2. About This Module
This module consists of:
5 taught days
Split into 50% face to face and 50% online directed study.
Assessments:
Case Study (3,000 words)
Summary of learning (1,000 words)
3. About This Module
• Key Stages of life
• Health throughout
the lifespan
• Developmental stages
and the effects of not
meeting these
• The role of healthcare
workers
• Health promotion
• Epidemiology
• Pathophysiology
• The impact of long
term conditions
throughout life
4. Assessments: Case Study
This will be a 3,000 word break down on the life of a patient
This will involve looking at the key developmental stages of life
Considering ill health and the effects this has on wellbeing
Applying research and data to show evidence of understanding
5. Assessments: Summary of Learning
This assignment is 1,000 words.
This will evidence your understanding of key factors relating to
health and wellbeing across the lifespan
Show how you have educationally developed from your learning
and how you apply this into practice.
You will consider epidemiology, looking at what could set
someone back in life
You will consider barriers to change and change models.
6. WARNING
Some of the topics we will be discussing throughout this module will be of a
sensitive nature.
This includes childhood development, pregnancy loss, abuse and neglect of
children, adverse childhood experiences, poor parenting, chronic illness and death.
If we reach a topic that you feel uncomfortable with, you may leave to collect
yourself – no questions asked.
If you want to discuss any issues with me afterwards, you are welcome to contact
me via email and we can arrange a chat.
Please remember – I am here to teach you and support you, whether that is with
professional discussions, personal, or signposting you to another service that may
be of benefit for you.
7. Lifespan Development
How many different periods of
development do you think there is?
Make a list of the different stages
8. Lifespan Development
How many did you get?
Consider… “adult” can be classed as between 18 years and 80 years… But how
different is the development of each?
Consider this in terms of Socially, Physically, mentally and cognitive skills…
Think of a “child” – this could be from 4 years to 17 years old… How different are
children at those ages though?
9. Lifespan Development
We are going to look at a brief
overview of 9 different
cognitive stages within
lifespan development.
11. Germinal Stage
The germinal stage begins at conception when the sperm and egg cell unite in one
of the two fallopian tubes.
The fertilized egg is called a zygote.
Just a few hours after conception, the single-celled zygote begins making a journey
down the fallopian tube to the uterus.
Cell division begins approximately 24 to 36 hours after conception.
As the cells multiply, they will also separate into two distinctive masses: the outer
cells will eventually become the placenta, while the inner cells form the embryo.
The cells develop into what is known as a blastocyst. The blastocyst is made up of
three layers, each of which develops into different structures in the body.
Ectoderm: Skin and nervous system
Endoderm: Digestive and respiratory systems
Mesoderm: Muscle and skeletal systems
12. Embryonic Stage
Starts in week 3
The mass of cells are now an “embryo”
Approximately four weeks after conception, the neural tube forms. This tube
will later develop into the central nervous system including the spinal cord and
brain.
Around the fourth week, the head begins to form, quickly followed by the eyes,
nose, ears, and mouth.
The blood vessel that will become the heart start to pulse.
During the fifth week, buds that will form the arms and legs appear.
By the eighth week of development, the embryo has all of the basic organs
and parts except those of the sex organs
By the end of the embryonic period, the basic structures of the brain and
central nervous system have been established
13. Foetal Stage
Once cell differentiation is mostly complete, the embryo enters the next stage and becomes
known as a foetus
The foetal period of prenatal develop marks more important changes in the brain.
This period of development begins during the ninth week and lasts until birth.
This stage is marked by amazing change and growth.
Between the ninth and twelfth week of gestation (at the earliest), reflexes begin to emerge.
During the third month of gestation, the sex organs begin to differentiate and by the end of the
month, all parts of the body will be formed.
In months four through six, the heartbeat grows stronger and other body systems become
further developed.
Fingernails, hair, eyelashes, and toenails form.
The foetus increases about six times in size.
During the period from seven months until birth, the fetus continues to develop, put on weight,
and prepare for life outside the womb.
14. The placenta
The placenta is an organ that develops in the uterus during pregnancy.
This structure provides oxygen and nutrients to the foetus and removes
waste products from the foetus’ blood.
