Pregnancy Week 20: The Eight Stages Of Baby Development

Babies at birth – most are born at 40 week and premature babies more often need a little more time to reach the same level of development as babies born in and after the 40th week. Most are born with just reflexes for survival at first. These would be swallowing, sucking reflexes to help feed. Rooting reflex baby will move its head if the cheek is touched to find a nipple or teat. Grasp reflex babies will grip objects touching their palm. Startle reflex they will often move arms outwards and clench fists is a sound movement or light suddenly startles them. Walking reflex when babies are held upright with their feet on a

At birth surprisingly a child has intellectually learned to do things already such as smell their mother and recognise her voice. They have also learnt that when they cry it lets people know that they need help and within the first few days of life they learn to use their senses particularly touch, taste and sound. At infancy a child is expected to weigh around 3.5kg or 7 1/2lbs and 50cm long. Bonding is very important socially and emotionally for both mother and baby, helps relationship in later life because they become closer. The babies reflexes are now improving, some of them are automatic responses. E.g. sucking a nipple or a bottle. Grasp reflex is when a

| At birth babies are born with reflexes – such as: * swallowing and sucking * rooting * grasping * startle reflexIn the first few months babies change considerably * gradually sleeping less * looking less curled up and startle less

The physical development of a baby in its first six months of life shows limited range of movement but the beginnings of an ability to respond to stimulus around them. They show their reaction to people, sounds and movement by turning their head toward whatever attracts their attention. They will watch an adult’s face whilst feeding, but have already begun to shows signs of recognition as they will smile when familiar people are around them either because they can see them

Throughout the first year of life, babies will undergo rapid social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development. Motor control develops from the head, moves down through the arms and then to the legs and feet. Initial movements are reflexive in nature, such as turning the head to the side when the cheek is stroked, which aids in feeding. Babies will start to turn their heads from side to side when lying on the back or belly,this will happen around one month. At three

Babies can start to grasp things in their hands and are able to feed for e.g. by latching onto the motherâ€TMs breast they can suckle. The colors can be recognized. Babies start to look at the environment. Recognize parents and enjoy repetitive activities. Babies have no any verbal language

By week 27 mothers are usually aware of the baby’s patterns of movements. Unusually high or low levels of activity are a sign of something being amiss.

this time, the baby's heart is beating, major organs are formed and maturing, facial features are

This will last from the first day to the 13th week of your pregnancy. During the first trimester, a woman will not look pregnant but her body will be going through massive changes to accommodate the developing fetus. Your hormone levels begin to change substantially, your uterus begins to promote the growth of your fetus and placenta and your body supplies blood to it so that your baby receives the required nutrients and oxygen. In addition, your heart

The eye (vision), is ready by the fourth month of pregnancy. The child can know the difference between night and day.

First trimester: By 12 weeks of pregnancy the foetus will be fully formed. The ovum grows and develops certain important parts of the baby’s body such as spinal cord, nervous system, gastrointestinal system, heart and lungs in the first four weeks from conception. The heart starts beating and brain and other organs forms by eight weeks. At this stage, the face is formed and arms and legs start to move. The baby grows to 3 inches long and

The third trimester is usually the period between the 27-40th week of pregnancy. During this period there are many developmental changes in both the fetus and the expectant mother (Nilsson & Lemberger 2009). As the fetus grows and covers the abdominal cavity of the mother, the mother has a feeling of discomfort as she is anxious for the expected child. On the hand the fetus during this period the lungs mature and begin to positions its head-down. It can see and hear as the brain is also developing.

This stage lasts from birth to twelve months. In this stage, infants gain knowledge about their surrounding by using their senses. (Clarke-Stewart, Gruber, & Fitzgerald, 2007, p. 154). They recognize the faces of their caregivers and may respond to smiles. At these stage infants are generally attracted to bright colors, and show response to sound by turning towards the direction of the sound. Studies have indicated that infants between the ages of three and seven weeks have the ability to recognize shapes and pictures of human faces (Goswami, 1994, p. 376).

Between the second and third trimester it is vital for the baby to continue to grow as much as possible. If the baby were to arrive after 24 weeks, it would be able to survive, but it would have to remain the NICU. During the six months, the eyelids finally open after being sealed during the entire pregnancy. Also the fetus has developed taste buds, eyebrows, eyelashes, and a grasping motion. It is during the seventh month period, also known as the fetal stage, that the fetus

Although babies spend most of their time sleeping and eating they still have transitions to different stages. For example, reflexes are the most common for people to recognize the organized patterns of behavior. Also, a crying baby is what everyone recognizes. However, it is somewhat good when the baby cries, because it stimulates strong discomfort that the adults can realize. Usually the baby just needs a diaper change or needs to be feed, but sometimes its more and it is the parent's job to figure out why the baby is crying. The parents have to soothe them; they can do this by rocking, walking, swaddling, and talking softly. The baby also is developing their five senses, so it is important that the parents do not interfere with the development. For example, using screaming very loudly can ruin a baby's hearing. Vision is the one that develops the least. Nerveless, newborns can recognize human faces and want the mother's familiar face instead of a stranger. The most widely used instrument for helping the behavior of the newborn infant is Brazelton's Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS). It has helped researchers understand newborns better.