C.H.I.L.D Foundation Prenatal Development Growing fetus Reflexes Senses By Drina Madden

C.H.I.L.D Foundation Prenatal Development  The beginning of life

C.H.I.L.D Foundation Prenatal Development  The period of the embryo 28 days 36 days

C.H.I.L.D Foundation Prenatal Development  The period of the embryo 48 days 54 days

C.H.I.L.D Foundation Prenatal Development  The period of the fetus Eleventh Week

C.H.I.L.D Foundation Prenatal Development  Fetus - 24 weeks

C.H.I.L.D Foundation  Fetus – 8 months

C.H.I.L.D Foundation Prenatal Development

C.H.I.L.D Foundation Reflexes  First responses 5 weeks after conception Upper lip touch = withdrawal response Few days later Sensitivity has spread to palms and soles of feet Before 9 weeks Sensitivity has spread to whole body

C.H.I.L.D Foundation Reflexes  9 weeks in utero Withdrawal reactions lessen Primitive reflexes appear Neural development determines timing Appearance Inhibition

C.H.I.L.D Foundation Reflexes  Primitive Reflexes Insure protection outside the womb Automatic, stereotyped movements directed from the brain stem No cortex involvement

C.H.I.L.D Foundation Reflexes  Primitive Reflexes Essential for survival in first 2 weeks of life Lay foundation for all later functioning If remain after 6 – 12 months = brain development weaknesses or immaturity

C.H.I.L.D Foundation Reflexes  Primitive Reflexes – brain stem dominated Rooting Reflex – searching sucking and swallowing Moro or Startle Reflex – response to outside stimuli

C.H.I.L.D Foundation Reflexes  Primitive Reflexes Asymmetrical Tonic – muscle tone, vestibular awareness Palmar – grasp reflex

C.H.I.L.D Foundation Reflexes  Postural Reflexes Form the framework for effective operation of other systems Posture Movement Stability

C.H.I.L.D Foundation Reflexes  Postural Reflexes - rolling Neck Righting Reaction Labyrinth Righting Reaction

C.H.I.L.D Foundation Brain Development  Connections grow through nature and nurture

C.H.I.L.D Foundation Brain Development  Heredity and experiences increase connections

C.H.I.L.D Foundation Brain Development  Electrical activity increases with brain growth gained through experience

C.H.I.L.D Foundation Brain Development  As the body grows – the brain grows

C.H.I.L.D Foundation Brain Development  The lower brain – attention and mood

C.H.I.L.D Foundation The Senses  Touch begins in utero

C.H.I.L.D Foundation The Senses  Vestibular – balance and awareness in space

C.H.I.L.D Foundation The Senses  Hearing begins in utero and strongly connects to neonatal life

C.H.I.L.D Foundation The Senses  Taste begins to connect at birth

C.H.I.L.D Foundation The Senses  Vision is the last sense to complete its journey  In time, sharing occurs

C.H.I.L.D Foundation The Senses  Vision connects with language and perception

C.H.I.L.D Foundation The Senses  Language needs receiving and sending

C.H.I.L.D Foundation After Birth  Attention and mood govern development  Each of the brain lobes grows separately.  Connections begin to reach to other lobes  The child’s brain grows in awareness and flexibility