Hazards in Prenatal Development

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Questions and Answers

What is Teratology?

The field that investigates the cause of congenital (birth) defects.

What is a teratogen?

A teratogen is something that causes birth defects.

What are some examples of harmful drugs that can impact prenatal development? (Choose any three)

Diet pills, aspirin, coffee

Which of these is associated with reduced birth weight, length, and head circumference, impaired motor development, impaired information processing, and poor attention skills?

Cocaine Signup and view all the answers

What is the main negative impact of heavy alcohol drinking during pregnancy?

Fetal alcohol syndrome which is a cluster of abnormalities that can occur in children whose mothers drank alcohol during pregnancy. Signup and view all the answers

Fetal and neonatal deaths are higher among mothers who smoke during pregnancy.

True Signup and view all the answers

Maternal heroin addicts generally deliver babies who are larger than average size with no negative side effects.

False Signup and view all the answers

What are three examples of environmental hazards that can negatively impact prenatal development?

Radiation in job sites, x-rays, environmental pollutants Signup and view all the answers

In what ways can fathers impact prenatal development?

Fathers exposed to high radiation could have children born with chromosomal abnormalities. Older fathers may also place their offspring at risk for certain defects. Signup and view all the answers

Human life begins prior to conception.

False Signup and view all the answers

The cephalocaudal trend explains why the upper part of the head including the eyes and brain grow faster than the lower parts of the jaw.

True Signup and view all the answers

Explain the proximodistal trend of fetal growth.

This is the pre-natal growth from 5 months to birth when the fetus grows from the inside of the body outwards. Signup and view all the answers

How does the brain develop shortly after birth compared to the pre-natal stage?

Shortly after birth a baby's brain produces trillions more connections between neurons than it can possibly use. Signup and view all the answers

What are the two main purposes of reflexes in a newborn?

Reflexes are automatic behaviors that serve as survival mechanisms and they also help the baby learn about the world. Signup and view all the answers

What causes the sucking reflex to begin?

The sucking reflex is initiated when something touches the roof of an infant's mouth. Signup and view all the answers

What is the rooting reflex?

The rooting reflex is most evident when an infant's cheek is stroked and the baby responds by turning his or her head in the direction of the touch and opening their mouth for feeding. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the startle/moro reflex.

Infants will respond to sudden sounds or movements by throwing their arms and legs out, and throwing their heads back. Most infants will usually cry when startled and proceed to pull their limbs back into their bodies. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the galant reflex and explain what happens when a baby's middle or lower back is stroked.

The galant reflex is shown when an infant's middle or lower back is stroked next to the spinal cord. The baby will respond by curving his or her body toward the side which is being stroked. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the tonic neck reflex.

The tonic neck reflex is demonstrated in infants who are placed on their abdomens. Whichever side the child's head is facing, the limbs on that side will straighten, while the opposite limbs will curl. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Prenatal Development Hazards

Teratology is the study of birth defects. A teratogen is anything that causes birth defects, derived from the Greek word "tera" meaning "monster."

Hazards to Prenatal Development

Prescription and over-the-counter drugs: Including antibiotics, diet pills, aspirin, and coffee can negatively impact prenatal development. Exposure to these substances can result in lower birth weight, head circumference issues, impaired motor skills, and difficulties with information processing and attention.
Psychoactive drugs: Exposure to nicotine, caffeine, marijuana, cocaine, and heroin during pregnancy can lead to premature births and newborns with lower birth weights. Heavy alcohol consumption during pregnancy can cause fetal alcohol syndrome, a cluster of abnormalities including facial deformities, limb defects, heart problems, and potentially mental retardation.
Environmental hazards: Exposure to radiation (job sites, X-rays), environmental pollutants, toxic waste, prolonged exposure to heat (saunas, hot tubs), can lead to chromosomal abnormalities in the child. High temperatures in the mother due to prolonged exposure to high heat can also endanger the fetus and potentially cause birth defects or fetal death.

Other Maternal Factors

Infections: Rubella (German measles), syphilis, and genital herpes can harm the developing fetus during pregnancy.
Maternal health conditions: AIDS, stress, and age (too young or too old) can elevate the risks of birth defects and harm the baby.
Mother's nutrition: Affects the development of the fetus through the placenta.
Gestational period anomalies: Transmission of infections to the baby across the placenta, during contact with maternal blood during childbirth and through breastfeeding.
Maternal age: Older mothers face higher risks of chromosomal abnormalities in their children, and consequently, higher mortality rates for children born to adolescents.

Paternal Factors

Environmental exposures: Fathers' exposure to lead, radiation, pesticides, and petrochemicals can cause abnormalities in sperm, potentially leading to miscarriages or childhood cancers in the offspring.

Conception

Human development begins at conception.
Cephalocaudal trend: The head grows more rapidly than the body during prenatal development .
Proximodistal trend: The fetus develops from the center of the body outwards.

The Birth Process

A visual aid of the birth process is accessible at the provided YouTube link.

The Newborn

Myelination: The process of insulating axons by layers of fat cells begins presnatally and continues after birth.
Brain development: At birth, a baby's brain is about 25% of its adult weight. The brain rapidly produces connections between neurons. Connections that aren't used are eliminated.

Reflexes of the Newborn

Newborns have automatic reflexes for survival. These reflexes are crucial for immediate life needs and disappear as the baby learns and develops other skills.
- Sucking reflex: Initiated by touching the roof of the mouth; ensures the baby can latch onto and feed from a bottle or breast.
- Rooting reflex: Baby turns their head in the direction their cheek is stroked to locate and feed.
- Gripping reflex: Enables the infant to grasp and hold onto objects.
- Curling reflex: Response to touching the soles of the feet, either with curling the toes or spreading them out.
- Startle/Moro reflex: Response to sudden noises or movements, involves throwing the arms and legs out, and throwing the head back, often accompanied by crying, and pulling limbs back into the body.
- Galant reflex: The baby curves its body toward the side being stroked.
- Tonic Neck Reflex: The limbs on the side where the baby's head faces are straightened, while the limbs on the opposite side will curl.

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Description

This quiz explores various teratogens and their impact on prenatal development. Learn about how different substances, including drugs and environmental hazards, can affect fetal health. Understand the significance of these hazards in preventing birth defects.