The placenta attaches to the wall of the uterus, and the baby's umbilical cord
arises from it.
The organ is usually attached to the top, side, front or back of the uterus. In
rare cases, the placenta might attach in the lower area of the uterus.
When this happens, it's called a low-lying placenta (placenta previa).
If the baby is born vaginally, the placenta will also be delivered vaginally —
this is referred to as “the third stage of labour”.
15. Problems and Risks in Pregnancy
Hypertension
Gestational Diabetes
Infections, including STI’s.
Preeclampsia
Preterm labour (before 37 weeks of pregnancy)
Depression and anxiety
Pregnancy loss / miscarriage
Still birth
16. Routine Testing
Although advisable – testing is optional.
Screening for Hepatitis B, HIV and Syphilis
This is done at the early stages of pregnancy via a blood test
Screening for sickle cell and thalassaemia
Particularly if parents are ‘carriers’ of sickle cell. This is done via blood test.
Screening for Down's syndrome, Edwards' syndrome and Patau's syndrome
These are screened for between week 10 and 14 of pregnancy by the combined use of an ultrasound
scan and a blood test.
Anencephaly, open spina bifida, cleft lip, diaphragmatic hernia, gastroschisis, exomphalos,
serious cardiac abnormalities, bilateral renal agenesis, lethal skeletal dysplasia, Edwards'
syndrome, or T18 and Patau's syndrome, or T13
Completed at the 20-week screening scan, it looks in detail at the baby's bones, heart, brain, spinal
cord, face, kidneys and abdomen.
This is the ‘mid pregnancy scan’, where people will often discover the baby’s sex.
17. Abnormalities
There are more than 7,000 genetic or partially genetic birth defects. Five common
types account for a quarter of the world's cases:
Heart defects: More than a million births worldwide yearly.
Neural tube defects (including spina bifida): Nearly 324,000 births worldwide yearly.
Blood disorders (such as sickle cell disease and thalassemia): More than 307,000
births worldwide yearly.
Down syndrome: More than 217,000 births worldwide yearly.
G6PD deficiency (enzyme deficiency that causes anaemia): More than 177,000
births worldwide yearly.
(Hitti, 2006)
19. Baby Brain
At birth, a baby's brain contains 100 billion neurons, roughly as many nerve cells
as there are stars in the Milky Way, and almost all the neurons the brain will ever
have.
At birth, the human brain is in a remarkably unfinished state.
Most of its 100 billion neurons are not yet connected in networks.
Forming and reinforcing these connections are the key tasks of early brain
development.
Connections among neurons are formed as the growing child experiences the
surrounding world and forms attachments to parents, family members and other
caregivers.
20. Think…
What do you think happens to the baby’s
brain if there is no love, attachment and
nurture?
22. Early Brain Development and Health
The early years of a child’s life are very important for later health and
development.
How well a brain develops depends on many factors in addition to genes,
such as:
Proper nutrition starting in pregnancy
Exposure to toxins or infections
The child’s experiences with other people and the world
23. The importance of early childhood
experiences for brain development
Children are born ready to learn, and have many skills to learn over many years.
They depend on parents, family members, and other caregivers as their first
teachers to develop the right skills to become independent and lead healthy and
successful lives
How the brain grows is strongly affected by the child’s experiences with other
people and the world.
Nurturing care for the mind is a critical aspect for brain growth.
24. New Born (Birth – 1 month)
Sight is unlikely to be coordinated, vision clears around 8-10
inches.
Cannot see all colours yet
Hearing is fully developed in new born babies (they can hear from
the womb – a mother may notice that the baby ‘jumps’ at loud
noises even when in utero!)
Baby’s sense of smell is excellent
Babies naturally prefer sweet tastes rather than bitter.
Babies are comforted by touch and feel more secure when they are
being held, particularly by their mother, due to the smell of breast
milk.
25. Milestones: 2 months
Development by 2 months after birth in a ‘normal’ baby
Social and Emotional
Begins to smile at people, will try to focus on parent, can briefly calm themselves
Language/Communication
Coos, makes gurgling sound
Turns head toward sounds
Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
Pays attention to face, begins to follow things with eyes and recognise people at a
distance and may begin to act ‘bored’ without stimulation.
