The Role that Teratogens Have on Prenatal Development - Essay Example

? The Role that Teratogens Have on Prenatal Development Pregnancy is a particularly delicate period for both the mother and the unborn child; they are both in a heightened state of vulnerability, thus any unhealthy lifestyle choices can have detrimental effect on their health. However while the effects may be temporary in the mother or not even serious enough to cause significant alarm, in the unborn child, poor diet and drug use by the mother may have serious, and sometimes, fatal consequences. Among the common harmful substances, include hard drugs such as crack cocaine, heroin and marijuana and alcohol. Prescription drugs such as opiate based painkillers and anti anxiety, medications can have dangerous consequences on the child’s health, both in the long and short term. The foods ingested by a pregnant woman can also pose a threat to both hers and the baby’s health, for instance, chocolate bars and many soft drinks contain caffeine which if not taken in moderation could harm the baby’s health. Poor nutrition during pregnancy can increase a baby’s chances of getting developmental delays as well as potentially impair their physical and neurological abilities. Ultimately the mother’s lifestyles is key to the baby’s health and in this paper, the effects and consequences of drug intake and poor nutritional choices on the prenatal health will be examined. Pregnant and nursing mothers who consume alcohol and other drugs jeopardize their child’s prenatal health in a myriad ways; these foreign substances can pass through the placenta into the bloodstream of the fetus or through the mother’s milk during breastfeeding. Extensive studies conducted on the effects of alcohol on prenatal health have been carried out and they have been unequivocal on the fact that that high consumption of alcohol during pregnancy is bad for the baby’s health. Nonetheless, there has been considerable controversy on the effects of alcohol in small amounts; a study carried out Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Canada, on the effects of alcohol on prenatal health concluded that while alcohol was harmful to the unborn child there was insufficient evidence to prove consumption in law quantities could have any adverse effects (Carson, 2010). Conversely another study conducted by the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health on the same subject concluded that even low or moderate consumption could have negative effects on the baby’s health (Walpole et al, 1989). Based on such scientific contradiction, one can only guarantee their safety by complete abstinence from alcohol during this period. The most infamous consequence of alcohol on babies is the fetal alcohol problem; the symptoms of this condition include low birth weight, mild to severe brain damage as well as changes in facial stricture. In the long term, the child after birth could be faced with a plethora of physiological and psychological problems and/or permanent disabilities, especially in children born of alcoholic mothers. Cocaine and crack cocaine are among the substances that can enter the child’s bloodstream by crossing the mother’s placenta during pregnancy; these substances pose a serious health threat to both mother and child. Possible effects include miscarriage, early labor an undersized baby and brain damage; the child may also be born addicted to cocaine especially if the mother was a regular user of the drug. In this case, it will have gotten addicted to the drug while in the womb, once it is delivered, it will have to undergo the withdrawals syndrome which are often painful and, albeit rarely, can be fatal. The addiction problems may be escalated further especially if the woman continues to use the drugs while breast-feeding; in this case, the child may become what is commonly known as a crack baby and unless there is intervention the child will likely die soon after birth. Notwithstanding, even if they get help, children born of such mothers are likely to develop personality problems and a high propensity for addiction in their adult lives. Another drug that is commonly used and which has adverse effects on the unborn child is methamphetamine; going by the street name Meth. Like cocaine and heroin, it passes through the placenta into the baby from the mothers’ blood and the baby can ingest it during breast-feeding. Effects include small sized baby’s birth defects and impairing of the development of internal organs often resulting in poor health and high infant mortality in children born to mothers who use the drug, other effects include impaired muscle control, brain damage. Meth which is a stimulant often results in an increase in the heat rate of both the mother and unborn baby; and the mothers using it can mechanically harm themselves or the baby as a result of hyperactivity that usually accompanies the consumption of the drug. Research by the American pregnancy association has conclusively proven that smoking marijuana during pregnancy poses a significant threat to the baby’s prenatal health. The levels of carbon monoxide in the blood increase and this results in the flow of oxygen being impended through the umbilical cord, this often results in higher chances of miscarriage, endangering both the mother and child as well as premature birth and potential learning and developmental problems. Prescription drugs also pose a threat to the baby especially when abused; like the illegal drugs, these are also addictive and thus the baby can be born addicted to them, they may develop conditions such as brain damage in the short term or create a basis for spinal bifida or glucoma in the long term. Because of the mothers, addiction to