Prenatal Period
PHYSIOLOGICAL needs
Prenatal nutrition is an important aspect of pregnancy. Many women use prenatal vitamins and supplements to help maintain proper levels of nutrients. This ensures their their fetus is growing properly. A mother who has proper nutrients during this stage is generally going to have a healthier baby compared to a mother whose nutrients are restricted. This picture shows an expectant mother with her prenatal vitamins that will help provide nutrients to her prenatal child.
Safety Needs
An example of prenatal safety needs being met is when a mother receives proper healthcare. Proper healthcare helps ensure that the fetus is growing as expected and is not having any medical issues. Proper medical checkups while pregnant are an important part of the prenatal period. A women that receives medical advice on her diet, weight, and exercise regime is more likely to have a healthy baby. Studies show that children whose mothers live a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy, lower the likelihood of a lifetime of obesity in the child. This picture shows a mother getting a routine examination that monitors the health of the and the fetus.
Belonging and love needs
Parental stimulation such as talking to babies or letting them listen to music inside the womb helps fulfill this need. There is evidence that this will help the fetus once he is born. It may make them feel less stressed and cry less because they will have a better attachment to the parents. This is a picture of a mother providing stimulation to her unborn baby in the hopes that it will improve development.
Esteem Needs
Esteem needs are a little harder to meet at this period in human development. The most logical way to meet these needs are by using much of the same tactics in meeting the belonging and love needs. By talking to your fetus in a soothing way you may give it a sense of comfort and enjoyment. Using a positive happy voice will make the fetus feel comfort in what it is doing, giving it a feeling of worth. This picture is a father talking softly to his unborn child to form a bond.
Self-Actualization
Again, while it is hard to pinpoint if a fetus can feel these needs, by completing them you will give the fetus some sense of self. Through the familiarization of the family members voice and touch, the fetus can get a sense of who it is and how it feels. In the picture a expecting woman and her husband are touching the stomach giving the fetus a sense of touch to let it know they are there.
Kevin Zuhlke
Developmental Psychology
Maslow Project
Developmental Psychology
Maslow Project