Prenatal Care

Affects of Prenatal Developement

There are many causes of possible harm to a developing baby; including things like environmental concerns such as toxic chemicals, fumes and poisons, to drugs including smoking and alcohol. These things can hinder the fragile process of prenatal development or even terminate the pregnancy. As a pregnant mother, one would probably wonder how to prevent these things from happening. I believe that proper prenatal care will ensure a much greater chance of good health.

Some definite

influences that impact healthy development

would be teratogens which are a broad range of substances and conditions such as drugs or malnutrition. Drugs (includeing tobacco and alcohol) can cause abnormalities include facial deformities and defective limbs, face and heart. Most of these children are below average in intelligence. These things can cause obvioius physical problems or other impairments such as brain damage that aren\\\'t even noticeable until the child is of school age. Behavioural teratogens that harm the brain (making a child retarded, hyperactive, ect.) can be far more damaging over a person\\\'s life than physical defects. You may be wondering what influences the extent of damage. When the developing organism is exposed to a teratogen is very important. Some cause damage only on specific times early in pregnancy and others can be harmful at any time, but how severe the damage is depends on when the exposure occured. Radiation,chemical, and other hazardous factors in the environment can endanger the fetus as well. Therefore, I think the environment plays a very big role in determining the physical and mental stability of a child, more so than genetics.

I would advise newly pregnant women not to smoke, drink or do any other drug while pregnant. I would also suggest not taking any medication before asking your doctor. Also, try to stay away from unhealty chemicals or radiation for your safety

and the safety of your unborn child. Another thing I would recommend

is that you eat regularly and healthy. One thing some expecting mothers do not think of is to read to their unborn child and play music for them, some parents feel they may be contributing to their child\\\'s eventual success in life. There\\\'s a