Mommy/Daddy BLOG* day3

IT'S A BOY!!!

YA! My partner and I are so excited! We were debating if we should find out the sex of the baby or not, but we decided to because it would be easier to plan out the baby's room and outfits. Knowing that we're having a boy, we finally knew what names to look at. After finding out the sex of the baby I didnt have any new fears, but the original fears still lingered.

Did you have a miscarriage? Did it turn out that you were not pregnant in the first place?

Im sorry for your loss. This  can be a really difficult thing to go through if you were trying really hard to have a baby. If you did have a miscarriage, everyones body treats it differently so be sure to go see a doctor, don't panic unless you know exactly whats going on. A miscarriage may be noticed by spotting/bleeding, cramps, continuous back pains, ect.

Mommy/Daddy BLOG* day3.5

What is cell differentiation?

Cell differentiation is the process in which young cells become specialized and take on individual characteristics. They begin to form their functions.

Gastrulation is a phase early in the embryonic development of most animals, during which the single-layered blastula is reorganized into a trilaminar ("three-layered") structure known as the gastrula. These three germ layers are known as the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm

Steps of Gastrulation

Steps of Gastrulation*

Step 1 : the blastula rearranges, with sheets of blastometer from the outside of the embryo entering the embryo's interior.

Step 2 : cells move into contact with new cells, allowing unique intercellular communications that lead to cell determination and differentation.

Step 3: then, tsubsequently become columnar. It forms the epithelial lining of multiple systems.he 3 embryonic germ layers take their position in the embryo.

What are the 3 germ layers, and what systems do they form?

1. The ectoderm is the outer layer of the early embryo. It emerges first and forms from the outer layer of germ cells.

Generally speaking, the ectoderm differentiates to form the nervous system (spine, peripheral nerves and brain)^[, tooth enamel and the epidermis (the outer part of integument). It also forms the lining of mouth, anus, nostrils, sweat glands, hair and nails.

2.The Endoderm, (sometimes called Entoderm) is one of the germ layers formed during animal embryogenesis. Cells migrating inward along the archenteron form the inner layer of the gastrula, which develops into the endoderm.The endoderm consists at first of flattened cells.

3. In humans, the mesoderm is one of the three primary germ cell layers in the very early embryo. The mesoderm differentiates from the rest of the embryo through intercellular signaling, after which the mesoderm is polarized by an organizing center. It differentiates to give rise to a number of tissues and structures including bone, cartilage, muscle, connective tissue (including that of the dermis), blood vascular, reproductive, excretory and urinogenital systems and contributes to some glands. Some cells in mesodermal tissues retain the capacity to differentiate in diverse directions. For example, some cells in the bone marrow (mesoderm) can become liver (endoderm).

Mommy/Daddy BLOG* day4

Today I learned I have Preeclampsia

Pre-eclampsia is a medical condition in which hypertension arises in pregnancy (pregnancy-induced hypertension) in association with significant amounts of protein in the urine.

Pre-eclampsia refers to a set of symptoms rather than any causative factor, and there are many different causes for the condition. It appears likely that there are substances from the placenta that can cause endothelial dysfunction in the maternal blood vessels of susceptible women. While blood pressure elevation is the most visible sign of the disease, it involves generalized damage to the maternal endothelium, kidneys, and liver, with the release of vasoconstrictive factors being secondary to the original damage. If you develop high blood pressure after 20 weeks of pregnancy but don't have protein in your urine, you're considered to have gestational hypertension (also known as pregnancy-induced hypertension).If protein is later found in your urine, your diagnosis changes to preeclampsia. This happens in about a quarter of the cases of women who are initially diagnosed with gestational hypertension. Most likely, your blood pressure will return to a normal level after you have your baby. If your blood pressure is still high three months after you give birth, you'll be diagnosed with chronic hypertension. If this is the case, it doesn't mean that gestational hypertension caused you to develop chronic hypertension. Instead, you probably had chronic hypertension all along and just didn't know it.

Pre-eclampsia is dangerous for the mother but is equally problematic for the unborn baby. It can cause low birth weight which means that the unborn baby is slower to develop than normal.
The reason for this is that blood supply is restricted through the placenta which means that the baby does not receive enough nutrients and oxygen which are vital for its development.
The medical term for this is ‘intra-uterine growth restriction’.
Pre-eclampsia can be detected during a routine ante-natal appointment. If it is present then action will be taken which includes regular urine and blood pressure tests.

TIMELINE

Week 8

Gestational age: 7 weeks old. 50–56 days from last menstruation.

Embryonic age: Week nr 6. 5 weeks old. 36–42 days from fertilization.

• The embryo measures 13 mm (1/2 inch) in length.
• Lungs begin to form.
• The brain continues to develop.
• Arms and legs have lengthened with foot and hand areas distinguishable.
• The hands and feet have digits, but may still be webbed.
• The gonadal ridge begins to be perceptible.
• The lymphatic system begins to develop.
• Main development of external genitalia starts.

 Week 9

Gestational age: 8 weeks old. 57–63 days from last menstruation.

Embryonic age: Week nr 7. 6 weeks old. 43–49 days from fertilization.

