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Effects smoking has on unborn
The effect of teratogens on a developing baby
Why pregnant women shouldnt drink alcohol
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When a woman becomes pregnant, she is immediately known as a mother. The fetus being carried is dependent on his/her mother’s actions, behaviors and what she consumes into her body. The mother must be careful to not expose herself and her fetus to any dangers, for example, teratogens are a huge concern for her fetus to be exposed to. The two teratogens I believe to be fatal for a fetus to be exposed to are nicotine and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). Smoking and drinking while pregnant can cause many harmful affects and put the fetus’s health and safety in danger. I believe that the first serious teratogen is Nicotine. Nicotine is a lethal compound that is very toxic to the body, this toxin is especially to be stayed away from when pregnant.
Smoking is linked with poor reproductive health in both men and women. In men it has been associated with impotence and reduced sperm count. Women who smoke have greater difficulty becoming pregnant and suffer early menopause. The risks to the fetus of smoking during pregnancy are well known and include increased incidence of miscarriage, neonatal death, and low birth weight. Pregnant woman who smoke are more likely to have babies who have an increased risk of death from sudden infant death syndrome and respiratory distress. They are also more likely to have low birth weight babies. Low birth weight is linked to many infants’ health disorders.
who used cigarettes and alcohol while pregnant and kids who are exposed to high levels of
The first days and weeks after conception are critical for the baby. The health during the entire fetal period affects the brain, and behavioral teratogens affect the fetus at any time. Some teratogens that cause preterm birth or low birthweight are harmful in the second half of pregnancy. A study found that even though smoking cigarettes during prenatal development can harm the fetus, mothers who quit smokers early in pregnancy had no higher risks of birth complications than did women who never smoked. Another study found that binge drinking in the last trimester of pregnancy was more harmful to the brain than during any other period during pregnancy. It is recommended that women avoid drugs, have a diet of extra folic acid and iron, update their immunizations and gain or lose weight before
The manner in which a teratogen impacts the developing human may vary, though nicotine, caffine and medication consumption are all directly related to physical development. These are examples of habitual teratogens, each contributing to low birth weight and behavioral problems in adolescents. The level of influence of any given teratogen depends on many factors; the first, called the “threshold effect,” occurs when a relatively harmless teratogen in small quantity becomes toxic at a spe...
When you are pregnant, you are not just "eating for two." You also breathe and drink for two, so it is important to carefully consider what you give to your baby. If you smoke, use alcohol or take illegal drugs, so does your unborn baby.
There are many factors that are integrated into the successful development of a child from Prenatal growth into toddlerhood. Teratogens (outside factors) have a great impact on the babies’ inutero development. Some outside factors like second-hand smoke, smog, or fumes from cleaning chemicals can cause negative effects on the child inside the womb. A few major affects from teratogens could result in low birth weight, head circumference, slow physical growth as well as an effect on mental, behavioral and motor skills (Berk, 2003). The environment around the mother provides many of these outside factors affecting the baby’s growth. But the main link to teratogens during the gestation period is most likely the mother. Daniel S. Messinger and the National Institute on Drug Abuse found that 2.8% of pregnant women admitted to using illicit drugs during their pregnancy (1996). Through illicit drug use, tobacco use and alcohol use, the mother disrupts her baby’s growth with possibly permanent damage.
A growing issue that continues to go on today is the drug and alcohol abuse by pregnant women. This has become a growing issue due to the fact that pregnancy is starting at a much younger age. Women tend to become pregnant around the age of 15 to 44 (“Birth Data”). In young women among the ages of 18 to 24, the alcohol and tobacco rates were 25.5 percent and 15.5 percent, respectively (Chen). As of 2001, about 12 percent of all pregnant women admitted to consuming alcohol during their pregnancy (Burd). Out of the 4 million or so births in the United States, 64,000 have had high levels of exposure to alcohol while pregnant (Burd). Similarly, teenagers and those in their early adulthood are getting exposed to all different types of drugs. Both of these facts are the leading causes to the increase of drug and alcohol abuse by pregnant women. Another rising issue that is still going on up to this day is whether or not abortion should be legal. Due to the fact that in some states, having an abortion is considered murder; drug and alcohol abuse during pregnancy should be dealt with in a similar way. Drug and alcohol use not only makes an impact on the life of the mother but also puts the unborn baby in risk of danger. Drug and alcohol abuse during pregnancy has many adverse long term effects on a child and should be punished as a crime.
