topic 4
Prenatal Development, Pregnancy and Childbirth
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Critical Thinking Questions The developing fetus can
now be seen visually and its health examined as never before has been possible. This is possible, of course, because of the development of new imaging and monitoring technologies. These technological advances are rapidly changing the
views previously held about the unborn. How will changes in these views affect the treatment of fetal ailments? Who will make the decisions concerning such treatment? These are questions that have yet to be answered.
Not long ago, it was widely held that newborn infants were incapable of feeling pain. Only recently have developmental psychologists come to the consensus that newborns can and do feel pain.
With regard to the fetus, it is still claimed by some that there is no capacity for pain. The first article in the list below reports on research that challenges this view. After reading this article and the following ones, try to
answer the following questions: Is it ethical to treat an infant who can feel pain without considering such pain as part of the decision to treat? Who should make the decision about whether to treat a fetal ailment? What are potential
conflicts of interest that ought to be taken into consideration when making such decisions? "Fetal psychology." (research shows that a 32-week-old fetus can feel and dream). Janet L. Hopson. Psychology Today
, Sept-Oct 1998 v31 n5 p44(6). "Fetal medicine: Treating the unborn patient." Pamela Camosy. American Family Physician, Oct 1995 v52 n5 p1385(8).
Research Question The research on child development has revealed a
consistent relationship between early developmental experiences and later developmental outcomes. This research has led to an increasing awareness of the need to provide prenatal care and guidance to pregnant mothers from high risk
groups, who might otherwise unknowingly harm the health of their unborn children.
The following research article highlights the need for health practitioners to provide
needed advice to pregnant mothers from high risk groups. After reading the article, answer the following questions: How did the researchers collect their data? Who were their subjects? What was their control group? What were the
results of this study? Do you detect any biases in the study? If so, how might these be corrected? Provide support for your answers. "The relationship between prenatal health behavior advice and low birth weight." Marjorie
R. Sable and Allen A. Herman. Public Health Reports, July-August 1997 v112 n4 p332(8).
Suggested Readings from Infotrac College Edition "Genetics
U.S. experts say time to think about gene therapy in womb." Cancer Weekly Plus, Oct 12, 1998 pNA. A timely discussion of the ethical and legal implications of needed research involving prenatal gene therapy to correct
genetic disorders.
"Pregnant workers: A physician's guide to assessing safe employment." Jason S. Feinberg. The Western Journal of Medicine, Feb 1998 v168 n2
p86(7). In response to the increasing numbers of women in the workforce, this article attempts to educate physicians in recognizing risks to pregnant workers. "Work environment and the safety of pregnant workers." (Tips
from Other Journals) Robert Sadovsky. American Family Physician, August 1998 v58 n2 p535(2). This article summarizes a number of risks to prenatal development that are associated with the work environment and highlights a
number of issues relevant to the topic. Suggestions are provided for development of screening procedures for high risk workers. "First trimester growth associated with LBW." (low birth weight) The Brown University Child
and Adolescent Behavior Letter, Feb 1999 v15 i2 p4(1). A report on recent research revealing that among women with no other complications or risk factors, fetal growth during the first trimester was associated with low birth
weight, a well-documented developmental risk factor. "Feeding the fetus: On interrogating the notion of maternal-fetal conflict." Susan Markens, C.H. Browner and Nancy Press. Feminist Studies, Summer 1997
v23 n2 p351(22). This article highlights some of the issues arising from an emerging developmental perspective on the unborn child. It is written from a feminist point of view, and contains thought-provoking questions about the
historical relationship between the pregnant woman and her unborn child. "Fetal effects of maternal position during labor." (Tips from Other Journals) Anne D. Walling. American Family Physician, Feb 15,
1997 v55 n3 p960(1). An article discussing oxygen levels and heart-rate effects on infants as affected by maternal position during labor. "Baby blues." (depression in mothers and infants) Stacie Zoe Berg.
Insight on the News, June 9, 1997 v13 n21 p41(1). A relationship is shown between chronically depressed mothers and depression in their infants. Possible causes include stress hormones released by mother and transferred to the
infant prenatally.