The Birth Process

Other factors that can affect the baby include pressure in the birth canal, the use of forceps during delivery, and the sedation of the mother. This latter factor can be critical because the baby’s immature liver and excretory systems experience difficulties eliminating maternal medications and anesthesia from the body. This may contribute to sedation and, consequently, to a baby who initially may be less responsive to environmental stimulation—including its parents (Murray, Dolby, Nation, & Thomas, 1981).

When there is a possibility of an abnormal vaginal delivery, a cesarean section (c-section) can be performed. In this procedure, the mother’s abdomen and uterus are surgically opened, and the baby and placenta are removed. This procedure eliminates many of the risks associated with an abnormal delivery for the mother as well as for the child. One factor that can indicate the need for a c-section is postmaturity. Postmaturity refers to a baby being post-term, or after the 41st week. About 10% of babies are born after the 41st week of gestation (Coustan, 1995). Although most babies show no permanent signs of being post-mature, largely because of routine and careful prenatal monitoring, some post-mature babies do not obtain sufficient nutrients and oxygen from the placenta to meet the demands of labor (White, 2004), and thus brain injury or death can occur.

Despite reports of significant morbidity of later occurring disorders following perinatal complications (Dean & Davis, 2007), from this point forward, the baby grows and develops in a remarkable fashion. One area that the early interventionist should be well versed in is developmental milestones. In addition to the discussion below, Table provides an overview of many of the major developmental milestones from infancy through the preschool years. These milestones should be “hard wired” into the knowledge base of the early interventionist.