Pregnant women are usually very overwhelmed that they are expecting a baby, and start to become anxious over the gender. Often women are also worried about the health of the child but others are not so careful. When having a child, parents should understand that during the prenatal stage there are many influences on the baby’s development. A mother has the biggest influence on the baby during the pregnancy and everything that she does or does not do affects the baby. Teratogens are many different substances that can and will harm the baby during the prenatal stage of life. Alcholol, cigarettes, illegal drugs and infectious diseases that the mother carries are hazardous especially during pregnancy. The teratogen influences on the baby cause
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According to Connor and Streissguth, if a woman consumes alcohol during her pregnancy it can affect the development of her child physically and mentally, and problems may continue to occur throughout his or her life. Sokol and Clarren (1989) defined FAS as having “overall growth retardation, structural or functional abnormalities of the brain, and a characteristic pattern of facial deformities”. Studies have shown that children and adults who have FAS have trouble with their memory, have a hard time focusing and are below average with intellectual functioning (Connor & Streissguth). These consequences of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome causes him or her to do below average in school which is significant to the child’s life and …show more content…
There are many varieties of diseases that can put the baby’s development in danger. One of the most common diseases in the United States is AIDS, or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. According to our book, Human Development, in the United States alone 7,000 to 8,000 women that carry the disease will give birth each year and thirty to fifty percent of the time the mother transmits it to her child during birth. “Children acquire the HIV infection in one of three ways: From infected parents either in the womb or after birth through breast milk; via contaminated blood products or transfusions; or by intravenous drug use or unsafe sexual practices”, says Squires. AIDS slows down the development of a baby and causes motor dysfunction as well as mental retardation but can eventually also lead to death. AIDS is the 9th cause of death in children one to four years of age. (Squires). Another disease that affects prenatal development is toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a parasite. This parasite can be transmitted by a lot of animals, especially cats, or sometimes by consuming raw meat. According to Sivia, “Toxoplasmosis infection in the child may result in miscarriage, stillbirth, or death shortly after birth.” If the baby is born, he or she may have affects on the brain, organs, or may be blind. Babies may seem normal at birth but can have problems months or even years
According to Connor and Streissguth, if a woman consumes alcohol during her pregnancy it can affect the development of her child physically and mentally, and problems may continue to occur throughout his or her life. Sokol and Clarren (1989) defined FAS as having “overall growth retardation, structural or functional abnormalities of the brain, and a characteristic pattern of facial deformities”. Studies have shown that children and adults who have FAS have trouble with their memory, have a hard time focusing and are below average with intellectual functioning (Connor & Streissguth). These consequences of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome causes him or her to do below average in school which is significant to the child’s life and …show more content…
There are many varieties of diseases that can put the baby’s development in danger. One of the most common diseases in the United States is AIDS, or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. According to our book, Human Development, in the United States alone 7,000 to 8,000 women that carry the disease will give birth each year and thirty to fifty percent of the time the mother transmits it to her child during birth. “Children acquire the HIV infection in one of three ways: From infected parents either in the womb or after birth through breast milk; via contaminated blood products or transfusions; or by intravenous drug use or unsafe sexual practices”, says Squires. AIDS slows down the development of a baby and causes motor dysfunction as well as mental retardation but can eventually also lead to death. AIDS is the 9th cause of death in children one to four years of age. (Squires). Another disease that affects prenatal development is toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a parasite. This parasite can be transmitted by a lot of animals, especially cats, or sometimes by consuming raw meat. According to Sivia, “Toxoplasmosis infection in the child may result in miscarriage, stillbirth, or death shortly after birth.” If the baby is born, he or she may have affects on the brain, organs, or may be blind. Babies may seem normal at birth but can have problems months or even years