Movement/Physical Development
Can hold head up and begins to push up when lying on tummy
Makes smoother movements with arms and legs
26. Milestones: 4 Months
Social and Emotional
Smiles spontaneously, especially at people
Likes to play with people and might cry when playing stops
Copies some movements and facial expressions, like smiling or frowning
Language/Communication
Babbles with expression and copies sounds he hears
Cries in different ways to show hunger, pain, or being tired
Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
Lets you know if he is happy or sad
Responds to affection
Uses hands and eyes together, such as seeing a toy and reaching for it
Recognises familiar people and things at a distance
Movement/Physical Development
Holds head steady unsupported, Pushes down on legs when feet are on a hard surface
May be able to roll over from tummy to back, Can hold a toy and shake it and swing at dangling toys
Brings hands to mouth, when lying on stomach, pushes up to elbows
27. Milestones: 6 months
Social and Emotional
Knows familiar faces and begins to know if someone is a stranger
Likes to play with others, especially parents
Language/Communication
Strings vowels together when babbling (“ah,” “eh,” “oh”) and likes taking turns with parent while making sounds
Makes sounds to show joy and displeasure
Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
Looks around at things nearby, Brings things to mouth
Shows curiosity about things and tries to get things that are out of reach
Begins to pass things from one hand to the other
Movement/Physical Development
Rolls over in both directions (front to back, back to front) and may start crawling
Begins to sit without support
When standing, supports weight on legs and might bounce
28. Milestone: 9 Months
Social and Emotional
May be afraid of strangers and may be clingy with familiar adults
Has favourite toys
Language/Communication
Understands “no”
Makes a lot of different sounds like “mamamama” and “bababababa”
Copies sounds and gestures of others
Uses fingers to point at things
Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
Watches the path of something as it falls
Looks for things she sees you hide and plays peek-a-boo
Picks up things like cereal o’s between thumb and index finger
Movement/Physical Development
Stands, holding on, Can get into sitting position, Sits without support, pulls to stand and can crawl
29. Milestones: 1 Year
Social and Emotional
Is shy or nervous with strangers, may cry when care giver leaves
Hands you a book when he wants to hear a story
Puts out arm or leg to help with dressing
Language/Communication
Responds to simple spoken requests
Uses simple gestures, like shaking head “no” or waving “bye-bye”
Says “mama” and “dada” and exclamations like “uh-oh!”
Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
Explores things in different ways, like shaking, banging, throwing
Looks at the right picture or thing when it’s named
Puts things in a container, takes things out of a container
Movement/Physical Development
Pulls up to stand, walks holding on to furniture (“cruising”), may stand unsupported or even take steps
30. Milestones: 18 months
Social and Emotional
Likes to hand things to others as play
May have temper tantrum
Plays simple pretend, such as feeding a doll
Language/Communication
Says several single words
Says and shakes head “no”, will point at what they want
Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
Knows what ordinary things are for; for example, telephone, brush, spoon
Shows interest in a doll or stuffed animal by pretending to feed
Can follow 1-step verbal commands without any gestures; for example, sits when you say “sit down”
Movement/Physical Development
May walk up steps and run, pull toys when walking, help with undressing, drinks from a cup and eats with a
spoon.
31. Milestones: 2 Years
Social and Emotional
Gets excited when with other children, shows more independence
Plays mainly beside other children, but is beginning to include other children, such as in chase games
Language/Communication
Knows names of familiar people and body parts
Says sentences with 2 to 4 words and follows simple instructions
Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
Begins to sort shapes and colours
Completes sentences and rhymes in familiar books
Builds towers of 4 or more blocks
Follows two-step instructions such as “Pick up your shoes and put them in the closet.
Movement/Physical Development
Stands on tiptoe, kicks a ball, starts running, climbs furniture, uses stairs, throws a ball and makes lines on
paper with pens.
