Women become pregnant every day therefore the knowledge of possible teratogen exposure to the fetus is vital. From the moment of conception and pregnancy occurs, the unborn child is in danger of being exposed to teratogens. Having knowledge of the possible teratogen agent that can harm the fetus can be lifesaving. “A teratogen is any disease drug, or other environmental agent that can harm a developing fetus (for example, by causing deformities, blindness, brain damage, or even death)” (Rider and Sigelman 101). Teratogens can range from many different agents such as smoking, alcohol, or even coffee. The effects of being exposed can cause harm in many ways ranging from birth defects to possible death. Critical periods of fetal development …show more content…
Many teratogens are well known or obvious but there are some that is not so familiar as a harmful agent. The more known teratogens are agents such as drugs, alcohol, tobacco, radiation, and diseases such as AIDS. Drugs ranging from prescription, over-the-counter, and social can all cause harm to an unborn child. Some teratogens that are not so known or taken in consideration as much are STDs, maternal conditions like flu, and diabetes. The most surprising to me of all teratogens are stimulants as simple as caffeine. Although caffeine may seem unharmful, it can also have effects on the fetus as well as the other mentioned teratogens. Being aware of these harmful agents are important for healthy development of the fetus. Knowing what to keep in moderation or stay away from will better the chance of the fetus to not have the effects at birth or later in life. The teratogens have different effects, some severe, or may even cause …show more content…
Babies born that were exposed to thalidomide show effects such as missing limbs and deformed body parts. It was found to be more harmful to the fetus during the critical parts of development. Thalidomide is currently being used to treat diseases such as AIDS and it is vital that the drug must be used with extreme caution to ensure proper use. Alcohol is another known teratogen that a fetus can be exposed to. “Alcohol consumed by the mother readily crosses the placenta, where it can directly affect fetal development in various ways. For one, prenatal alcohol exposure disrupts the normal process of neuronal migration leading to cells that do not end up at their proper final destination in the nervous system.” (Rider and Sigelman 104). Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is one of the most severe cases because of exposure to the fetus. The effects of FAS is also seen later in the child’s life such as low IQ, physical growth defects, and attention defects. Use of tobacco during pregnancy may cause an increased risk of miscarriage, growth retardation, respiratory problems, cleft lip, and central nervous system impairment, etc. (Rider and Sigelman 102-103). Diseases such as AIDS should always be treated with caution although the number of babies that acquires AIDS from mother are less when cautious. Other diseases that can cause
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 effects on caffeine during pregnancy were explained and detailed. I explained the causes and effects on caffeine and the major dangers that affect the offspring. Caffeine is the most dangerous cause of danger in pregnancy and their offspring. It can infect the metabolism, the fetal, and can cause miscarriages. The blood flow can easily be decreased by having to much caffeine and can in danger the baby.
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 order to fully understand how certain drugs’ cause birth defects it is important to understand how environmental factors affect a developing fetus. When a baby is in the fetal period of development a placenta surrounds the fetus, providing nourishment and also protecting the fetus from harmful substances. This permeable barrier allows for some substances to enter based on a molecule's size, charge and solubility, it is also important to understand that a normal dose of medication for an adult does not affect a fetus in a similar way. Gideon Koren shares many factors that illustrate how and why a drug would affect a fetus more powerfully “…Second, the fetus’s detoxification and immune systems are still immature, unable to clear drugs and other chemicals from its system as effectively as the body of an adult. And third, the fetus is developing so rapidly that even a small disruption induced by a chemical can have far-reaching effects.” These factors help prescribers understand how medications can affect a
There are a few different ways that mothers and fetuses can be exposed during this sensitive time. They can be exposed accidentally, knowledgably, or with no knowledge of the pregnancy. An example of an accidental exposure is a radiation accident, like Chernobyl. There was no way to record the actual dosage of radiation that each child received in utero, or the amount of women who had spontaneous abortions after being exposed to the accidental radiation. It has been shown that those babies “exposed during the most sensitive period of pregnancy performed less well [on verbal IQ tests] than those who were exposed after week 16 of pregnancy” (Heiervang 213).
During recent years, numerous newspaper and magazine articles have suggested that humans may be at risk because small amounts of well known environmental contaminants, such as dioxin, PCBs and DDT, can affect hormone levels. Hormones are produced by the endocrine system as regulators of biological function in target organs. Because hormones play a critical role in early development, toxicological effects on the endocrine system often have an impact on the reproductive system. The term endocrine disruptor is used to describe chemicals that can mimic hormones and may either enhance or counteract their effects. It has been suggested that these hormone changes can, in turn, lead to a variety of health problems including cancer, decreased fertility, and abnormalities in newborns.
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.
Air pollution can be undoubtedly harmful to pregnancy. Substances such as carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, benzene, emissions from solid biomass, and nitroarenes all contribute to air pollution. Studies done in North Carolina, California, and East India all conclude the same thing; air pollutants do affect the health of babies during pregnancy. The most severe affects from these toxins include cancer, short-and-long-term morbidity, and stillbirth. Still damaging, yet less traumatizing effects include low birth weight, small for gestational age, and preterm birth. PM2.5 is particulate matter in the air. One study shows it reduces birth weight by 3.1 g (Gray, 2013). Because most of air pollution is attributed to gas and diesel fuels, this problem is long from being solved. With the population ever increasing, more vehicles will be on the roadways. Unless more environmentally friendly vehicles catch on, fumes will continue to increase. This impact can be huge since carbon monoxide is part of vehicle exhaust, and being exposed to CO during pregnancy can increase the risk of cancer in children. A study over the correlation between cancer and air pollution shows there were more leukemia cases by heavily traveled roads (Heck, 2013). Studies done on mice with O3 pollution resulted in impaired lung & reproductive tract outcomes in baby mice, as well as fewer viable pregnancies (Gray, 2013). Another source of air pollution are fuel types that women use to cook with in the home, and how much ventilation the home has. A study in India shows that kerosene was the most harmful fuel group with 9.1% of babies being stillborn (Wylie, 2014). With more tests and time, more observations of air pollu...
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. Alcohol Consumption During Pregnancy Alcohol is an ethanol containing substance that is a common beverage in many social and private settings. Alcohol is also a teratogen, therefore alcohol consumption and binge drinking potentially pose a substantial risk to the embryo or fetus. In 2013, the Centers for Disease Control conducted a telephone survey of women in the age range of 18-44 years regarding alcohol use.3
All drugs, legal or illegal, are considered to be harmful to the fetus and should be taken with caution and under the doctor’s direct orders only. Drugs can be anything as simple as a cigarette to a major substance like heroin and cocaine. Most mothers who do drugs during their pregnancy don’t think about the detrimental effects they could be causing to their baby. Any amount of these forbidden substances can leave an everlasting effect on the precious defenseless baby. Most women know that when you are pregnant your hormones vary greatly, but when a woman is pregnant it also ...
Another study measured the levels of flame retardants in both mothers’ prenatal and their children’ serums, and found that high concentrations of flame retardants like polybrominated diphenyl ethers were associated with a poorer attention than normal, slower cognitive development, and motor coordination difficulties. (Hamers, 2017)
(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.... ...
Jancárková, N., & Gregor, V. (2000). [Teratogens during pregnancy]. Ceska gynekologie/Ceska lekarska spolecnost J. Ev. Purkyne, 65(3), 188-194.
Hazardous Chemicals In The Household Being a mother myself, I have to be careful about what I bring around my children. These chemicals were created for a reason. However they can’t come without consequence. There is much debate on the use, storage and purpose of these products. However it’s important to do your research and make sure you aren’t harming yourself or others.