Infections pose perhaps the greatest risk to the developing fetus' brain. Many seemingly harmless infections can seriously interrupt fetal development, including the formation and wiring of brain cells.
Factors such as poor nutrition, stress and infection during pregnancy have all been associated with adverse effects on fetal neurodevelopment. One important consideration is that the long-term risks associated with exposure to an adverse intra-uterine environment are not evenly distributed across society.
Some babies have anencephaly because of a change in their genes or chromosomes. Anencephaly might also be caused by a combination of genes and other factors, such as the things the mother comes in contact with in the environment or what the mother eats or drinks, or certain medicines she uses during pregnancy.
The brain is part of the central nervous system and it develops during the entire pregnancy. Major, structural brain development lasts until about 16 fetal weeks (18 gestational weeks).
Children's brains develop in spurts called critical periods. The first occurs around age 2, with a second one occurring during adolescence. At the start of these periods, the number of connections (synapses) between brain cells (neurons) doubles.
Recent brain research indicates that birth to age three are the most important years in a child's development. Here are some tips to consider during your child's early years: Be warm, loving, and responsive.
Smoking, drinking alcohol, or taking certain drugs during pregnancy. Having certain medical conditions, such as being obese or having uncontrolled diabetes before and during pregnancy. Taking certain medications, such as isotretinoin (a drug used to treat severe acne). Having someone in your family with a birth defect.
Neonatal cranial ultrasound is considered the gold-standard screening method for neonatal brain injury, for the detection of major or significant abnormalities of the brain, most notably severe IVH or cystic periventricular leukomalacia in the preterm infant.
Eat healthy
Omega 3 fatty acids are absolutely essential for baby's brain development. Make certain you include foods that have a good content of omega 3, such as, fish, soybeans and spinach, in your diet. Also, iron found in leafy vegetables, like spinach, helps the flow of oxygen to the baby's brain cells.
Abnormalities detected during the 20 week scan
Anencephaly – abnormal development of the brain and skull (98%)
Adverse Childhood Experiences
Unfortunately, the opposite is true as well. Poverty, exposure to family violence and lack of access to quality early learning experiences can negatively impact a child's early brain development, and subsequently, their long-term success.
The stress hormone cortisol plays a vital role in the body and in fetal development. But when a woman is exposed to intense or prolonged stress during pregnancy, excessive levels of cortisol can disrupt development of the unborn child's brain.
This process is increasingly used to image the fetal brain after anomalies are recorded during screening or diagnostic prenatal ultrasounds. The most common brain malformations in which iuMRI is used include mild ventriculomegaly, agenesis of the corpus callosum, and defects in the posterior fossa.
Meat, beans, nuts, dried fruit, wholegrains, fortified breakfast cereals, soybean, most dark-green leafy vegetables. Essential for the production of thyroid hormones in the mother's body, and also normal development of foetal brain.
“A review of over 50 medical studies shows that ultrasounds do not pose any danger to moms or fetuses. They do not cause birth defects, childhood developmental or intellectual problems, or cancer.”
The early signs of a brain have begun to form. Even though the fetus is now developing areas that will become specific sections of the brain, not until the end of week 5 and into week 6 (usually around forty to forty-three days) does the first electrical brain activity begin to occur.
An ultrasound creates pictures of the baby. This test is usually completed around 18–20 weeks of pregnancy. The ultrasound is used to check the size of the baby and looks for birth defects or other problems with the baby.
Note: Adolescence is the most difficult period of one's life. There are far too many significant life changes occurring in one's life, such as physical, psychological, and behavioural changes. Making mistakes is a common method for adolescents to get lost while searching for the adult world.
Which stage of life is the most important? Some might claim that infancy is the key stage, when a baby's brain is wide open to new experiences that will influence all the rest of its later life. Others might argue that it's adolescence or young adulthood, when physical health is at its peak.
One of the most critical stages of development and learning is from birth to five years old. The first five years of child development are crucial to their health, wellbeing, and the overall trajectory of their lives in a variety of ways.
MRI helps diagnose fetal brain abnormality after 20 week scan, study finds. The study included 570 women aged over 16 whose ultrasound scan at around 20 weeks of pregnancy suggested a brain abnormality in their developing fetus. This is relatively common, occurring in around three in 1000 pregnancies.