UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE

CENTRE FOR TEACHER EDUCATION AND MATERIALS DEVELOPMENT

MASVINGO TEACHERS’ COLLEGE

EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONS

TRANSFORMATIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES OF EDUCATION

INTAKE 19 / STEP 7

PRE-NATAL DEVELOPMENT

What is Pre-Natal Development?

Pre-Natal is the period starting from fertilization of the egg (ovum) to birth.

So it is from conception till birth.

Pre means before

Natal is from a Latin word ‘natails’ which means relating to birth

Pre-Natal can also be referred to as antenatal

Ante is a Latin word meaning before

Perinatal, ‘peri’ is from a Greek work around or about

Perinatal or antenatal or prenatal is a period before birth

Therefore, Pre-Natal is the period from conception until birth

Development means growth or a new stage in a changing situation.

Prenatal Development are the changes which take place from conception till birth.

Pre-Natal is from 38-40 weeks long (265 days) or 9 months

It is divided into three stages

Definition of key terms

Conception

Is the process of fertilization of the ovum by the sperm commonly known pregnancy’

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Cell

Is a small unit of living matter which contain chromosomes

Chromosomes

Are rod shaped and thread like structures composed of genes

Genes are basic traits of heredity made up of deoxyribonucleic acid DNA

DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid is a molecule that contains the genetic code that is unique to
every individual.

Heredity

Is the transmission of traits and chromosomes from the parents to the child in the form of genes.

Stages of Prenatal Development

The Germinal stage (1-2 weeks)

Germinal stage begins when the sperm and the egg infuse to form a zygote. (fertilisation)

Basic Genetics of Conception

Each cell in the human body has 23 pairs of chromosomes (in both men and women)

Chromosomes have thousands of genes containing information for the individual pertaining to
individual characteristics eg blood type,hair, color, height, body and all patterns of intellectual,
physical, emotional and social development

Genes also contain complex molecules known as DNA

When the sperm fertilises the ovum at conception, chromosomes with genes from the father
are passed on to the child.
Parents pass on traits or characteristics through genes such as:

- Physical characterstics such as stature, appearance, (beauty or handsome) slimness,

being fat, stout, hair colour, long hair, short hair, , complexion, eye colour, set of teeth,
walking style,
- Social and Emotional Characteristics, eg temper tuntrums or outbursts, being
sociable, (extrovert) aggression, empathy, love, hatred, gentleness, peacefulness, cruel,
mean, generous, withdrawn,( introvert)

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 - Lingustic Characteristics- eg voice, speed in speaking, tone, voice projection, cleft
lip and palate
- Diseases –eg diabetes, eye disease, fibrosis, cystic, liver disease, hypertension,
- Intellectual ability eg. High or low intellectual abilities. persistence,
- There is a saying which says “inteligence is from the mother.”
- What fathers pass to their sons - hairs in the ears, introversion, extroversion, sperm
production,

Embryonic Stage ( 3rd week to 8th week)

Zygote develops into an embryo.

In this stage all the body organs are formed, starting from the heart, head, face, eyes, ears,
fingers, toes, sex organs, muscles, pancreas, lungs, kidneys, glands, skin, nails, and the
brain.etc.

The embryo is very fragile and the biggest dangers are teratogens (ie, drugs, viruses, radiation)
that cause deformities in an embryo.

Stage 3

Fetal Stage ( from 9th week till birth)

Embryo becomes a fetus .

Although organs were formed at the embryonic stage, they continue to develop during the fetal
stage

ADVERSE FACTORS AFFECTING FETAL DEVELOPMENT

Although the womb provides protection the fetus remains indirectly connected to the outside
world through its mother. .(environment)
Several factors that are linked to the mother can harm the fetus

Drugs

Babies from mothers who used drugs during pre-natal, show signs of withdrawal after birth
such as crying, difficulty in sleeping and erratic eating

They later develop learning problems such as inability to pay attention, poor self-control,
increased irritability hyperactivity.

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Alcohol, cocaine, tobacco, heroine, inhalants affect prenatal development

Mothers who drink heavily during pregnancy may have babies with fetal alcohol syndrome

Babies with this syndrome may have problems such as a head size, heart defects, irritability,
hyperactivity, mental retardation, cognitive delays, Intelligence disability,

Alcohol taking during pregnancy is characterised by facial abnormalities including a smaller

head, flattened nose, wide spaced eyes and narrow upper lip.