32. Milestones: 3 Years
Social and Emotional
Takes turns in games
Understands the idea of “mine” and
“his” or “hers”
Shows a wide range of emotions
Language/Communication
Follows instructions with 2 or 3 steps
Can name most familiar thing
Understands words like “in,” “on,” and
“under”
Carries on a conversation using 2 to 3
sentences
Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
• Can work toys with buttons, levers, and moving
parts
• Plays make-believe with dolls, animals, and
people
• Turns book pages one at a time
• Builds towers of more than 6 blocks
• Screws and unscrews jar lids or turns door handle
Movement/Physical Development
Pedals a tricycle (3-wheel bike, runs well, climbs well
and can go up and down steps with one foot on
each step
34. Possible Causes Of A Child Not Meeting
Their Milestones
Complications at birth
Being born prematurely
Low birth weight
Not getting enough oxygen at birth
Lead poisoning
Poor nutrition
Exposure to alcohol or drugs before
birth
Trauma
Chronic ear infections
Vision problems
Illnesses
Injuries that have a significant and
long-term effect on kids’ day-to-day
activities
Neglect
Abuse
Developmental delays
Learning disability (such as autism)
36. By 5 years…
Social and Emotional
Wants to please friends and be like them
More likely to agree with rules
Is aware of gender
Can tell what’s real and what’s make-believe
Is sometimes demanding and sometimes very
cooperative
Language/Communication
Speaks very clearly and can tell a simple story
using full sentences
Uses future tense; for example, “Grandma will
be here.”
Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-
solving)
Counts 10 or more things
Can draw a person with at least 6 body parts
Knows about things used every day, like money
and food
Movement/Physical Development
Stands on one foot for 10 seconds or longer
Hops; may be able to skip
Uses a fork and spoon and sometimes a table
knife
Can use the toilet on their own
37. Nature vs Nurture
In the field of child development, there has been a constant nature
versus nurture debate among professionals.
While, nature is the genetic predisposition or biological makeup of an
individual, nurture is the physical world that influences the nature.
Behavioural epigenetic research has indicated that life experiences can
affect gene expression.
In other words, nature is vulnerable to nurture, and there is evidence for
bidirectional and interactive effects between parenting and children's
characteristics.
38. Psychological Development of Children
Historically, children were often viewed simply as smaller versions of
adults. When Jean Piaget (Psychologist) suggested that children
actually think differently than adults, Albert Einstein proclaimed that
the discovery was "so simple that only a genius could have thought of
it.“
Experts differ in their responses to some of the bigger questions in
child psychology, such as whether early experiences matter more than
later ones or whether nature or nurture plays a greater role in
development.
Because childhood plays such an important role in the course of the
rest of life, it is little wonder why this topic has become such an
important one within psychology, sociology, and education.
39. Cultural Context
The culture a child lives in contributes a set of values,
customs, shared assumptions and ways of living that
influence development throughout the lifespan.
Culture may play a role in how children relate to their
parents, the type of education they receive and the
type of childcare that is provided.
40. Social Context
Relationships with peers and adults have an effect on
how children think, learn and develop.
Families, schools and peer groups all make up an
important part of the social context.
41. Socioeconomic Context
Social class can also play a major role in child development.
Socioeconomic status (often abbreviated as SES), is based upon a number
of different factors including how much education people have, how much
money they earn, the job they hold and where they live.
42. Child Psychology
Child psychology
encompasses a wide range of
topics, from the genetic
influences on behaviour to the
social pressures on
development.
The following are just some of
the major subjects that are
essential to the study of child
psychology:
Cognitive development
Environmental influences
Gender Roles
Genetics
Language
Personality development
Prenatal development
Social Growth
Sexual Development
44. Middle Childhood
Physical, social, and mental skills develop quickly at this time.
This is a critical time for children to develop confidence in all areas of life,
such as through friends, schoolwork, and sports.
45. Middle Childhood
Losing their ego
Development of skills
Social and emotional development
Becoming independent
50. Early Adulthood
Life style choices
Development of self
Psychological development
Coping mechanisms
51. Early Adulthood
By the time we reach early adulthood, our physical maturation is
complete, although our height and weight may increase slightly.
In early adulthood, our physical abilities are at their peak, including
muscle strength, reaction time, sensory abilities, and cardiac functioning.
Most professional athletes are at the top of their game during this stage,
and many women have children in the early-adulthood years.
52. Early Adulthood
Young adulthood represents a genuine developmental phase in the life
cycle.
In these times, the early adult is just starting to find there place in the
world.
