The Prenatal Conditions on the Development of the Child - Essay Example

?Running Head: Developmental Influences Developmental Influences in the Prenatal Environment Introduction Pregnancy is one of the most miraculous wonders of a woman’s life. For some, it defines their existence. It is certainly a precious gift to know that life has formed and will come from one’s womb. However, there are always two sides to a story. While the most awaited special moment will arrive in just 37 to 42 weeks, this period requires meticulous and mindful care and medical attention. The pregnant mother and her unborn child are both facing numerous risks any time and any place. Regardless of the conditions, it is a well-known fact among health care professionals that those women bearing a child are always exposed to factors may it be genetic predispositions, teratogenic agents or even stresses levels. Throughout the course of the gestational period, the woman as well as her partner and family support must be sufficiently equipped with the appropriate knowledge and latest information regarding childbirth. With a huge number of factors to consider, the only weapon that will effectively combat any hazards is knowledge. It is imperative that people have the correct understanding of the determined elements that greatly influence this miraculous bearing of a life inside one’s womb. Developmental Influences in Prenatal Environment Fortunately, in a specialized study and field of medicine, there have been already extensive researches and study about the most significant determinants whether for the worse or better effects on the process. Among the vast array of agents that bear bad effects, prescription drugs, caffeine, use of tobacco and alcohol are the worst because it is associated with a person’s lifestyle. Furthermore, some pregnant women are skeptical about the accuracy of such advices as these habits do not really cause harm to the health of the mother. However, once the baby is born, the effects become more apparent on the neonate and it might already be too late. First and foremost, prescription drugs, particularly thalidomide which was the earliest detected harmful drug, have been proven to cause congenital defects such as absence of limbs. This caused such an alarm and elicited immediate and subsequent researches on other drugs that would otherwise be therapeutic in normal conditions. The results conclude the detrimental effects that anticoagulants, anticonvulsants, selected antibiotics and artificial hormones bear on the fetus. Moreover, drinking caffeinated beverages are declared to be harmful despite the lack of empirical basis. While it is still unclear of the possible outcomes of coffee or tea as well as some carbonated soda intake, it would be wise to stay away from them or at least limit the amount. The expecting mother should stay on the safe side and not risk the spontaneous abortion or low birth weight infant that often results with caffeine. Smoking and alcoholism are considerations that have tremendous significance. Even when not pregnant, these two lifestyle choices already have a questionable effect on the health of an individual; what more with pregnant women who have heightened sensitivity to a number of environmental factors? Based on the previous cases, there are many possible ill outcomes on the smoking mother’s developing fetus. Neonates with low birth weight or congenital defects are the most prevalent reactions but the worst possibility is death of the infant. The nicotine’s degree of effect is also dependent on the dosage. Alcoholism during pregnancy is carries along with it the serious, ill consequences. They have even established the fetal alcohol syndrome which equals a group of anomalies and malformations in the brain, eyes, hearts, head, joints and face. The connection between the amount of alcohol allowable to the detrimental effect is still a blur. Therefore, to guarantee the absence of such physical and cognitive deformities, it will be wise to maintain sobriety as well as stay away from the occasional drinking throughout the whole gestational period. The timing and dosage does have effects but still are unclear. Furthermore, the involvement of the use of illegal substances also play major role. Marijuana and cocaine are two of the most commonly used and abused addictive drugs. One can obviously discern the difficulty of studying this matter and the link to certain fetal defects. However, most experts who have delved into the research found that premature delivery is the primary outcome. For cocaine, the same impediments apply however the primary fetal effects are premature delivery causing low birth weights, strokes and defects or death. These factors also cause harm to the well being of the mother as well. Heroin and methadone have also been proven by surveys to be used during pregnancy. It causes the neonates to be susceptible to diseases of the respiratory system. Then the maternal condition logically also have a significance in determining the health of the child. The most serious diseases are the rubella or German measles and AIDS. While there are a wide range of infections that can harm the developing fetus, rubella has been the most resounding as it causes a set of symptoms such as congenital heart disease and mental retardation. It is such an alarming disease because it has a very high risk on the baby once the mother is infected. In order to remove this risk, vaccines have been made. