Prenatal Development Of Teratogens

The timing of prenatal exposure to the teratogen, the dosage of the teratogen, and the individual differences in sensitivity to a particular teratogen. Alcohol is one of the most common and preventable causes of birth abnormalities. The amount of alcohol consumed during pregnancy, the timing of drinking, and individual differences in sensitivity to alcohol all play a role of the extent and nature of effects caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol. A child whose mother drank during pregnancy is likely to have Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. Children with FASD are likely to have behavioral problems and lower IQs, which results in them struggling in school and contribute to poor social skills. Drinking during pregnancy can also compromise physical

Prenatal development is the process of rapid growth and change of a zygote to a fully formed baby that begins about 40 weeks prior to birth. It is divided into three trimesters where the first ends at the end of the embryonic stage, the second around the 20th week of pregnancy, and the third ends at birth. These trimesters do not correspond with the three stages of prenatal development known as germinal, embryonic, and fetal.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), birth defects results in one of every 33 babies. Teratogens account for 4 out of 5% of birth defects when chemical and drugs are in the system. The use of this or even infections can cause abnormal fetal development.

Alcohol is known as one the most dangerous teratogens. Every time a pregnant woman drinks, she allows alcohol to enter her blood stream and make its way into the placenta. Unlike the mother, the fetus is unable to break down alcohol that makes the blood alcohol level of the fetus the same or higher than the mother (Burk, 2013). Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), and prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) are considered some of the most serious consequences of maternal drinking during pregnancy. Children can exhibit physical abnormalities such as a flat mid-face, a thin upper lip, a smooth groove between the nose and upper lip, along with growth retardation, and cognitive difficulties. The affected children also have cognitive difficulties which include intelligence, language, memory, and learning (Wacha & Obrzut, 2007).

As previously mentioned, environmental factors, such as exposure to taratogens, can affect the development of the unborn child. Broderick and Blewitt (2105) define a teratogen as “substances or agents that can cross the placental barrier and produce fetal deformities when taken or absorbed by the mother during pregnancy” (p.619). These substances include drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, pollution, stress hormones, poor nutrition, and diseases, such as AIDS. Consumption of drugs and/or alcohol can lead to low birth weight, as well as, physical, cognitive, and behavioral abnormalities. Furthermore, more recent studies are showing that exposure to pollutants can affect an individual’s development. For example, a study of the

Even though there are many studies that highlight the damaging effects of maternal alcohol use on a fetus in utero, there are a multitude of other substances that are used by pregnant mothers that have similar and even, in some cases, more extreme repercussions such as marijuana, heroin, and cocaine. When speaking about pregnancy and drug use, the most common drug that comes to mind is alcohol. During 12 years of schooling, most people are exposed, at one point or another, to the idea of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and the detrimental effects of alcohol on a fetus in utero. The effects of maternal use of the aforementioned illicit drugs is less studied, partially because they are used less frequently. It is important, however, that as a population, we become more educated about these drugs and the potentially life threatening outcomes for babies in utero.

Part (1)The embryonic period is considered the critical period where teratogens are more likely to have a lasting effect among developing creatures (Arnett, 2015). Arnett (2015) stated that Teratogens are triggered by environmental factors, bad decisions done by the mother, or being unhealthy. During the embryonic period, important organs are developing rapidly; therefore, teratogens can harm the development because the embryo and fetus are susceptible to them. Those organs include the brain, limbs, and heart. Additionally, the main teratogens are due to diseases, drug usage, and lack of proper nutrition. Some of the health consequences that can arise are heart abnormalities and mental retardation (Arnett, 2015). Part (2) The advice that I

Pregnancy can be an intimidating, confusing and complex period in a woman’s life, as babies don’t come with instruction manuals. While the environment and lifestyle that an infant is raised in is solely up to the parent’s discretion, there are basic principles and expectations that every pregnant woman is held to. A fetus’s well-being and health depends exclusively on the lifestyle of his or her mother. Whatever mom inhales or ingests, the baby receives the same substance. With this biological partnership in place, a mother must be conscience about what she ingests—as many substances that are okay for adults are toxic to babies. In regard to consumption of the teratogen alcohol, a woman must consider the implications at risk relating to the

