If the blastocyst is embedded too inferiorly in the uterus, the placenta may cover the cervix and interfere with delivery. The placenta may also be attatched too loosely which could cause bleeding issues.

Implantation occurs Week 2

Problems tend to be seen during 3rd trimester

Encephalocele

Meningocele

Meningomyelocele

Spina Bifida Oculta

Arnold-Chiara Malformation

Anencephaly

Upper limbs form slightly faster than Lower

small swellings (UE Day26-27, LE Day 28)

paddle shape (UE Day 32, LE Day 36)

hand/foot plates (UE Day 36, LE Week 6)

digital rays (UE early Week 7, LE end Week 7)

webbed digits (UE Day 51, LE Day 52)

digits separated (UE Day 52, LE Day 56)

almost relative length (UE Month 3, LE Month 4)

heart tube - begins by end of Week 3 gestation and connects with blood vessels

primitive heart - 1 atrium, 1 ventricle by end of week 3  

heartbeat - Day 21/22 gestation

complete heart - partitioning of atrioventricular canal, atrium & vetricle begins middle Week 4, complete by end of Week 5

sinoatrial node development - Week 5 gestation

Liver - beginning of 9th week gestation

Spleen - takes over by end of 12 week gestation, decreasing by 28 weeks gestation

Bone Marrow - takes over as spleen slows down, around Week 28 gestation

Holoprosencephaly

Craniofacial Defects

Amelia - Thalidomide issues (1957-1962)

Meromelia

Development - Week 4 germinal layers divide, migrate and differentiate to form organ systems

Herniation - intestines located in the proximal portion of umbilical cord

Return to abdominal cavity by 11th gestational week

If not....Prune Belly Syndrome

Surfactant keeps the walls of the alveoli from sticking together, so they can inflate with air

It starts being produced in the lungs by 24 weeks

Preemies born before 24 weeks need synthetic surfactant to keep their alveoli from sticking together

Oligohydramnios is a a condition of too little amniotic fluid. It can be caused by too little production or a leaking amniotic sack. It tends to occur 3rd trimester, but can happen any time.

Schizencephaly - abnormal splits/clefts

Lissencephaly - smooth cortex (no gyri/sulci)

Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum  - doesn't form

Dandy-Walker Malformation - small cerebellum,

large fourth ventricle

Cerebral Hypoplasia

Leukodytrophies

no myelin

delayed myelin

Vernix caseosa is a greasy, cheese like material made from fatty secretions and dead ipidermal cells.

Its function is to protect the fetal skin from abrasions, chapping, hardening while it is being bathed in amniotic fluid

Brown fat begins forming during the 5th month of gestation.

It is the site of heat production which occurs by oxidizing fatty acids.

It is found at the root of neck, posterior to sternum & perineal area

This problem tends to occur more often with full term babies. The first intestinal discharges are aspirated in the amniotic fluid by the fetus as a result of fetal hypoxic distress.

Treatment is to put the infant on an ECMO (Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation). It is a lung bypass machine...oxygenates blood outside of the baby's body while giving the baby a chance to process the meconium

Late pre-term (34-36 weeks)

They are more at risk for brain bleeds, and 3x more likely to develop CP and developmental delays than full term.

Grade II or IV Germinal Matrix bleed may cause CP

Recommended to avoid elective C-section until the 39th week of gestation