The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
(c)1998-2002; (c)2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
All other sections in this Literature Study Guide are owned and copyrighted by BookRags, Inc.
The period from 28 weeks after conception through one week after birth.
The perinatal period spans the last stage of pregnancy and the first days following birth. Approximately coinciding with the last trimester of pregnancy, the perinatal period features the final development and maturation of the fetus. At the onset of the perinatal period, the fetus is fully formed, with eyelids that open and close, a detectable heartbeat, and has demonstrated detectable movement for about one month. During the perinatal period, the internal organs will complete their formation and development, and the fetus will go from approximately two pounds to its birth weight of seven to eight pounds on average.
A premature birth is one that takes place during the first two months of the perinatal period.