Teratology and Hazards to Prenatal Development

Teratology and Hazards to Prenatal Development

In order for an expectant mother to give birth to a healthy baby, she must familiarize herself with the substances and circumstances that could be potentially harmful to the offspring. Although 97-98 percent of infants are born with no major birth defects, prenatal development is a time of extreme vulnerability to outside influences (Petrikovsky, Jacob, & Aiken, 2001). Problems are more likely to develop in three types of women: those who have medical problems; those who use prescription drugs, alcohol, or illicit drugs; and women who are exposed to harmful substances while pregnant.

Environmental hazards pose an enormous threat to the development of the fetus. Each year, thousands of babies are born retarded or deformed as a result of teratogens the mother has been exposed to, including one or two months prior to conception. A teratogen is considered any agent that produces a birth defect. Some of the countless examples include prescription and nonprescription pills, illegal drugs, cigarettes, nutritional deficiencies, environmental toxins, infectious disea

Both prescription and non prescription pills can act as teratogens and sometimes have devastating effects. Prescriptions to be avoided include antibiotics, certain hormones, some depressants, and Accutane (which prevents acne). Over the counter medications that can cause damage are diet pills, aspirin, sleeping pills, and caffeine. While doctors say most drugs are safe during pregnancy, optimal results will stem from little to no use of medications.

Seeking out prenatal care from a physician is undeniably vital to ensure a successful pregnancy. Although it may be particularly difficult for young mothers, women with financial instability, little education, or those without health insurance to obtain. Also, most women don’t find out that they’re pregnant until four weeks after conception. Some may have a gut feeling about it, and others choose to remain in denial and put off going to see a doctor for as long as possible. By now, the most critical time period for development of the offspring has already passed. This realization is a frightening thought. A few cigarettes, a drink, or even a joint - which might normally seem relatively harmless to numerous people - could seriously injure the neglected embryo and inflict lifelong damage. That is why seeking out the care of a gynecologist or pediatrician is absolutely essential.

The presence of particular transmissible diseases can trigger detrimental defects. An outbreak of Rubella, the German measles, in 1964 -1965 had a devastating impact. The outcome consisted of more than 30,000 prenatal and neonatal deaths and 20,000 suffered from blindness, deafness, heart problems, or mental retardation. Times have since changed and we are now privileged enough to have a vaccine for this fatal disease. The existence of syphilis (a sexually transmitted disease) in a woman will do more damage later in the pregnancy. A mother with genital herpes passes it along to her offspring during delivery through the infected birth canal. An astounding 1/3 of these neonates do not survive and ¼ experience brain damage. The solution lies in having a cesare

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