Alcohol, Tobacco and Prenatal Development

... ; may have heart defects, small heads that may not look normal; joint and limb defects; poor muscle control; damaged nervous system; and hearing problems (Drugs and Birth Defects -Nancy Shniderman) Organ and limb development is impaired because of the rapid growth of a fetus during pregnancy. Doctors do not know how much alcohol is needed to cause FAE or FAS. During the first trimester, as shown ... to an adult, the affects on an unborn baby can be much greater. Marijuana contains more cancer causing chemicals than tobacco. Tobacco and marijuana decrease the amount of blood flow to the ba...

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• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... before the child is even born; be aware of harmful teratogens and avoid them during pregnancy. Teratogens are any environmental agent that can cause damage during the time between conception and birth (prenatal period) (Berk, 2013, p. 95). There are multiple types of teratogens including prescription and non-prescription drugs, illegal drugs, tobacco, alcohol, and radiation (Berk, 2013, p. 96). Prescription drugs include: Accutane, ... , are less attentive to the environment, and their motor development is slow (Berk, 2013, p. 97). Marijuana exposure impacts the baby to have a smaller he...

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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... with disorder like hyperactivity, emotional disturbance and mental retardation is low birth weight. Prenatal condition that can lead to premature birth and to low birth weight include nutritional deficiency, disease, exposure to radiation, drugs, emotional stress, and mother's excessive use of alcohol or tobacco. Variety of biological and psychological conditions affecting a mother during pregnancy can have profound effects on a child's development and adjustment and hence are at significant risk for ... a variety of maladaptive behavior with diminished abilities to handle life challeng...

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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Prenatal exposure to substances such as alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs result in numerous castes of irreversible birth defects. Birth defects related to drinking, smoking, and the intake of illegal drugs are entirely preventable. Research has shown that approximately twenty percent of all women consume alcohol or smoke a cigarette during their pregnancy; four percent of those women consume some manner ... exhibit slow development such as growth retardation. Infants prenatally exposed to illicit substances suffer from withdrawals. Not only do these drugs harm children physically, but also ...

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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... the most dangerous category, they included heroin and other opiates, and cocaine. Alcohol was also placed in this category because of its strong toxicity, its potential as a social hazard and its "very strong" addictiveness. In the middle category they placed stimulants such as amphetamines, hallucinogens and tobacco "largely because of its "very strong" addictiveness and toxicity. The authors point out that government's ... example, that "in developed societies cannabis appears to play little role in injuries caused by violence, as does alcohol". It also says that while the evidence fo...

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... life. Most vulnerable babies, however, appear perfectly healthy. 3. The third element involves exogenous stressors, outside environmental challenges which a normal baby can overcome and survive, that a vulnerable baby might not. Stressors such as second-hand exposure to tobacco smoke, prone sleep position, an upper respiratory infection, or air pollution (PM10) alone do not cause the death for the infant, but can tip ... call your doctor or clinic right away. Make sure your baby receives his or her shots on schedule. 14. Early and regular prenatal care; no use of cigarettes, alcohol or ...

• Word Count: 2208
• Approx Pages: 9
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... % result in a miscarriage or stillbirth. Historically, the highest teenage birth rates in the United States were during the 1950s and 1960s before the legalization of abortion and the development of many forms of contraception. (1) After the legalization of abortion in 1973, birth rates for US females 15 to 19 years old decreased sharply until 1986, when rates again rose ... include: early dating behavior (dating at age 12 is associated with a 91% chance of being sexually involved before age 19, and dating at age 13 is associated with a 56% probability of sexual involvement during adolesc...

• Word Count: 3521
• Approx Pages: 14
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... the goal for every pregnancy. Sometimes this is easy, sometimes it requires intensive efforts by the mother, her physicians, her nurses, other health care givers, family members and newborn child's physicians. Prenatal (before birth) health depends partly on Mom's health prior to pregnancy. Ideally, a woman achieves the ideal weight for her height before attempting to conceive. Women who ... are overweight during pregnancy risk diabetes and hypertension and are also more likely to suffer minor discomforts during pregnancy. Underweight women tend to have smaller babies. These infants are...

• Word Count: 658
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... active smoker inhales. Lung cancer is the most researched fatal health consequence of breathing ETS. Non-smokers exposed to ETS absorb tobacco products into their blood and tissue. Statistically, there is a risk ratio of about 1.53 for non-smokers who live with smokers to develop lung cancer ... is the cigarette smoke from the lit end of the cigarette that pollutes the air surrounding the smoker. A combination of sidestream smoke and exhaled smoke is known as second hand smoke or environmental tobaccos smoke (ETS). People who breathe ETS are called passive or involuntary smokers ... smo...

• Word Count: 1697
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School