• The embryo measures 18 mm (3/4 inch) in length.
• Fetal heart tone (the sound of the heart beat) can be heard using doppler.
• Nipples and hair follicles begin to form.
• Location of the elbows and toes are visible.
• Spontaneous limb movements may be detected by ultrasound.
• All essential organs have at least begun
• The vitelline duct normally closes

Weeks 10–12

Gestational age: 9–11 weeks old.

Embryonic age: Weeks nr 8–10. 7–9 weeks old.

• Embryo measures 30–80 mm (1.2–3.2 inches) in length.
• Ventral and dorsal pancreatic buds fuse during the 8th week
• Intestines rotate.
• Facial features continue to develop.
• The eyelids are more developed.
• The external features of the ear begin to take their final shape.
• The head comprises nearly half of the fetus' size.
• The face is well formed
• The eyelids close and will not reopen until about the 28th week.
• Tooth buds, which will form the baby teeth, appear.
• The limbs are long and thin.
• The fetus can make a fist with its fingers.
• Genitals appear well differentiated.
• Red blood cells are produced in the liver.

Weeks 13 to 16

Gestational age: 12–15 weeks old.

Embryonic age: Weeks nr 11–14. 10–13 weeks old.

• The fetus reaches a length of about 15 cm (6 inches).
• A fine hair called lanugo develops on the head.
• Fetal skin is almost transparent.
• More muscle tissue and bones have developed, and the bones become harder.
• The fetus makes active movements.
• Sucking motions are made with the mouth.
• Meconium is made in the intestinal tract.
• The liver and pancreas produce fluid secretions.
• From week 13, sex prediction by obstetric ultrasonography is almost 100% accurate.
• At week 15, main development of external genitalia is finished

Mommy/Daddy BLOG* day5

I'm 24 weeks pregnant!





Week 19
Gestational age: 18 weeks old.
Embryonic age: Week nr 17. 16 weeks old.

• The fetus reaches a length of 20 cm (8 inches).
• Lanugo covers the entire body.
• Eyebrows and eyelashes appear.
• Nails appear on fingers and toes.
• The fetus is more active with increased muscle development.
• "Quickening" usually occurs (the mother and others can feel the fetus moving).
• The fetal heartbeat can be heard with a stethoscope.

 Week 23

Gestational age: 22 weeks old.

Embryonic age: Week nr 21. 20 weeks old.

• The fetus reaches a length of 28 cm (11.2 inches).
• The fetus weighs about 925g.
• Eyebrows and eyelashes are well formed.
• All of the eye components are developed.
• The fetus has a hand and startle reflex.
• Footprints and fingerprints continue forming.
• Alveoli (air sacs) are forming in lungs

Background Information

1.) What is food biotechnology?
 Biotechnology has a long history of use in food production and processing. For ten thousand years fermentation, a form of biotechnology, has been used to produce wine, beer and bread. Selective breeding of animals such as horses and dogs has been going on for centuries. Selective breeding of essential foods such as rice, corn andwheat have created thousands of local varieties with improved yield compared to their wild ancestors.

2.) What are genetically engineered foods? Genetically modified (GM) foods are foods derived from genetically modified organisms. Genetically modified organisms have had specific changes introduced into their DNA by genetic engineering techniques. These techniques are much more precise than mutagenesis (mutation breeding) where an organism is exposed to radiation or chemicals to create a non-specific but stable change. Other techniques by which humans modify food organisms include selective breeding (plant breeding and animal breeding), and somaclonal variation.

3.) What are the potential benefits of genetically engineered foods overall?
 Medicinal foods that could be used as vaccines/medicines, foods with more desirable traits, faster growing plants, increase in food supply with reduced cost and longer shelf life, decreased use of pesticides, Disease and drought resistant plants, tastier foods, more nutritious food.


4.) What are the potential risks of genetically engineered foods overall?
GMF may have genetic changes that are unexpected and harmful, Modified organisms may interbreed with natural organisms and out-compete them, this would lead to extinction of the original organism or to other unpredictable environmental effects, plants may be resistant to some pests but not to others.

Genetically Modified Foods

Consumer Advocate

What should the consumer know about genetically engineered foods?
 They can have harmful effects on the body

What are the benefits of genetically engineered foods from the consumer's perspective?
The two most beneficial things about GMF are that they make healthful foods even more nutritious and they reduce the need for toxic chemicals. Tomatoes are being made to produce more lycopene, an antioxidant that may reduce cancer risk. Beans are being made to produce less gas. Soybeans are being produced with higher levels of isoflavones, substances that can help lower heart disease risk. GMF are being created to fight off bugs without having to spray pesticides that may cause harm to the environment.

What are the risks of genetically engineered foods from the consumer's perspective?
The main problem with genetically modified foods is that they are often recalled, and can be unsafe for human health. A type of genetically modified corn that wasn't approved for human consumption was found in taco bell taco shells. The product was tested and could cause allergies in the consumer of the product

Do these benefits outweigh the risks and why?
No, Genetically modified foods can cause harmful effects such as an allergic reaction. This would happen because in the genetic combining process, the manufacturers could add a protein to the food that can cause an allergic reaction that wouldn't be caused in the non-genetically modified version.

Should genetically engineered foods be labeled? 
 Yes, GMF should be labeled because it is the consumer's choice if they wish to eat GMF. GMF can cause possible harm so the consumer should be aware of that. A new law passed by congress will require foods to be labeled as of the summer of 2008.