When I took this course, I didn't realize that by the end of it I would know so much about babies. It was not my interest but once I started, it fasinated me. I hope some of you find this information useful:
Environment and the developing brain
Formation of the placenta:
- The trophoblast and the chorion
- villi formation (protruding, surround trophoblast
- chronic villas sampling
- fetoprotein – if neural tube open, movement of spinal fluid
- umbilical arteries and vein exchange across wall of villi
Villi is covered with a membrane that is a barrier – mother-fetus exchange. What is not exchanged is blood.
Placenta produces protein, also hormones. It acts like a point of transport, and half fetal. The blood is in fine blood vessels. Some material can go through vessels but blood can’t. Example, more oxygen on mom’s side will go to the fetus side as well as other things, even when it is not so good. The main restriction is size. Small things cross easily – big do not.
Rules of the Placenta
1. involves in the metabolism and protein synthesis
2. hormone synthesis
3. transport of materials to and from the fetus.
Fort the first few months in life, the baby has a good immune system like mom. After a few months, baby should be up and ready for her own immune system. Normal hormones good but if mom has hormonal disturbances it can negatively affect the fetus. What also goes through are drugs, heroin, cocaine, nicotine similarity viruses because small- bacteria is different.
Viruses that cross the placenta:
Rubella (German measles) critical period, high abnormalities
Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
Encephalitis
Poliomyelitis
Herpes Simplex
HIV
Rubella
Gestational Age - 1st month - Risk 50% Outcome: deafness; cataract.
2nd month- risk 20%-25% - cardiac
3rd to 5th month - Risk 6%-10% - retardation (motor/mental)
To be continued
No comments:
Post a Comment