Prenatal development – teratogens

Prenatal Development

Process of growth and development within the womb that occurs between conception & birth – growth when ur not born yet

Psychoactive drugs —

• Psychoactive drugs — substances that, when taken in/administered into one’s system, affect mental processes. This includes alcohol and nicotine

Psychoactive drugs — impact on prenatal development, TERATOGENS

• Teratogens– substances and conditions (including viruses, drugs, chemicals, stressors, and malnutrition) that impair prenatal development and lead to birth defects or premature death

alcohol usage

• Usage: heavy (3+ daily OR 5+ drinks on 1 occasion early in pregnancy)

  • Fetal Alc Syndrome (FAS) – hard to diagnose

  • Symptoms – small head, abnormal facial characteristics (wide spacing between eyes, flattened nose, narrow upper lip, unusual eyelids), slowed physical growth, learning disabilities, behavioral problems (poor concentration, aggressive, impaired social skills)

    • These symptoms could happen, and may not affect all

    • COULD be genetic

• Usage: frequent (½+ oz per day)

  • FAS but doesn't affect facial features or physical growth BUT affects brain functioning

  • The 1st sign is noisy, higher frequency cries at birth. Later signs include lower IQ

• Usage: moderate drinking (less than 1-2 serves a few days per week)

  • Likely no negative effect on prenatal development, but this is very controversial

  • Hard to determine effects

Tobacco usage

• Usage: early in pregnancy

  • Increase risk of abnormalities including malformation of the limbs and urinary tract like webbed fingers or smth

• Usage: later in pregnancy

  • Birth weight and size reduction

  • Babies born to habitual smokers weight about 9oz less, and shorter at birth and later in life

  • May have childhood respiratory issues and increased potential of becoming smokers themselves

• Usage: paternal smoking

  • Reduced birth weight by ~2oz

marijuana usage

• Usage: heavy

  • Affects development of the central nervous system (CNS)

• Usage: light

  • No proven long-term effects

heroin usage

• Usage: ANY USE

  • Because of the physiological “highs” & “crashes” of the addiction (like reduction of oxygen, irregular heartbeat, sweating, and chills that occur during withdrawal), heroin causes slower fetal growth and premature labour

  • Babies born addicted to heroin go through a physical withdrawal similar to an adult

  • Heavily addicted newborns require regulated drug doses in the first days of life to prevent the pain and convulsions associated with sudden opiate withdrawal

cocaine usage

• Usage: ANY USE

  • Causes overall growth delays, problems with the placenta (how a baby sustains life) and specific learning problems in the first months of life

  • Limited language development

solvent usage

• Usage: early in pregnancy

  • Causes smaller heads, crossed eyes, and other physical abnormalities

other elements that may affect hg&d

• Stress

• Caffeine

• Over the counter drugs

• Pollution

• Nutrition 

• Foods (shellfish, nitrites, soft cheese)