Page 4 - LESSION 8.pmd

Stages of Child Development : –Prenatal; and –Birth to Three Years

INTEXT QUESTIONS 8.1
Notes
Match Column A with Column B.
Column A Column B

(a) Zygote (i) 8weeks

(b) Implantation (ii) when the zygote attaches to the uterine wall

(c) Embryo (iii) result of fertilisation
(d) Placenta (iv) thick, blood-rich tissue that lines the walls of the
uterus during pregnancy and nourishes the embryo

8.2 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NEWBORN

Characteristics of the newborn such as umbilical cord, skin, hair, head, weight,
height, sleeping patterns and reflexes are discussed below:

• • • • • Umbilicalcord

The umbilical cord of a newborn is bluish-white in colour. After birth, the
umbilical cord is normally cut, leaving stub about one to two inches long.
The umbilical stub dries out, shrivels, darkens and spontaneously falls off
within three weeks. This later becomes the belly-button after it heals.
• Skin

Newborns are wet, covered in streaks of blood and coated with a white
substance known as vernix-caseosa, which is assumed to act as an
antibacterial barrier. At birth, a newborn’s skin is often grayish to dusky
blue in colour. As soon as the newborn begins to breath, usually within
a minute or two, the skin’s colour reaches its normal tone.

• Hair

Some newborns have fine, soft body hair called lanugo. They are
particularly noticeable on the back, shoulders, forehead, ears and face of
premature infants. Lanugo disappears within a few weeks of birth.
• Head

A newborn’s head is very large in proportion to the body and the cranium
is enormous relative to the face.
• Weight

The average birth weight of a full-term new born is approximately 2.5 to
3.5kgs.

106 EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION