After reading and studying
the material in this chapter, you should be able to answer the following
questions.
1. How
does development proceed during the prenatal period? How does prenatal behavior
of the fetus relate to postnatal behavior of the infant?
2. How
do mother's age, emotional state, and nutrition affect prenatal and neonatal
development?
3. How
and when do various teratogens affect the developing
fetus?
4. What
is the perinatal environment like? What hazards can
occur during the birth process?
5.
What is the birth experience like
from the mother's and father's perspectives, and from different cultural
perspectives?
6.
To
what extent are the effects of the prenatal and perinatal
environments long lasting? What factors influence whether effects are lasting?