– soft plates of head
• Lanugo– fuzzy prenatal hair
• Vernix caseosa– oily protection against Childbirth Complications
infection. Birth trauma
• Witch’s milk- secretion that sometimes leaks • Postmaturity
from the swollen breasts of newborn boys and • Prematurity
girls around the 3rd day of life. • Low birthweight
• Weighing less than 5½ lbs.
Body Systems of the Newborn • Very low birth weight
Breathing: Anoxia or hypoxia can lead to birth trauma - less than 3 ½ lbs.
• Meconium- Stringy waste in fetal intestinal tract • Prematurity and low birth weight are the 2nd
• Neonatal Jaundice leading cause of infant death, after birth defects.
• Yellowing of skin and eyeballs
• Caused by immaturity of the liver Maternal Traits That Increase Risk of Low
• Half of all babies experience Birthweight
• Usually baby does not need treatment Underage or over-age
• Uneducated and poor
• Poor nutrition
• Smoking and drinking
, • Stress
• Infections and high blood pressure Nutrition: Breastfeeding
• Breast milk almost always the best food
Immediate Treatment for Prematurity • More digestible
Intravenous feeding • Reduces allergic reactions
• Surfactant • Minimizes numerous infections
• Isolette – controlled environment, like an incubator • May reduce risk of SIDS
• Kangaroo care • Better cognitive performance
• Recommendation is babies exclusively breastfeed for 6
Post-maturity & Stillbirth months
• Postmature: 42 weeks or more
• Dystocia Other Nutritional Concerns
• Stillbirth: Death of fetus at or after 20th week of Solid food introduced 2nd half of first year
gestation • Malnutrition
• Reduction may be due to fetal monitoring • Overweight
❑Parental obesity strong predictor
SIDS: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
• ‘Crib Death’ Reflexes: Unlearned & Protective Behaviors
• Sudden death of infant under 1 year of age Postural- Reactions to changes in posture or balance
• Cause of death unexplained Locomotor
• May have underlying biological defect (heart gene • Resemble later- appearing voluntary movements
mutations) • Walking and swimming reflexes
• May be associated with sleeping on stomach
• Triple risk model
Deaths from Injuries
90% of injury deaths in infancy due to:
• Suffocation
• Motor vehicle accidents
• Drowning
• Residential fires or burns
Immunizations
No causal connection between vaccines and autism or
other disorders
Proportions of Physical Growth
Growth: Height and Weight
Early Senses of Touch & Pain
Touch
• First sense to develop
• Rooting reflex
• Able to experience pain at birth
Early Senses of Smell & Taste
• Begins to develop in womb
• Newborns prefer sweet tastes
