CONCEPTION PHYSICAL Conception is the beginning of human development and happens when the sperm meets an egg. In the first month, the first two weeks will be the embryo attaching itself to the uterine wall. After 25 days, the baby’s body will start to develop (only the head, followed by the trunk and arm buds). The heart will also start beating. By 30 days, the baby will be a quarter of an inch long.
One day before conception the woman ovulates and produces one mature ovum. During the conception process one sperm out of millions by the man may penetrate the outside layer of the ovum and fertilize it. The start of pregnancy is about 10 days after conception. 14 days after conception it has now developed into the fetus central nervous system. Its heart begins to beat and at this time the woman might have noticed that her menstrual period is late.
Embryonic Stem Cell Research A stem cell is a type of cell that can give rise to more cells of its kind, with at least one type of specialized cell. Human bodies possess different kinds of stem cells in different stages of life, and embryonic stem cells exist only in the first few weeks of human life, when humans are embryos. Embryos are fertilized eggs formed when a human egg and sperm fuse together and begin to undergo cell division. After about five days from the first division embryos develop into a hollowed-out ball of fluid that contains around 150 cells called a blastocyst. A part of the blastocyst will become the placenta, which will serve to nurture the growing embryo.
Rudolfe Schaffer and Peggy Emerson (1964) studied sixty babies at monthly intervals for the first eighteen months of life; and a regular pattern was identified in the development of attachment (Hardy, S. 1995). They discovered that attachment developed in the following sequence:- Birth to six months - this is the indiscriminate attachment phase, the newborn is predisposed to attach to any human; most babies respond equally to any caregiver. After four months - preference for certain people; infants learn to distinguish primary and secondary caregivers, but still except care from anyone. After seven months - special preference for a single attachment figure; the baby looks to particular people for security and comfort; they show fear of strangers and unhappiness when separated from a special person. After nine months – multiple attachment; the baby becomes increasingly independent and forms several attachments.
Physical Development Physical development includes motor skills, co-ordination and the influence of hormones. Infancy ( 0-3) Human development begins after the union of male and female gametes or germ cells during a process known as fertilization (conception). When this happens only half of the fertilised eggs become babies. 3 days after fertilisation the egg is the size of a pin head and becomes embedded in the uterus. Labour begins when a women’s water break, this is the amniotic fluid that protects the baby.
Consequently, they mate and touch one another regularly. It takes many years for chimpanzees to reach sexual maturity, and when they do, they begin to exhibit mating behavior. A female is able to mate about every 34 to 36 days. When a female chimpanzee is ready to mate, the skin around her bottom swells and turns pink. The swelling will be there for about ten days before becoming flabby and then shrinking away again.
The sequence of puberty, from breast development, growth of pubic hair, growing, appearance of acne, to complete physical maturation, may take a year and a half or last as long as 6 years. For males, puberty can start as early as 9 years of age to as late as 14 years of age. The sequence of puberty, from growth of pubic hair, growing, possible breast development, voice change, growing of body hair, appearance of acne, to complete physical maturation, may take 2 to 5 years for males. From here the child will grow into a young adult and quickly grow out of he innocent and ignorant child he/she started off as. As the child dances to this age, he/she will soon begin to take his/her individuality and responsibility.
The reason that the fetus depends entirely on the mother for obtaining oxygen and eliminating carbon dioxide is that the fetal lungs are either collapsed or partially filled with amniotic fluid. The production of surfactant begins by the end of the sixth month of development. Because the respiratory system is fairly well developed at least two months before birth, premature babies delivered at seven months are able to breathe and cry. After delivery, the baby’s supply of oxygen from the mother ceases, and any amniotic fluid in the fetal lungs is absorbed. Because carbon dioxide is no longer being removed, it builds up in the blood.
From birth through to adulthood children continually grow, develop, and learn. A child’s development can be measured through social, emotional, intellectual, physical and language developmental milestones. In general, child development progresses from head to toe. Beginning at the top of the body and gradually moving downwards from inner to outer. Firstly gaining control of muscles close to the head and then moving outwards so the large muscles in the shoulders and upper arms/thighs are first and the extremities last from simple to complex; children progress from simple words to complex sentences from general to specific; emotional responses involve the whole body in young babies but may involve only the face in an older child It is important to understand how children develop physically, socially, emotionally and intellectually and to know that all areas of development
The Placenta The placenta is a temporary organ that develops in the uterus of a female during pregnancy. At maturity, it is discoid mass that is about 6-8 inches in diameter, weighs 1-2 pounds, and is about 1 ¼ inches thick in the center and tapers off towards the edges. (Gray) It separates and connects the fetus and the mother and provides a pathway for oxygen, nutrients, and wastes. The placenta is connected to the fetus by the umbilical cord and to the mother by the uterine wall. The placenta serves many critical roles as an “anchor”, barrier, nutrient transporter, respiratory organ, endocrine, and excretory organ.