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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.
who used cigarettes and alcohol while pregnant and kids who are exposed to high levels of
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.
Childbirth is nothing short of a miracle. The placenta—the organ connecting a developing fetus to the uterine wall and allowing for waste elimination, nutrient uptake and gas exchange via the mother's blood supply—filters most harmful substances that threaten an embryo, though some may still pass on to the fetus. These harmful substances, called “teratogens,” range from environmental chemicals to the passing of maternal diseases, and can negatively impact the normal developmental cycle of a fetus. The title “teratogen,” however, effectually refers to any substance or chemical exposure with the potential to cause birth defects in prenatal development. Exposure to teratogens can result in a broad spectrum of physiological and psychological issues in later life, including malformations of the body. (Malformations resulting from exposure to one of the most common teratogens—alcohol—can be observed notoriously in Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, or FAS, where patterns of mental and physical defects develop in association with high levels of alcohol consumption during pregnancy.) Though the toxicity of these teratogens is particularly damaging during the fourth through tenth weeks of gestation, teratogens can harm throughout the span of development in the womb.
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.
To put a definition plainly, teratogens are agents responsible for countless birth defects. Research found suggests over eight hundred known teratogens. In this paper, you will find interesting facts based on research, the relationship between teratogens and developmental psychology and some personal views based on the information and research found for this piece.
“I brought you into this world, and I can take you out!” A child has most likely heard that phrase at some point in their life. Although, it is not ethical or legal for a mother to “take her kid out of this world”, it does bring up a good point that it was through her body, that the child was born. One of the most important responsibilities in this world is a mother carrying a child in the womb. There are many divine processes that take place during gestation, but there are also many contributing factors from the mother that can affect the developing human. These factors may include what a woman ingests and exposes her embryo or fetus to. Sadly, alcohol use during pregnancy is an ongoing problem that can have detrimental affects on the fetus, including Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). Choosing to drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy is a choice, a risky choice. Unfortunately some women don’t even know they are making a risky choice by consuming alcohol because it is in the early stages of pregnancy. It is common for a female to not find out they are pregnant until at least the fifth or sixth week after fertilization. In 2006, 49% of all pregnancies in the United States were reported unintended on a national survey.1 The highest rate of preventable birth defects and mental retardation is due to alcohol use.2 In this paper, I will further discuss FAS, the potential effects of binge drinking during the embryonic stage of gestation, and what actions need to be taken in order to reduce the incidences of alcohol related birth defects.
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).
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.
Jancárková, N., & Gregor, V. (2000). [Teratogens during pregnancy]. Ceska gynekologie/Ceska lekarska spolecnost J. Ev. Purkyne, 65(3), 188-194.
(Gilman, Breslau, Subramanian, Hitsman, & Koenen, 2008). Despite the warnings about the dangers of smoking while pregnant, some women still choose to smoke, which places themselves and their baby at risk for many health issues. Damage caused by smoking while pregnant During pregnancy, smoking can cause problems for a woman’s own health, including, ectopic pregnancy, vaginal bleeding, placental abruption, in which the placenta peels away, partially or almost completely, from the uterine wall before delivery; Placenta Previa, a low-lying placenta that covers part or all of the opening of the uterus (March of Dimes, 2011). Women that smoke expose their unborn baby to dangerous chemicals, like carbon monoxide, tar and nicotine.... ...
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.
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
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