Prenatal development period includes the growth and development process of the zygote, which is formed by the union of sperm and egg in the womb (Shiel Jr., 2018). First 4 months of the baby in the womb is a vital period regarding the beginning of the formation of organs. During this period, new features such as the onset of the heartbeat and then the emergence of the head, ears, and eyes, and along with this, their tiny arms and legs gradually begin to become evident. The most important developing system at this period is the nervous system. In this system, firstly the head grows, the cartilage skeletal system emerges and then the muscles are formed, and shaped. At the end of the eight weeks, the embryo begins to look like a human-being. The reason for this is that all facial features and organs develop in this period. Also, the existing features after the baby (fetus) reaches the fourth month, the arms, legs, and brain features continue to develop in more detail (O’Rahilly & Müller, 2008). The fact that most of the congenital developmental disorders emerge in these first 4 months shows how important this stage is (O’Rahilly & Müller, 2008). In the prenatal period, babies begin to hear some sounds in the womb, such as the mother’s voice and heartbeat. These sounds are very important for the maturation of the baby’s sensory development in the future (Webb et all., 2015).
Prenatal development has an important role in our lives due as it is a factor that affects our health in childhood and even adulthood. In this period, pregnant mothers should pay attention to their health in order to contribute to the development of the baby in terms of cognitive, visual, and auditory functions since the baby in the womb begins to be directly affected by the mother’s experiences (Dawes et al., 2015). If the mother does not eat healthy during pregnancy, the baby is likely to be born prematurely with low weight and height because of this situation and at the same time, malnutrition, along with poor environmental conditions, causes development of cognitive dysfunctions in infants (Dawes et al., 2015). In a study by Richards et al. (2001), on cognitive dysfunctions, the cognitive functions of the participants from childhood to adulthood were investigated. As a result of this research, it was found that birth weight and cognitive ability were significantly correlated. Briefly, we can say that birth weight and the growth environment after birth are important factors for the healthy development of a child’s cognitive abilities. Finally, prenatal development has a significant impact on the auditory and visual sensory functions of the baby in the womb, and birth weight was found to be positively associated with hearing and visual functions (Olsen et al., 2001).
The prenatal period is also important for the emotional development of babies. The emotional state of pregnant mothers directly affects their babies (O’Connor et al., 2003). It has been revealed that the mother’s prenatal stress causes the baby’s emotional disorders, and this effect may be long-lasting (Desocio, 2018). However, not all stress is harmful. Some stress and anxiety during pregnancy can be considered as “normal” (Desocio, 2018). In fact, some types of stress and anxiety, called positive stress, increase temporary stress hormones, but with healthy coping strategies, this returns to normal levels. This has facilitated adaptation during the developmental transition of pregnancy (Shonkoff et al., 2009). On the other hand, it has been observed that pregnant women who have supportive relationships around them can tolerate moderate and severe stresses more easily (Shonkoff et al., 2009). However, in the absence of supportive relationships, toxic stress may be experienced depending on the intensity, frequency, and duration of stress (cited in Shonkoff et al., 2009). The health and development of both babies and mothers who are exposed to this stress during pregnancy are adversely affected (Dunkel-Shetter & Tanner, 2012). For example, it has been found that women who are exposed to severe psychosocial stress factors such as losing someone important to them in the first months of pregnancy, being exposed to extreme trauma, poverty, discrimination, unemployment and/or living in harsh conditions, are found to be at greater risk of giving birth prematurely and having a low birth weight of the baby (Dunkel-Shetter & Tanner, 2012). In addition, maternal stress experienced in the first months of pregnancy has a significant effect on the brain development of the child (Sandman et al., 2012). For example, in a study (Sandman et al., 2012), it was observed that when the children of mothers who experienced psychosocial stress in the first months of pregnancy become 5 and 8 years old, there were structural differences in their brain development compared to other children. These structural differences in their brain regions are related to the reduction of factors involved in numerous cognitive functions such as attention, problem-solving, memory, learning, and language development (Sandman et al., 2012). These studies have shown that the first trimester of pregnancy is a sensitive and critical period in terms of changes in mental development, therefore stresses experienced during this period increase the tendency to develop a serious mental disorder in later life (DeSocio, 2018).
The health of the baby and mother depends on the use and behavior of prenatal health services, such as the support they receive before and during birth and maternity care. Because this care can be used for early detection of birth complications or high-risk pregnancies. Therefore, it can initiate prevention or intervention. It has been shown in the study that with the prenatal care, the risks of low birth weight and infant mortality were greatly reduced. (Henze, 2004).
At the same time, common symptoms experienced during this period are anxiety, fatigue, sleepiness, indecision, and frequent mood changes ranging from depressive reactions to excitement. Our priority will be the activities that the mother will do to keep her psychological health stable during pregnancy. These can be the activities like yoga, exercise, meditation, and walking. Overall, these methods can be a good way to relieve feelings of stress and frustration. Another method is to find a support group where the mother can share her interests with different mothers, which can also help her get through this period in a healthier way. Sharing common interests and common concerns in these groups will not make the mother feel lonely, and knowing other mothers who have these similar problems will keep her mood healthier. When these methods are insufficient, if the mother feels anxious or depressed, a doctor or psychological support should be sought. The sooner the treatment or therapy process is started, the better the mother will feel. Getting the support of a therapist can be an appropriate way to deal with stress and depression and to reduce tension during pregnancy. All these approaches will positively affect the psychological health of the mother and, naturally, the development of the baby in many ways.
Written by Beril Berksu, Zeynep Şişman, Elif Cilmeli, Çağla Sarıga, Zeynep Yalçıntaş, and İbrahim Hakkı Acar