28. Birth
Fertilization
The beginning of the male ejaculations and the female menstrual cycle are the signs of a person reaching sexual maturity. This means that the person is ready to have children. However, giving birth to a child would be too difficult a task for a pubescent girl. In addition, pubescent boys and girls are not mentally ready to take care of a child.
Having children also requires that both the mother and the father are ready and willing to raise the child into maturity.
When making love, a man and a woman are having sexual intercourse. In sexual intercourse, a man places his erect penis into the woman's vagina. When the man ejaculates inside the woman's vagina, millions of sperm cells are released. These sperm cells begin travelling towards the womb and the Fallopian tube.
If the Fallopian tube contains a detached, mature egg cell, it can be fertilized by a sperm cell. During fertilization, the sperm cell penetrates the membrane of the egg cell and the two cells are fused together.
The fertilized egg cell, which now contains genes from both the father and the mother, can now begin developing into a child.
The stages of fertilization:
1. An egg cell develops in the woman's ovaries. The mature egg cell is detached. 2. The vagina receives male sperm cells during sexual intercourse.
3.–4. The sperm cells swim through the womb and reach the fallopian tube. 5. The fastest sperm cell fertilizes the egg cell.
The embryo develops in the mother's womb
The fertilized egg cell develops into a multicellular embryo when it begins dividing. At the beginning, the embryo is only a couple of millimeters in size. The embryo attaches itself into the mucous membrane of the mother's womb. There, its cells continue dividing.
Gradually, the parts of the embryo begin to differentiate. This means that the embryo begins to develop distinct organs. When an embryo reaches the age of approximately two months, it will be a couple of centimeters in length and recognizable as a human. When this happens, the embryo is considered a fetus.
The fetus develops in the mother's womb protected by amniotic fluid. The fetus needs oxygen and food in order to survive and continue growing. The fetus receives these things from its mother through the umbilical cord. The carbon dioxide and urea produced by the fetus are also released through the umbilical cord.
The organs and senses of the fetus develop rapidly. The fetus learns to recongize persons that are speaking around its mother, and it is capable of kicking.
Pregnancy ends in birth
The child is born after a pregnancy period of approximately nine months.
During childbirth, the muscles of the mother's womb begin to contract and the amniotic fluid is released. The child is released from the mother's body through the vagina. It arrives into the world head first.
After this, the child's umbilical cord is cut. The child begins breathing with its own lungs.
The mother breastfeeds the child for several months. The mother's milk contains plenty of energy and important substances, which the child uses to grow.
A young baby is completely dependent on other people. This is why a baby needs large amounts of protection and affection.
During childbirth, the muscles of the mother's womb begin to contract and the amniotic fluid is released. The child is released from the mother's body through the vagina. It arrives into the world head first.
After this, the child's umbilical cord is cut. The child begins breathing with its own lungs.
The mother breastfeeds the child for several months. The mother's milk contains plenty of energy and important substances, which the child uses to grow.
A young baby is completely dependent on other people. This is why a baby needs large amounts of protection and affection.
Terminology
| Term | Explanation |
|---|---|
| embryo | The first stage of human individual development. |
| fetus | The stage of human individual development where the child has recognizable organs and limbs. |
| pregnancy | The period during which the child develops inside its mother's womb. |