54. Middle Adulthood
In middle adulthood, people tend to be more focused on:
Careers
Family
Experience
Research on this period of life is relatively new and many aspects of midlife are still
being explored – why?
56. Late Adulthood
60+
Physiological changes
The skin loses elasticity
Reaction time slows further, and muscle strength diminishes.
Hearing and vision decline significantly
Other senses, such as taste, touch, and smell, are also less sensitive than they
were in earlier years.
The immune system is weakened, and many older people are more susceptible
to illness, cancer, diabetes, and other ailments.
Cardiovascular and respiratory problems become more common in old age.
Seniors also experience a decrease in physical mobility and a loss of balance,
which can result in falls and injuries.
57. Late Adulthood
Brain changes occur
The aging process generally results in changes and lower functioning in the
brain, leading to problems like memory loss and decreased intellectual
function.
Age is a major risk factor for most common neurodegenerative diseases,
including mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, cerebrovascular
disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Memory also degenerates with age, and older adults tend to have a harder
time remembering and attending to information. In general, an older person’s
procedural memory stays the same, while working memory declines
59. Death and Dying
End of life
In the UK this is around the age of 81.7 years
Research into lifespan shows that even if we were able to cure most
diseases and illnesses, the human body is unlikely to be able to function
effectively over around 120-150 years.
Hinweis der Redaktion
Think about the life span and make a list of what you would consider the periods of development. How many stages are on your list? Perhaps you have three: childhood, adulthood, and old age. Or maybe four: infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Developmentalists break the life span into nine stages as follows
Through the process of mitosis, the zygote first divides into two cells, then into four, eight, sixteen, and so on. A significant number of zygotes never progress past this early part of cell division, with as many as half of all zygotes surviving less than two weeks. Once the eight-cell point has been reached, the cells begin to differentiate and take on certain characteristics that will determine the type of cells they will eventually become.
Cell division continues at a rapid rate during the approximately week-long journey from fallopian tube to uterus wall.
Finally, the blastocyst arrives at the uterus and attaches to the uterine wall, a process known as implantation. Implantation occurs when the cells nestle into the uterine lining and rupture tiny blood vessels. The connective web of blood vessels and membranes that form between them will provide nourishment for the developing being for the next nine months. Implantation is not always an automatic and sure-fire process.
At this point, the mass of cells is now known as an embryo. The beginning of the third week after conception marks the start of the embryonic period, a time when the mass of cells becomes distinct as a human. The embryonic stage plays an important role in the development of the brain.
Approximately four weeks after conception, the neural tube forms. This tube will later develop into the central nervous system including the spinal cord and brain. The neural tube begins to form along with an area known as the neural plate. The earliest signs of development of the neural tube are the emergence of two ridges that form along each side of the neural plate.
Over the next few days, more ridges form and fold inward until a hollow tube is formed. Once this tube is fully formed, cells begin to form near the center.3 The tube begins to close and brain vesicles form. These vesicles will eventually develop into parts of the brain, including the structures of the forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain.
Around the fourth week, the head begins to form, quickly followed by the eyes, nose, ears, and mouth. The blood vessel that will become the heart start to pulse. During the fifth week, buds that will form the arms and legs appear.
By the eighth week of development, the embryo has all of the basic organs and parts except those of the sex organs. At this point, the embryo weighs just one gram and is about one inch in length.
By the end of the embryonic period, the basic structures of the brain and central nervous system have been established. At this point, the basic structure of the peripheral nervous system is also defined.
The production of neurons, or brain cells, begins around day 42 after conception and is mostly complete sometime around the middle of pregnancy.
As neurons form, they migrate to different areas of the brain. Once they have reached the correct location, they begin to form connections with other neural cells, establishing rudimentary neural networks.
Once cell differentiation is mostly complete, the embryo enters the next stage and becomes known as a fetus. The fetal period of prenatal develop marks more important changes in the brain. This period of development begins during the ninth week and lasts until birth. This stage is marked by amazing change and growth.
The early body systems and structures established in the embryonic stage continue to develop. The neural tube develops into the brain and spinal cord and neurons continue to form. Once these neurons have formed, they begin to migrate to their correct locations. Synapses, or the connections between neurons, also begin to develop.
