The embryonic period is all about the formation of important systems of the body. Think of it as your baby’s basic foundation and framework. The fetal period, on the other hand, is more about growth and development so your baby can survive in the outside world.

The embryonic stage plays an important role in the development of the brain. Approximately four weeks after conception, the neural tube forms. This tube will later develop into the central nervous system including the spinal cord and brain. The neural tube begins to form along with an area known as the neural plate.

There are three stages of prenatal development—germinal, embryonic, and fetal. Prenatal development is also organized into trimesters: the first trimester ends with the end of the embryonic stage, the second trimester ends at week 20, and the third trimester ends at birth.

Your developing baby is most vulnerable to injury during the embryo stage when organs are developing. Indeed, infections and drugs can cause the greatest damage when exposure occurs two to 10 weeks after conception. Diabetes and obesity can possibly increase your child’s risk of birth defects.

Development is a positive growth or change in economical, social and political aspects of a country. Two aspects of development are: (a) Economic development or rise in income of people. (b) Social development, which includes education, health and public services.

Skills such as taking a first step, smiling for the first time, and waving “bye bye” are called developmental milestones. Children reach milestones in how they play, learn, speak, act, and move (crawling, walking, etc.).

Birth to one year of age, development of control and mastery of gross and fine motor skills • One to two years of age, perfected skills; balance, coordination, stability, ability to manipulate objects • Two to three years of age, increase in motor skill; master challenges in the environment such as bicycles, stairs.

Tips for assessing development

1. Consider the child’s age and then using the above examples, focus your questions on the likely areas of current developmental progress.
2. Offer the child suitable toys to assess skills through play.
3. Observe how the child uses toys and interacts with people.

If your child isn’t meeting multiple milestones as quickly as expected, your doctor may suggest doing an early intervention evaluation to get a better sense of what’s going on. The results can guide the types of services and supports that could help your child if your child needs them.

Signs of a Physical Developmental or Early Motor Delay

1. Delayed rolling over, sitting, or walking.
2. Poor head and neck control.
3. Muscle stiffness or floppiness.
4. Speech delay.
5. Swallowing difficulty.
6. Body posture that is limp or awkward.
7. Clumsiness.
8. Muscle spasms.