Introduction

A baby in utero moves through three stages of development: germinal, embryonic and foetal. Various patterned movements occur prenatally as the sensorimotor system develops. Foetal motor movements can be observed as early as the eighth week of gestation. Initially, these movements are basic and are based on exploration. Complex movement patterns evolve as the pregnancy progresses, and movement variation is geared towards adaptation. Understanding the stages of development in utero provides a picture of what we can expect premature babies to be able to do and what may be difficult for them to do. Therefore, this course will discuss the various phases of gestation and describe what to expect during each stage.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this course you will be able to:

• describe the three stages of gestation
• compare experience-expectant and experience-dependent plasticity
• discuss at least one feature of each type of foetal movement

Target audience

This course is aimed at Physiotherapy and Physical Therapy clinicians, students and assistants. Other interested professionals such as athletic trainers, occupational therapists, nurses or medical doctors interested in this subject are also invited to participate.

Practicalities

• Availability - this course is online and can be completed on your own schedule.
• Hours of Learning - No deadlines are applied to this course and it can be started and completed in your own time according to your personal schedule. We expect the required elements to take around 1-1.5 hours depending on your schedule and learning style. Additionally there are many optional resources provided and if you choose to review these the course could take longer to complete.
• Types of Activities - This course includes instructional and/or practical videos, reading activities, AI supported learning activities, reflection, evaluation forms, a quiz and additional resources.
• Certificates - At the end of the course, when you have completed all of the required elements, you will be able to download a certificate of completion and 1 Plus points will be added to your personalised learning dashboard.

Instructor financial and non-financial disclosures

No relevant relationships disclosed by instructor.

Accessibility and Non-Discrimination Policy

Physiopedia Plus is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible learning environment for all participants. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, national origin, religion, sex, disability, military status, sexual orientation or age in any aspect of our continuing education services. We are dedicated to ensuring that all learners can fully participate in our programmes. Participants who require accommodations or have special needs are encouraged to contact us with details so that we can make all reasonable efforts to meet these requirements.