Chapter Introduction
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| FROM CONCEPTION |
| to Birth |
|
|
CHAPTER OUTLINE
The Beginning of Life
Genes and Chromosomes
Variations Among People
More on Shared and Divergent Genes
OPPOSING PERSPECTIVES: Choosing a Boy
Genetic Interactions
From Zygote to Newborn
Germinal: The First 14 Days
Embryo: From the Third Through the Eighth Week
Fetus: From the Ninth Week Until Birth
Finally, a Baby
The New Family
Problems and Solutions
Abnormal Genes and Chromosomes
Teratogens
Risk Analysis
Low Birth Weight
A VIEW FROM SCIENCE: Why Are Infant Mortality Rates So High in Canada?
Nature and Nurture Connected
Alcoholism
Nearsightedness
Practical Applications
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WHAT WILL YOU KNOW?
- How do genes affect each individual?
- What birth practices are best for mother, father, and newborn?
- How can serious birth disorders be avoided?
- Is alcoholism genetic or cultural?
In graduate school, I had a friend named Don, whose wife, Donna, had a difficult pregnancy. She couldn’t keep her food down and did not gain much weight over her nine-
On the day Donna went into labour, the birth process was prolonged; the baby did not seem ready to come out. The doctors advised Donna to walk around, so that is what she did. Arm in arm with Don, she walked up and down the hallways—
At one point, Donna needed to use the washroom, and since she was so close to giving birth, Don and the nurse followed close behind. As Donna sat on the toilet, Don started to cry.
“What’s wrong?” asked Donna, alarmed. “Why are you crying?”
“Nothing! I’m just so happy I’ll be a father soon.”
It turned out to be sooner than he thought, since the baby chose that moment to arrive—
As you will see later in this chapter, coming out feet first, also known as a breech birth, is not the preferred way for a baby to arrive. Baby Delaney gave everyone quite a scare, but in the end she turned out to be a healthy and very happy child. 
—Susan Chuang
The passage from conception to birth is a complex process, one that is often fraught with difficulties and surprises. As you will learn in this chapter, in spite of everything that can go wrong, most babies are born healthy and develop normally. Ensuring that this happens is not just the mother’s responsibility but that of all the important people who surround her. These include the father, the extended family members, the mother’s circle of friends, and the team of medical professionals, to name just a few.
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