Between the ninth and twelfth week of gestation (at the earliest), reflexes begin to emerge. The fetus begins to make reflexive motions with its arms and legs.
During the third month of gestation, the sex organs begin to differentiate. By the end of the month, all parts of the body will be formed. At this point, the fetus weighs around three ounces. The fetus continues to grow in both weight and length, although the majority of the physical growth occurs in the later stages of pregnancy.
The end of the third month also marks the end of the first trimester of pregnancy. During the second trimester, or months four through six, the heartbeat grows stronger and other body systems become further developed. Fingernails, hair, eyelashes, and toenails form.5 Perhaps most noticeably, the fetus increases about six times in size.
So what's going on inside the brain during this important period of prenatal development? The brain and central nervous system also become more responsive during the second trimester. Around 28 weeks, the brain starts to mature faster, with an activity that greatly resembles that of a sleeping newborn.
During the period from seven months until birth, the fetus continues to develop, put on weight, and prepare for life outside the womb. The lungs begin to expand and contract, preparing the muscles for breathing.
Various factors can affect the health of the placenta during pregnancy – Can anyone guess what some of these are?
Maternal age. Some placental problems are more common in older women, especially after age 40.
A break in your water before labor. During pregnancy, your baby is surrounded and cushioned by a fluid-filled membrane called the amniotic sac. If the sac leaks or breaks before labor begins, also called your water breaking, the risk of certain placental problems increases.
High blood pressure. High blood pressure can affect your placenta.
Twin or other multiple pregnancy. If you're pregnant with more than one baby, you might be at increased risk of certain placental problems.
Blood-clotting disorders. Any condition that either impairs your blood's ability to clot or increases its likelihood of clotting increases the risk of certain placental problems.
Previous uterine surgery. If you've had a previous surgery on your uterus, such as a C-section or surgery to remove fibroids, you're at increased risk of certain placental problems.
Previous placental problems. If you've had a placental problem during a previous pregnancy, you might have a higher risk of experiencing it again.
Substance use. Certain placental problems are more common in women who smoke or use cocaine during pregnancy.
Abdominal trauma. Trauma to your abdomen — such as from a fall, auto accident or other type of blow — increases the risk of the placenta prematurely separating from the uterus (placenta abruption).
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, occurs when arteries carrying blood from the heart to the body organs are narrowed. This causes pressure to increase in the arteries. In pregnancy, this can make it hard for blood to reach the placenta, which provides nutrients and oxygen to the fetus.1 Reduced blood flow can slow the growth of the foetus and place the mother at greater risk of preterm labour and preeclampsia.
Gestational diabetes occurs when a woman who didn't have diabetes before pregnancy develops the condition during pregnancy.
Normally, the body digests parts of your food into a sugar called glucose. Glucose is your body's main source of energy. After digestion, the glucose moves into your blood to give your body energy.
To get the glucose out of your blood and into the cells of your body, your pancreas makes a hormone called insulin. In gestational diabetes, hormonal changes from pregnancy cause the body to either not make enough insulin, or not use it normally. Instead, the glucose builds up in your blood, causing diabetes, otherwise known as high blood sugar.
Infections, including some sexually transmitted infections (STIs) may occur during pregnancy and/or delivery and may lead to complications for the pregnant woman, the pregnancy, and the baby after delivery. Some infections can pass from mother to infant during delivery when the infant passes through the birth canal; other infections can infect a fetus during the pregnancy.1 Many of these infections can be prevented or treated with appropriate pre-pregnancy, prenatal, and postpartum follow-up care.
Preeclampsia is a serious medical condition that can lead to preterm delivery and death. Its cause is unknown, but some women are at an increased risk. Risk factors include:5
First pregnancies
Preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy
Existing conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease, and systemic lupus erythematosus1
Being 35 years of age or older
Carrying two or more foetuses
Obesity
Preterm labour – organs may not be fully developed at birth, runs a higher risk of on-going complication, particularly with respiratory illnesses.
