risks/protective factors to do with prenatal development

Antenatal care

• check ups → identify concerns

  • ultrasounds

  • Testing

  • Hospital if something is wrong

  • Vaccinations → whopping cough, influenza,etc

Maternal diet

• listeria bacteria - in soft serve ice cream, soft cheese, cold meats, raw/smoked seafood

—> cause miscarraige, stillbirth or premature labour

• mercury in certain fish (eg: shark,tuna) → delays child’s development, memory & language skills

Folate

• B-group vitamin needed for red blood cell production, DNA & foetal nervous system development

→ prevents neural tube defects (like spinal bifida) → walking issues, spinal deformities

• sources: leafy greens, eggs, poultry, cereals, citrus fruit, legumes

Iodine

• for baby’s brain & nervous system development

→ deficiency - stunted growth, fewer brain connections & intellectual disability

• sources : bread flour, seafood, eggs - dairy & seaweed

Iron

• forms the harm part of the haemoglobin which carries oxygen to the cells for cellular respiration → energy

→ foetus needs energy for growth

• deficiency → stunted growth, premature birth → underdeveloped immune system, death

Parental smoking and tobacco smoke in the home

• Smoking reduces oxygen to placenta exposes foetus to harmful chemicals

→ increases risks such as low birthweight, miscarraige, ectopic pregnancy, premature birth, birth defects, lung issues & perinatal death

Alcohol use during pregnancy

• when consumed, alcohol crosses the placenta can cause foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)

—> FASD → brain/nervous system damage, restricted blood flow thru placenta & umbilical cord & in severe cases stillbirth