drugs such as painkillers and sleeping pills among other commonly abused or prescribed drugs (Ryan, 2011). Drugs are however; not the only substances that can pose a threat to prenatal health, the dietary choices made by the mother are a key to the wellness or lack of the same in the baby. A study carried out by the Kaiser Permanente Division or research found out that women who ingested at least two cups of coffee a day or five cans of caffeinated soda were twice as likely to have a miscarriage as those women who abstained from caffeine products altogether (Perry, n.d). Some foods and drinks that are considered acceptable normally can be very unsafe to consume during pregnancy; coffee is a major culprit in this regard. Prior to birth, a baby’s systems are not developed enough to break down the chemicals that they may absorb from coffee and other consumables, ergo, the caffeine levels in the child may remain elevated for longer than it would in the mother (United Kingdom Food Standards Agency, 2002). Consequently, the child may suffer birth defects such as low birth weight berating problems since the presence of coffee in their system for long period’s increases their heart rate and amount of time spent awake. Pregnant women often struggle with their choices in food especially if they were used to eating unhealthy junk food before they got pregnant; many of these foods such as fatty burgers, fried and sodas pose a health risk for both the mother and child during the prenatal period. Health nutrition in this case should include among others, fruits, vegetables, whole wheat bread, fish and nutritional supplements such as iron (Gordon, 2009). Poor nutrition during pregnancy can have adverse effects on the placenta, if the friable placenta is damaged, the baby may not receive the optimum supplies of oxygen in the wombs such as oxygen and food. Furthermore, if the placenta; due to poor nutrition, comes apart before birth it poses a risk of postpartum hemorrhage which can result in the deaths of both mother and child. While baby’s may appear to be healthy at birth, if they have retrospectively been denied the full benefits of vital nourishment in the womb they have a high potential for problems such as developmental delays as well as potential for both physical and neurological disabilities. They can be born undersized or end up having problems when it comes to breastfeeding; this will in turn reduce their immunity status and could have lifelong effects on their health and wellbeing. Other factors that can be affect the child’s health include the in advert intake of food that that may consumes high amounts of mercury such as fish; while the effects of such chemicals may not be apparent on the mother they can harm the baby developing nervous system (Department of Health, 2011). They may have serious ramification of the child’s future health; for instance, mothers are advised to consume omega 3 while pregnant since it has positive effects on their children’s mental and physical growth. However according to Dr Hibbein, parents consuming fish rich to boost their intake of omega 3 during pregnancy had children with the highest quantities of mercury in their systems (Hibbien et al, 2007). Thus, mothers should be very careful about what they consume because even deliberate dietary choices meant to benefit the baby may end up causing harm in the end. Ultimately, from the factors considered herein, the intake of drugs and poor or uniformed nutritional choices cause a cocktail or serious and often fatal consequence on the child’s and mother’s health. Drugs, whether they are legal or illegal if abused will likely have adverse consequences to the child’s health and in many cases result in prenatal addiction. Thus, it is the prerogative of the parents, particularly the mother, to ensure their unborn child’s continued good health and to this end ensure they abstain from using drugs and other excesses as well as making healthy and informed nutritional choices. Works Cited Hibbein, J., Jean G. and Colin S. (2007). “Maternal Seafood Consumption in Pregnancy and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Childhood”. National Forum on Contaminants in Fish — Proceedings University of Bristol. Retrieved from http://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/fishshellfish/techguidance/upload/section2f.pdf Carson G., et al. (2010). “Alcohol Use and Pregnancy Consensus Clinical Guidelines” The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Canada. Retrieved from http://www.sogc.org/guidelines/documents/gui245CPG1008E.pdf Walpole, I.,' Stephen, Z. and Jacqueline, P. (1989). “Confounding variables in studying the effects of maternal alcohol consumption before and during pregnancy” Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 43, 153-161. Perry, Georgia. (n.d). “The Effect of Caffeine on an Unborn Baby” Ehow.com. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/about_6639372_effect-caffeine-unborn-baby.html Gordon, J. (2009). “Healthy Eating for Pregnancy” The British Dietetic Association. Retrieved from http://www.bda.uk.com/foodfacts/Pregnancy.pdf Department of Health (UK). (2011). “Delivering a Healthy Start for pregnant women, new mums, babies and young children” Retrieved from http://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/HS52A_Interactive%20PDF%20for%20Health%20Professionals.pdf United Kingdom Food Standards Agency. (2002). “Eating while you are pregnant”. Retrieved from http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/publication/eatingwhilepregnant1209.pdf Ryan, D.B. (2011). “The Effects of Substance Abuse on Unborn Babies” Livestrong. Retrieved from http://www.livestrong.com/article/18004-effects-substance-abuse-unborn-babies/ Read More