Life Project

The Start of Life 93

PREI\'A?Z.L GROWTH AND CI{ANGE

PRENATAL DEWLOPMENT

. Like all parents, Dawn and Lyle contributed 23 chromosomes to each child at conception. Their babies' sex was determined from the particular mix of one pair of chromosomes. (pp. 52-53)

o Even before their baby's birth, Dawn and Lyle had a range of options for checking for gender, possible genetic defects, and fetal growth. Measures avail- able to them included pro- cedures such as ultrasound sonography, amniocentesis, and fetal blood sampling. (pp.60-6a)

. Many of the twins' character- istics will have a strong genetic component, but virtually all will represent some combination of genetics and environment.

@p.6a-73)

o In the prenatal period, Dawn's babies showed a multistage pattern of develop- ment, starting with the germinal stage, progressing to the embryonic stage, and completing the prenatal period in the fetal stage. (pp. 76-79)

o Dawn was comparatively young, watched her diet, exercised regularly, and relied on her husband's strong support. Consequently, there were few potential threats to her babies' health and development. (pp. 82-88)

o Because Dawn ate a nutritious diet, exercised, and abstained from alcohol during the pregnancy, she had relatively few worries about teratogenic agents harming the fetuses. (pp. 82-88)

BTRTHANDTHE NEI TBORNINPIMI

o Dawn's labor was relatively easy, but women experience labor in differ- ent ways because of individual and cultural differences. (pp. 91-95)

o Dawn chose to use a midwife, one of several alternative birthing methods. (p.e7)

. Like the vast majority of births, Dawn's was completely normal and successful. (p. 98)

. Although the twins seemed utterly helpless and dependent, they actually possessed from birth an array of useful capabilities and skills. (pp. 10e-116)

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