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome on the other hand passes on the virus to the fetus. Therefore the baby will inherit an incurable disease that is responsible for taking millions of lives annually. Other influential diseases are STDs--- genital herpes, gonorrhea, and syphilis--, chicken pox, cytomegalovirus, hepatitis, mumps, toxemia, toxoplasmosis, as well as the common diabetes, hypertension and influenza. There are also other factors which are lesser known but teratogenic nonetheless. It is very rare that the light shine upon the significance and effects of Rh incompatibility, radiation and pollution. Few women give an effort in determining their own and their partner’s Rh type. If there is incompatibility, the unborn child will develop abnormally and show defects at birth or even death. Even if the child has been born already, the necessary measure to take is the use of developed drugs and frequent blood transfusions for the child. Pollution has long been a culprit for many diseases but it is seldom that they acknowledge the effects of this factor on the development of the fetus. Some studies have found that the harmful agents are able to penetrate the protective embryo and cause serious consequences such as cerebral palsy, bone malformations or even death. Fortunately, the awareness regarding radiation and its malformation, abortion or death inducing effects have been increasing throughout the years. Moving on to more complex elements, mental health, culture as well as the condition of the community are also considered as having significant roles. The mother’s mental condition has a reasonable influence on the development and growth of a child. For instance, when the mother is depressed she will definitely have an unfulfilled role as the primary caregiver. The same applies with culture and society. If the child has been brought up in a destitute condition, then one can expect some of the early needs of an infant to be unsatisfied. It is said that the most important stages for complete and successful development of a child are their earliest years. Researchers studying the various teratogenic factors unfortunately face many difficult hindrances to uncovering their real connection once these agents have interacted with the developing and sensitive fetus. While under this process, researchers find it hard to remove the effects of other variables. The researchers face the difficulty of controlling the subjects and the involved agents. For instance, those pregnant women who take alcoholic drinks during the period of gestation may also be taking in other substances that alter the real effect of the involved variable. Therefore the validity of the results of the study is questionable. The discovery of the real connection with other teratogens also poses a problem when matters regarding the law come in and play a role. In the cases of marijuana, cocaine, heroin and methadone, the subjects involved in the study recognize the difficulty of disclosing sensitive information. These are substances that have been declared illegal to use. Despite the provision of confidentiality whenever studies are being conducted, it is inevitable that a few of the pregnant mothers participating will have a hard time in giving out the true data. Blocking out the external influences is required but difficult to accomplish. Additionally, it is inevitable that the researchers will sometimes be limited by the scope of their study and the principles that have already been established. Even the entire process of pregnancy still has information gaps and inaccuracies. In this note alone, one can discern the impossibility of determining and drawing the link between certain agents and congenital defects. This field of science also poses an ethical dilemma as the subject deals with life. The procedure of studying the unborn fetus may itself cause harm or even death in some instances. These factors have been impeding the accomplishment of a concrete and scientifically based study regarding effects of the prenatal conditions on the development of the child. There are plenty of ways to begin the resolution of this alarming condition. The primary barrier that needs to be overcome on their route to success is the complexity of effectively disseminating information to every region. This is the best way to start about addressing the matter. For all health care professionals, teaching and informing the right facts have a great importance as part of their job. Conclusion Most studies have shown that pregnant women often take in the teratogenic agents without awareness of the possible consequences of their actions. With effectively spreading the information, one would probably eliminate a significant portion of the affected population. Experts have just recently developed a young field of research related to the developmental influences in the infant and the how particular outcomes result. They have found that the different environmental conditions do have various, great conclusions if successful. For instance, the upbringing of a child in the presence of some negative factors may be a protective factor once overcome when the child has grown up. Ultimately, one cannot be certain as to the real effect or consequence of a factor on an infant. There is still a call for further research because once various factors regardless of their negative or positive characteristics, interacts have abundant possible outcomes. References Cole, M., Sheila, R., Lightfoot, C. (2005). Prenatal development and birth. The Development of Children 5th ed. (pp. 85-94). New York: Worth Publishers. Cole, M., Sheila, R., Lightfoot, C. (2005). Early experience and later life. The development of children (5th ed). (pp. 256-270). New York: Worth Publishers. Read More