Teratogen Defined. Alcohol consumption during pregnancy is known to have teratogenic effects. Teratogen means that a particular agent is known to cause abnormalities on a developing embryo. The teratogenic effect the alcohol will have on the embryo is highly dependent on dose and frequency of consumption. As stated in the medical journal, Alcohol Abuse In Women, “Exposure to heavy drinking (over 48–60 gr. ethanol/day) may cause fetal alcohol syndrome; exposure to moderately high drinking, between 24–48 gr. ethanol/day which may result mostly in “alcohol effects….” (Ornoy, Ergaz 2010). Aside, from developing Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), the developing fetus is at risk of also developing Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental

On average, one in thirteen pregnant women have admitted to consuming one or more alcoholic beverage in their previous thirty days of pregnancy (“Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders”). Though one drink may seem miniscule in the scope of an eight to nine month pregnancy, any amount of alcohol exposure can be detrimental to a developing child, leading to life-changing disorders such as fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Fetal alcohol syndrome, a severe potential consequence of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, starts when a pregnant woman drinks an alcoholic beverage according to Mayo Clinic (“Fetal Alcohol Syndrome”). Alcohol enters the bloodstream and then can travel throughout the body. Alcohol

According to dictionary.com a teratogen is “a drug or other substance capable of interfering with the development of a fetus, causing birth defects”. Teratogens are also substances that are found in the environment which are known to cause defects in fetal development. Teratogens are one of the leading causes of death to newborns in the nation. “There are four major factors that depend on the extent of fetal defects and those are the dosage, genetic makeup of the mother and the developing fetus, fetal age, an other negative influences on pregnancy” (Berk, 2012). Some of the common teratogens include alcohol consumption, exposure to radiation, environmental pollution, tobacco and or drug use, and certain prescription and non-

Alcohol is a type of teratogen, which is an agent that can caused birth defects to occur. The timing and the amount of exposure to a teratogen is crucial when it comes to a pregnancy. A mother’s use of alcohol can greatly affect an unborn child. The timing at which the effect of teratogens varies from person to person, but the time when the teratogens have the largest effect typically occurs during the periods of rapid prenatal development. Mothers who are pregnant, or who wish to become pregnant, should avoid consuming alcohol because the teratogens can affect the mother’s eggs. It is true that there are certain stages in the pregnancy where a certain amount of exposure to teratogens will only have little impact, but there is still some form of result. When

    According to parents.com, after conception, a fetus begins to develop rather quickly. In the fifth week of pregnancy, a baby’s heart begins to beat. A baby also develops three distinct layers, ectoderm, endoderm, and mesoderm. These three layers will eventually form the body systems that are necessary

The first thing that I would do is explain to her what teratogens are. They are substances that when taken during pregnancy, will cause birth defects to the unborn child. There are several teratogens out there that can cause several different defects. The effects that each teratogen can have on the child will depend on when the exposure occurs and how long the exposure lasts throughout the pregnancy. Out of all the teratogens mentioned in our book, I have decided to go more into detail on alcohol and caffeine. Both of these substances are legal drugs, however, just because they’re legal doesn’t mean that they can’t harm unborn children. Out of the two, the one that can cause the least damage is caffeine. When mothers consume caffeine during

Teratogens can have a huge effect on an infant development during the critical period for the brain which takes places during the proliferation,migration, and the differentiation stages because the fetus is having to develop so rapidly. During these three stages all of the fetus major body systems are developing. If a woman exposes herself to teratogens while she is pregnant she increases that baby chances of having some form of impairment whether it be a physical impairment or some form of brain impairment. Even after a woman has her baby and the baby doesn't displays any signs of side effects because of the teratogens that the mother used during her pregnancy does not me that the child won't suffer later in his/her