Introduction
It is hard to disagree that, in most cases, pregnancy is a challenging but incredible experience that creates new life and happiness. However, due to the complications of this process, several essential factors should be considered by both future mothers and fathers so that the pregnancy proceeds without complications. Before conceiving, couples should enhance their awareness of optimal conception preparation, prenatal care, and fetal development to boost their chances of delivering a healthy child.
The First Organ to Develop During Prenatal Growth
During prenatal development, several functional organs form first, with the heart being one of them. According to researchers, “the primitive blood vessels start to develop in the mesoderm during the third week after fertilization” (Wakim & Grewal, 2021, para. 5). After several days, two endocardial tubes appear, and the heart begins its formation in the mesoderm as they fuse to become a single tube. The heart starts beating and pumping blood approximately by day 22, and a day later, five regions are developed in the organ (Wakim & Grewal, 2021). By the end of the embryonic stage, these regions turn into distinct chambers with septa.
The Embryo’s Peak Vulnerability to Teratogens
Between the second and fifteenth weeks of pregnancy, the fetus is most sensitive to the teratogenic effects of ionizing radiation; probable results include microcephaly, micro-ophthalmia, mental retardation, growth retardation, and cataracts. Since many vital organs and systems develop during the first trimester of pregnancy, this is the period when the embryo is most susceptible to teratogens. As these developmental changes occur, there are numerous rapid cell divisions, and it is more likely that an abnormality occurs if there is exposure to a teratogenic agent.
Kaleelullah and Garugula (2021) indicate that the primary recommendation for mothers is “avoiding antibiotics during the first trimester of pregnancy because the major fetal structural transformation occurs during this term” (para. 3.1.3). Therefore, mothers have to take care of themselves and the fetus throughout the whole pregnancy. It is critical to avoid exposure to teratogenic agents during the first trimester.
The Importance of Preconception and Prenatal Care Awareness
The information mentioned above is only part of what males and females need to know before planning to conceive. The two processes that play more important roles are preconception and prenatal care. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (n.d.), the former refers to people “taking steps now to protect the health of a baby they might have some time in the future” (para. 1).
The health and fate of the child depend mainly on the preparation for conception and the parents’ health. Interestingly, while some men forget about this, they also need to care about their prenatal health (CDC, n.d.). To be more specific, understanding the importance of preconception aids people in determining if they are physically and emotionally well enough to conceive, bear, and eventually give birth to a healthy child.
The process of preparing for pregnancy is quite complicated and includes several stages. Good physical shape, absence of diseases, proper nutrition, giving up harmful habits, hygiene, and a measured lifestyle have a positive effect on the woman’s body and subsequently make it easier to stay pregnant. For example, an examination by a gynecologist, colposcopy, and tests for infections, such as regular smear and PCR for latent infections, can be important actions before conception. Further, without having knowledge about the basics of prenatal care, which refers to a mother caring about her condition during pregnancy, a female can increase the risks of her fetus developing different pathologies. These are why the identified processes are of increased importance and should be considered by future parents even before conceiving.
Conclusion
The value of males and females knowing preconception and prenatal care and development cannot be overestimated. The fetus’s health partly depends on the health of its parents before conception and the mother’s actions during pregnancy. Therefore, to reduce the risks of pathologies or other medical problems, it is recommended that future parents improve their health and strictly follow all healthcare recommendations when bearing a child.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC]. (n.d.). Preconception health and health care is important for all. Web.
Kaleelullah, R. A., & Garugula, N. (2021). Teratogenic genesis in fetal malformations. Cureus, 13(2).
Wakim, S., & Grewal, M. (2021). Embryonic stage. In Human biology. LibreTexts.