Depression and anxiety – flooding body with cortisone (stress hormones) bad for mum and baby
Miscarriage is the term used to describe a pregnancy loss from natural causes before 20 weeks. Signs can include vaginal spotting or bleeding, cramping, or fluid or tissue passing from the vagina. However, bleeding from the vagina does not mean that a miscarriage will happen or is happening. Women experiencing this sign at any point in their pregnancy should seek medical advise immediately
The loss of pregnancy after the 20th week of pregnancy is called a stillbirth. In approximately half of all reported cases, health care providers can find no cause for the loss. However, health conditions that can contribute to stillbirth include chromosomal abnormalities, placental problems, poor foetal growth, chronic health issues of the mother, and infection.
Hepatitis B affects the liver and can cause immediate (acute) and long-term (chronic) illness. It's passed on in blood and other body fluids, for example through sexual contact or sharing infected needles.
If you have hepatitis B, you'll be offered specialist care.
If your baby completes a course of vaccinations in their first year, this greatly reduces their risk of developing hepatitis B.
HIV weakens the immune system, making it difficult to fight off infections.
If left untreated, it can lead to AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome).
HIV is passed on in blood and other body fluids through sexual contact or infected needles.
HIV can be passed on to your baby during pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding if it's not treated.
Syphilis is usually passed on through close contact with a syphilis sore during sex. It can also be passed on to a baby during pregnancy.
If untreated, syphilis can cause serious health problems for your baby, or cause miscarriage or stillbirth.
Syphilis is treated with antibiotics. The earlier it's treated, the lower the risk of passing it on to the baby is.
Sickle cell disease and thalassaemia affect haemoglobin, a part of the blood that carries oxygen around the body.
People who have these health conditions need specialist care throughout their lives.
People with sickle cell:
can have episodes of very severe pain
can get serious life-threatening infections
are usually anaemic (their bodies have difficulty carrying oxygen)
The figures are harshest in low- and middle-income countries.
More than 94% of babies born with birth defects and more than 95% of children's deaths due to birth defects occur in low- and middle-income countries.
In the hardest-hit areas, 82 per thousand babies are born with a genetic birth defect.
Poverty and maternal health care are major reasons for the heavy toll in poorer nations.
Those countries also have a relatively high number of older mothers and marriages among close relatives.
The brain starts forming prenatally, about three weeks after conception
Here is the brain scan of two toddlers. The toddler on the left has had parents who have provided a warm, loving environment for their baby to grow, with lots of opportunities for them to explore and the parents have taken an active part in their development.
On the right we have a toddlers brain who has not had the same experiences. They have been neglected.
Just by looking at this scan, what can you see?
The early years of a child’s life are very important for later health and development. One of the main reasons is how fast the brain grows starting before birth and continuing into early childhood. Although the brain continues to develop and change into adulthood, the first 5-8 years can build a foundation for future learning, health and life success
Nurturing and responsive care for the child’s body and mind is the key to supporting healthy brain development. Positive or negative experiences can add up to shape a child’s development and can have lifelong effects. To nurture their child’s body and mind, parents and caregivers need support and the right resources. The right care for children, starting before birth and continuing through childhood, ensures that the child’s brain grows well and reaches its full potential.
Children grow and learn best in a safe environment where they are protected from neglect and from extreme or chronic stress, with plenty of opportunities to play and explore.
Parents and other caregivers can support healthy brain growth by speaking to, playing with, and caring for their child. Children learn best when parents take turns when talking and playing, and build on their child’s skills and interests. Nurturing a child by understanding their needs and responding sensitively helps to protect children’s brains from stress. Speaking with children and exposing them to books, stories, and songs helps strengthen children’s language and communication, which puts them on a path towards learning and succeeding in school.
Exposure to stress and trauma can have long-term negative consequences for the child’s brain, whereas talking, reading, and playing can stimulate brain growth. Ensuring that parents, caregivers, and early childhood care providers have the resources and skills to provide safe, stable, nurturing, and stimulating care is an important public health goal.
When children are at risk, tracking children’s development and making sure they reach developmental milestones can help ensure that any problems are detected early and children can receive the intervention they may need.
Normal – no health concerns, loving parents / main care giver, no evidence of neglect or abuse, no identified developmental abnormalities
Picking up on things like autism will usually occur at developmental checks. These are performed by health visitors at 6 months, 9 months and 2.5 years. Usually, a parent / care giver or sometimes nursery staff will have picked up on possible issues prior to this. Common with autism would be such things as playing alongside children instead of with children long after it will have been normal for them to start playing with children. You also often notice less ability to control or understand emotions. Watching tv or reading a book, then asking questions like “and how do you think that made the man feel” would be difficult for an autistic child to answer.
