Teratogens are defined as “those substances which exert an adverse influence on development [of a developing fetus]” (Hepper, 2007, p. 48). Teratogens can be environmental influences, such as chemicals or infectious agents. They can also be physical conditions or nutritional deficiencies present in the mother. Thousands of known teratogens have been discovered. For example, Purdue University’s Department of Radiological and Environmental Management (2014) maintains an internet-based list of teratogens which currently names over 2000 substances. This paper will discuss two of these teratogens in further detail: maternal cigarette smoking and vitamin A. Cigarette smoke can be considered a teratogen that is environmentally, behaviorally, and maternally induced. Cigarette smoke has long been known to have teratogenic effects on developing fetuses. Warning labels regarding the dangers of smoking to fetuses have appeared on cigarette packs since 1985 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012). Mothers can expose their babies to cigarette smoke and the chemicals which it contains directly by smoking herself or indirectly by working, living or being in an environment in which other people are smoking (second-hand smoke). There is no known exact amount of cigarette smoke considered safe or dangerous. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a mother’s prenatal smoking can lead to premature birth, birth defects, and infant death. The CDC states that women who smoke are more likely to have miscarriages and premature births. Babies born to mothers who smoke are more likely to have low birth weight and have an increased risk of being born with a cleft lip or cleft palette. Babies of smoking m... ... middle of paper ... ...Elsevier Academic Press. Duerbeck, N., & Dowling, D. (2012). Vitamin A: Too much of a good thing?. Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey, 67(2), 122-128. doi:10.1097/OGX.0b013e318244c52d Hepper, P. (2007). Basic methods in infant research. In A. Slater & M. Lewis (Eds.), Introduction to Infant Development (2nd ed.) (pp. 41-62). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. Purdue University, Radiological and Environmental Management. (2014). Teratogens. Retrieved from http://www.purdue.edu/rem/ih/terat.htm National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. (2013). Vitamin A. Retrieved from http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-HealthProfessional/ Shea, A., & Steiner, M. (2008). Cigarette smoking during pregnancy. Nicotine & Tobacco Research: Official Journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, 10(2), 267-278. doi:10.1080/14622200701825908
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.
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...
In this assignment I am going to describe a child observation that I have done in a nursery for twenty minutes in a play setting. I will explain the strengths and weaknesses of naturalistic observation through the key developmental milestones based in Mary Sheridan (2005) check-list and provide a theoretical explanation to support the naturalistic observation.
Smoking has been documented to reduce birth weight. It is postulated that the mechanism for this is via tobacco induced loss of appetite, resulting in reduced maternal nutrition and resultant low birth weight.14 Many other socio-biologic factors affecting birth weight include maternal age, maternal education, sex of baby, antenatal care, marital status, socioeconomic status, genetic factors and place of residence 2
Liebrechts-Akkerman, G., Lao, O., Liu, F., Sleuwen, B., Engelberts, A., L'Hoir, M., & ... Kayser, M. (2011). Postnatal parental smoking: an important risk factor for SIDS. European Journal Of Pediatrics, 170(10), 1281-1291. doi:10.1007/s00431-011-1433-6
Pregnant women that smoke cigarettes on a daily basis can greatly harm their fetus. The Tobacco smoke in cigarettes greatly reduces fetal growth through the presence of nicotine, carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, cadmium and various other aromatic hydrocarbons, but the two most dangerous chemicals that are found in cigarettes are nicotine and carbon monoxide. Nicotine causes the babies heart rate to speed up, reduces placental vascularisation, constricts the placental arteries, and thickens the endothelium of placental blood vessels. This creates a reduction in the placental blood flow, and further reductions in oxygen delivery. As well nicotine interferes with the ability of the placenta to feed the baby the nutrients it requires. Therefore the babies growth is slowed down. Carbon monoxide causes growing cells to be starved of oxygen, and effects the brain. This can lead to a low birth weight and higher chance of the baby dying at birth. Smoking is the single largest modifiable( changeable) risk factor in fetal growth retardation. Maternal smoking during pregnancy is also associated with genetic defects as well as an increased incidence of congenital malformations such as cleft palates, microcephalus, and clubfoot. Mothers who smoke one pack a day during pregnancy have an 85% increased risk of having a child with mental retardation. Mothers that smoke during their pregnancy have double the chance of having a child with behavural problems.
