The study of prenatal development from conception to birth contributes to understanding prenatal risk factors and prenatal processes. Research shows that a developing organism is most likely to experience birth defects during the first trimester (3 to 12 weeks) of pregnancy. Research also shows how different classes of teratogens can have some adverse effects on a developing fetus. I chose the Prenatal Development Study from Conception to Birth because I was familiar with it and could relate it to aspects of my life, such as childbirth, which I experienced as a child. It informed and increased my knowledge of risk factors associated with prenatal development. The findings clarified what I had previously known about how to cope with myself during pregnancy.