3.5 – 6 years
During various phases of development, children need appropriate experiences that support their interest in exploration, experimentation, and self-direction.
Hence, modifying nurturing ways by adapting to the nature of a child will lead to desirable consequences both to the individual and society at large
child development involves much more than just influences. Environmental factors such as social relationships and the culture in which we live also play essential roles.
There are three major contexts that we need to consider in our analysis of child psychology.
Children raised in households with a high socioeconomic status tend to have greater access to opportunities, while those from households with lower socioeconomic status may have less access to such things as health care, quality nutrition, and education. Such factors can have a major impact on child psychology.
all three of these contexts are constantly interacting. While a child may have fewer opportunities due to a low socioeconomic status, enriching social relationships and strong cultural ties may help correct this imbalance.
Child psychologists, for example, might look at which child care settings and practices lead to the best psychological outcomes or they might work with kids to help them develop growth mind-sets
6 – 12 years
Middle childhood brings many changes in a child’s life. By this time, children can dress themselves, catch a ball more easily using only their hands, and tie their shoes. Having independence from family becomes more important now. Events such as starting school bring children this age into regular contact with the larger world. Friendships become more and more important.
Adolescence is the developmental transition to adulthood that includes rapid changes in the brain and body, often at different rates and is a time for healthy exploration of identity and learning independence. It can also be a stressful or challenging for teens because of these rapid changes.
Although every adult has gone through puberty and has personal experie
A second and final brain growth spurt occurs during adolescence, making this another optimal period for learning. It is a crucial time when young people are especially sensitive to their experiences.nce with this transition, it is still important to understand the different types of changes occurring physically and psychologically during adolescence
Around the age of 30, many changes begin to occur in different parts of the body.
For example, the lens of the eye starts to stiffen and thicken, resulting in changes in vision (usually affecting the ability to focus on close objects).
Sensitivity to sound decreases; this happens twice as quickly for men as for women.
Hair can start to thin and become gray around the age of 35, although this may happen earlier for some individuals and later for others.
The skin becomes drier and wrinkles start to appear by the end of early adulthood.
The immune system becomes less adept at fighting off illness, and reproductive capacity starts to decline.
Among its central developmental problems are:
establishing a secure personal identity,
forming mature friendships and mature intimate relationships,
reorientation of family ties,
building up a core of ideological values,
selecting a long-term vocation,
finding one's bearings,
looking to the future.
From the developmental perspective, middle adulthood (or midlife) refers to the period of the lifespan between young adulthood and old age.
The most common definition by chronological age for middle adulthood is from 40 to 65, but there can be a range of up to 10 years (ages 30-75) on either side of these parameters.
Research on this period of life is relatively new and many aspects of midlife are still being explored. This may be the least studied period of the lifespan. We can see considerable differences in individuals within this developmental stage.
100 years ago, the average lifespan was only around 49 years old. What we now consider to be middle towards late age was previously considered to be more like end of life!!
Late adulthood is the stage of life from the 60s onward; it constitutes the last stage of physical change.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis = Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neurone disease (MND) or Lou Gehrig's disease, is a neurodegenerative disease that results in the progressive loss of motor neurons that control voluntary muscles. ALS is the most common type of motor neuron disease.
While a great deal of research has focused on diseases of aging, there are only a few informative studies on the molecular biology of the aging brain.
Many molecular changes are due in part to a reduction in the size of the brain, as well as loss of brain plasticity.
Brain plasticity is the brain’s ability to change structure and function. The brain’s main function is to decide what information is worth keeping and what is not; if there is an action or a thought that a person is not using, the brain will eliminate space for it.
Procedural memory is memory for the performance of particular types of action; it guides the processes we perform and most frequently resides below the level of conscious awareness. In contrast, working memory is the system that actively holds multiple pieces of transitory information in the mind where they can be manipulated.
Average life span of a human living in the UK is 81.7 years
The longest lifespan is in Hong Kong at 85.2 years
The lowest lifespan is in the Central African Republic at 54.3 years.