Jancárková, N., & Gregor, V. (2000). [Teratogens during pregnancy]. Ceska gynekologie/Ceska lekarska spolecnost J. Ev. Purkyne, 65(3), 188-194.
The choice of Casey’s mother to smoke throughout the duration of her pregnancy can have several negative impacts on his early development. Cigarettes have been identified as teratogens which are environmental agents that can have adverse effects on a developing fetus (Feldman, 2016, p. 75). Since she used cigarettes throughout the entire pregnancy, Casey was exposed to this teratogen during all three prenatal stages of development which unfortunately includes the first two to eight weeks of his development known as the embryonic period of development. During this period, the developing child is especially sensitive to teratogen exposure and the effects can be detrimental (Smith, Prenatal Development II, Feb 6, 2017). A selection of some of the possible implications that could result from the mother’s decision to smoke cigarettes are described in the following paragraphs.
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.
Infants and Children: Prenatal Through Middle Childhood. Pearson/Allyn and Bacon. Cooper, J., Masi, R., & Vick, J. (2009). The 'Standard' of the 'Standard'. Social-emotional Development in Early Childhood.
Very important to the baby’s health, the mother must stop smoking. If a woman continues to smoke while she’s pregnant, the baby’s oxygen level could decrease, resulting in the baby’s heart rate to increase to a dangerous level. Secondhand smoke could also affect the baby in a few different ways. The baby could develop asthma and other allergic reactions. Babies should always be kept on a safe, clean environment to ensure a healthy childhood. Mothers can kick the addiction by avoiding cigarettes, maybe by reading a book to keep the mind off of things, or even going on a short walk. Children whose mother smoked during pregnancy are at greater risk of conditions such as: a behavioral problem, learning disorders, and could even increase their chance to become a smoker. It is very important for pregnant women to at least temporarily quit until birth is
...just being around a person that does can cause harm to a mother’s fetus. Women need to know that smoking can cause miscarriages, premature birth, and other damage to a baby. Before women that smoke decide to make the decision of getting pregnant, they should research all the harmful effects that smoking has on a fetus. If pregnant smokers were to halt tobacco use a total of 986 infant deaths would be averted annually. This validates the need for infusion of more resources into existing smoking cessation campaigns in order to achieve higher quit rates, and substantially diminish current levels of smoking-associated infant deaths (Salihu, Aliyu, Pierre-Louis, & Alexander, 2003). The only way a woman can avoid pregnancy complications associated with smoking is to quit and she should also avoid others who smoke in order to avoid the dangers of second hand smoke.
According to the American Cancer Society secondhand smoke is a mixture of two forms of smoke that come from burning tobacco. Sidestream smoke is smoke from the lighted end of the cigarette. Mainstream smoke is smoke that exhaled by the smoker. Sidestream smoke has higher concentrations of cancer-causing agents and is more toxic. What those people don’t realize is that secondhand smoke causes more than 41,000 deaths per year, 7,330 of that are from lung cancer and 33,950 are from heart disease. It is proved that even short-term exposure to secondhand smoke can increase the risk of heart attacks. Smoking while pregnant can cause the woman to have a miscarriage or cause the baby to have birth defects. Despite the alarming number of deaths smokers still choose to light up. Secondhand smoke can actually cause serious health risks for man’s best friend. Studies show that the length
Second-hand smoke affects others around the smoker. Nine out of ten adults know that second-hand smoking affects children and infants. Still, they continues t...
Smoking now a day is prevalent in vast number. This is due to several reasons either smoker thinks they are looking cool or peer pressure. Statistics show that nine out ten of tobacco smoker starts smoking before 18 years old and most of the smoker didn’t expect to become addicted. (Dowshen,S (2013,Feb). Mr. Abdulla family free of smoker and they are aware of danger of smoking. Nevertheless Mr. Abdulla is not aware of danger of second hand smoke. The truth is second hand smoke is dangerous. The second hand smoke is a blend of two forms resulted from burning tobacco is side stream smoke which the smoke of lightened end, and mainstream smoke which is the smoke exhaled by the smoker. Second hand smoke can cause cancer. It has been linked to different type of cancers such as lung cancer, larynx, bladder, stomach, and breast cancer in adults. Exposure to secondhand smoke during pregnancy, increase the chance of spontaneous ab...