Genetic Basics
The "library" of the cell that contains 46 "books" or chromosomes.
What is DNA?
The first two weeks of prenatal development after conception.
What is the germinal stage?
Any environmental agent (biological, chemical, or physical) that causes damage to the developing embryo or fetus.
What is a teratogen?
The stage of labor where the cervix reaches full dilation.
The term for the period immediately following childbirth.
What is postpartum or postnatal?
Specific segments of DNA that act as blueprints, telling your body how to build and operate itself.
What are genes?
The stage from week 3 to week 8 where major organs begin to form.
What is the embryonic stage?
This substance is never safe to consume during pregnancy and can cause FASD.
What is alcohol?
A surgical procedure used to deliver a baby through incisions in the abdomen and uterus.
What is cesarean delivery or C-section?
A common emotional "slump" many parents experience shortly after birth, distinct from clinical depression.
What is baby blues?
The genetic code you inherit from your parents.
What is genotype?
The longest stage of prenatal development, lasting from week 9 until birth.
What is the fetal stage?
A condition characterized by high blood pressure and potential organ damage during pregnancy.
What is preeclampsia?
This term describes a delivery where the baby is positioned to come out feet or bottom first.
What is breech?
The recommended practice of placing a newborn directly on the parent's chest to regulate temperature and heart rate.
What is skin to skin contact or kangaroo care?
This term describes a pair of genes that are BOTH fully and simultaneously expressed in a phenotype, rather than blending or masking.
What is codominance?
The point at about 24 weeks when a fetus has a chance of surviving outside the womb.
What is fetal viability?
A common bacterium found in foods that can cause miscarriage or preterm birth depending on timing.
What is listeria?
This is a registered nurse who has medical training and credentials to provide prenatal care and deliver babies for low risk pregnancies.
What is a Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM)?
This nutrient is vital for pregnant mothers to prevent neural tube defects like Spina Bifida.
What is folic acid?
A chromosomal abnormality caused by having three copies of the 21st chromosome.
What is Down Syndrome?
The organ that provides oxygen and nutrients to the growing baby while removing waste products.
What is placenta?
Specific timeframes when fetal organs and body structures are forming, making the fetus most vulnerable to damage.
What is a critical period?
The third and final stage of labor involves the delivery of this organ.
What is placenta?
A scale used 1 and 5 minutes after birth to quickly assess a newborn's physical condition.
What is APGAR?