A teratogen is any agent that causes abnormality in a developing embryo. Teratogens are agents that cross the placental wall and cause physical abnormalities, along with cognitive and behavioral defects. Usually, these malformations show up anywhere from the third to eighth week of pregnancy, or the first trimester, which is when major organ systems are developing. Some types of teratogens consist of certain medications, chemicals, and infections or other diseases in the mother (Things to Avoid During Pregnancy: Teratogens, 2016).
During your pregnancy the job of the placenta is to keep the teratogens from reaching the fetus, but the placenta is not always successful at doing this, which means the fetus will be exposed to some harmful teratogens. This also means that the timing and quantity of exposure to a teratogen is very crucial, especially during prenatal development (Feldman, R. S. (2013). Teratogens generally have the most significant effects during rapid development. For example, the sensitivity to a teratogen can be related to
Teratogens was a term that I learned in lesson 2.02. A teratogen “is a name given to any chemical, disease, or other environmental factor that can harm a developing embryo or fetus”. It can have major negative effects on the baby because it is constantly developing and can affect its organs and external appearance. For example, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or FAS is considered to be teratogen. The way this applies to my life is because I have always and still do find interest in a child's development. I want to work with children with special needs like autism and down syndrome. Although I know that most disabilities come from gene mutations, I want to work with disabilities beyond just genetic mutations. More examples of teratogens
Although many women become pregnant each year, many are unaware of the many possible dangers of pregnancy and therefore, have difficult pregnancies. Some during pregnancy can affect you and the unborn baby’s health. Carbon monoxide is unhealthy for the unborn that are being carried. While smoking you inhale poisons that could be a danger to your baby’s heart and lungs. Smoking lowers the bloodstream and goes directly to the unborn baby. It also lowers the amount of oxygen that is available to the woman and the growing baby. It can also increase the risk of a miscarriage.
Jancárková, N., & Gregor, V. (2000). [Teratogens during pregnancy]. Ceska gynekologie/Ceska lekarska spolecnost J. Ev. Purkyne, 65(3), 188-194.
The most common diseases during this period are AIDS, Herpes, rubella, and a condition known as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. These diseases are due to the lifestyle and care, prenatal care the mother receives. Also, some diseases are due to the use of drugs. For example, the use of substances by the mother can have overwhelming effects to the fetus, effects that can be detrimental to the baby. Smoking is linked to low birth weight, which can also result in a weakened immune system, poor respiration, and neural impairment. Alcohol use can lead to fetal alcohol syndrome, which is linked to heart problems, body malformations, and mental retardation. Secondly, there are many maternal diseases that can negatively impact the fetus, including herpes, rubella, and AIDS. For example, Herpes virus is one of the most common maternal disease and can be transmitted to the fetus, leading to deafness, brain swelling, or mental retardation. Lastly, the female should be very careful with what she eats, extremely careful with which drugs are ingested, she should always be aware of her environment so that the fetus will not be infected with any maternal diseases. These affect the child’s overall health and wellbeing whether it’s good or bad, that alone is why the prenatal stage is the most important
However, it also urges us to inspect earlier conditions in a child’s life that have not been adequately investigated yet. Teratogens are environmental agents that cause damage to during the prenatal period. Dose, heredity, and age influence the effect of teratogens. Examples of teratogens include prescription and nonprescription drugs, illegal drugs, tobacco, alcohol, radiation, environmental pollution, and infectious disease. Exercise, nutrition (and malnutrition), emotional stress, Rh factor incompatibility, maternal age, and previous births are other maternal factors. If women experience severe emotional stress during the first two trimesters, it can lead to a higher chance of negative outcomes. These negative outcomes include miscarriage, prematurity, low birth weight, infant respiratory and digestive illnesses, colic, sleep disturbances, and irritability during the first three years of a child’s life. Prenatal distress can have an adverse effect on cognitive, behavioral, and