1.
age of viability: age at which a fetus may survive outside the mother's uterus if specialized medical care is available (22 weeks after conception)
2.
anoxia: lack of air to fetus
3.
Apgar Scale: quick assessment of a newborns health; baby's color, heart rate, reflexes, muscle tone, and respiratory effort are given a score 0-2 at one minute and 5 min. after birth.
4.
behavioral teratogens: agents and conditions that can harm the prenatal brain, impairing the future child's intellectual and emotional functioning
5.
Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale: measures 46 newborn behaviors, 20 of which are reflexive
6.
cerebral palsy: disorder that results from damage to the brain's motor centers; difficulty with muscle control, impaired speech and body movements
7.
cesarean section: surgical birth, in which incisions through the mother's abdomen and uterus allow the fetus to be removed quickly, instead of being delivered through the vagina
8.
couvade: symptom of pregnancy and birth experienced by fathers
9.
embryo: name for a developing human organism from about the 3rd - 8th week after conception
10.
embryonic period: 3rd -8th week after conception, during which basic forms of all body structures, including internal organs, develop
11.
extremely low birthweight: body weight that is less than 2 lbs 3 ounces
12.
fetal alcohol syndrome: cluster of birth defects, including abnormal facial characteristics, slow physical growth, and retarded mental development, that may occur in a child of a woman who drinks alcohol while pregnant
13.
fetal period: 9th till birth; fetus gains about 7lbs and organs become more mature, gradually able to function on own
14.
fetus: name of developing human after 9th of conception until birth
15.
germinal period: first 2 weeks of prenatal dev. After conception characterized by rapid cell division and the beginning of cell differentiation
16.
implantation: process, beginning about 10 days after conception, in which the developing organism burrows into the placenta that lines the uterus, where it can be nourished and protected as it continues to develop
17.
kangaroo care: form of newborn care in which mothers rest the baby between their breasts like a kangaroo that carries her immature newborn in a pouch
18.
low birthweight: body weight at birth less than 5.5 lbs
19.
parent-infant bond: strong, loving, connection that forms as parents hold, examine, and feed their newborn
20.
preterm: - birth that occurs 3 or more weeks before the full 38 weeks of the typical pregnancy
21.
relfex: unlearned, involuntary action or movement that responds to a stimulus; a reflex occurs without conscious thought
22.
small for gestational age: term for baby whose birthweight is significantly lower than expected, given the time since conception
23.
teratogens: - agents and conditions, including viruses, drugs, and chemicals, that can impair prenatal development and result in birth defects or death
24.
threshold effect: situation in which a certain teratogen is relatively harmless in small doses but become harmful once exposure reaches a certain level (the threshold)
25.
very low birthweightr: body weight at birth less than 3 lbs 5 ounces