Fetal alcohol syndrome also result in intellectual impairments, impaired physical growth,
learning disabilities and behavioural problems

-alcohol consumption leads to low intelligence

Fetal alcohol syndrome is incurable

Smoking

Smoking leads to low birth weight

Smoking may cause respiratory infections, asthma etc.

Tobacco can result in low birth weight, abnormalities such as urinary tract and limb
malformations

Tobacco has long term effects on children’s cognitive development and social development

Cocaine – causes low birth weight and brain damage.

Marijuana and Heroin

Interferes with child’s growth

Learning disorder and attention problems are common among children with mothers who
smoked marijuana during pregnancy

Maternal Derived Abnormalities

The age, health status, nutritional status and environment of the mother are all closely tied to
the health of the growing embryo or foetus’

Age

Babies born to mothers between the age seventeen and 35 to be healthier

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Congenital abnormalities such as Down syndrome increases with age (particularly over 40
years)

Birth complications is greater with women over age of 35

Health Status

Mothers may pass a viral or bacterial infection to the foetus such HIV virus.

Mother’s illness may cause congenital malformations eg Rubella can cause heart defects,
deafness, and developmental delays

Rubella- baby might suffer blindness, brain damage (germane measles) with symptoms of rush.

Chronic illness

Conditions such as the heart disease, diabetes and lungs can negatively impact on pre-natal
development

Exposure to diabetes can cause development delays

Sexual Transmitted Infections (STIs) and HIV and AIDS

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) a virus in the herpes group, is the single most prevalent infectious
cause of congenital mental retardation and deafness
Syphilis and Gonorrhoea cause birth defects

Syphilis is most harmful during the last 26 weeks of prenatal development and causes eye and
brain defects.

Gonorrhoea can cause blindness in the infant and is also transmitted at birth

Nutritional Status

A well balanced diet rich in vitamin B &D, iron, zinc, calcium, folic, acid is recommended for
pregnant women

Mothers are recommended to eat approximately 300 additional calories a day to support fetal
development

Diet

Malnutrition during pregnancy particularly during the last 3 months may result in still birth
infant death and low birth weight and smaller brains

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Lack of B vitamin and folic acid found in liver, beans, green leafy vegetables, broccoli, orange
juice, grain products, cereals – leads to paralysis and mental retardation.

Obese women who are pregnant may give birth to babies who may develop heart disease and
diabetes

Sex-linked disorders
Most sex linked disorders are caused by recessive genes
One most common sex linked disorder is red-green colour blindness
People with this disorder have a difficulty in distinguishing between colours red and green
Another sex linked disease is haemophilia
People with haemophilia lack a chemical which causes blood to clot
People with haemophilia bleed and the bleeding does not stop naturally

Prematurity

Advances in medical care have made it possible for many infants born prematurely to survive
and develop normality

Medications That Impact Prenatal Development

It is essential to cease taking certain medication if you think you are pregnant.

Use of certain prescription or over the counter drugs

Exposure to X-rays and other kinds of radiation

Stress and Emotional state

Stressful life, emotional stress and physical stress lead to low birth weight and development
delays.

Educational Implications

It helps teachers to understand the contribution or influence of prenatal development to

human potential or ability
It provides the teacher with the knowledge of causes of abnormalities
It assists the teacher or teachers to appreciate children or people as unique individuals

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It gives us knowledge on how to care for the expectant mothers and the lifelong impact of
prenatal health.
Know and accept your learners as they are with their conditions.

Accept and cater for individual differences within your learners.

Accommodate all learners. Be inclusive in the teaching and learning process.

Do not label learners using genetic or non -genetic conditions, eg dull, thin girl, albino, smashed
face, squint eyes, thin lips, six fingers, etc. Remember some conditions are hereditary.

Show empathy for learners with various conditions or diseases and encourage other learners to
do like wise. Do not allow other learners to label others.

Do not force learners to do certain activities instead ask for a letter from the doctor.

Ensure that learners who have poor eyesight and hearing impairments sit in front.

Learners should be treated as individuals. Consider all learners,

Do not discriminate according to conditions which learners posses.

Select methods and activities that suit the different learners in your class.

Prepare media suitable for diverse learners.

Incalculate self control skills to learners who developed poor self control due to drug intake
during pre-natal stage.

Keep the hyper active learner busy. Ensure all learners are attentive.

Control the behaviour of your learners.

Teachers have to ensure that learners who have poor eyesight and hearing impairements sit
in front