HSH206 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Ovulation, Zygote, Genital Herpes
Prenatal development and birth
The prenatal environment
• The developing foetus is influenced by its physical and social environments
• Physical= Molecules through to climate
• Social= People who can influence and be influenced by the developing foetus
Influences on prenatal development
Stress
• Women who experience chronic stress during pregnancy= Give birth early or have smaller
babies
• Reduces flow of oxygen to foetus, increases its heart rate and activity level
• Weakens women's immune system
• More likely to smoke, drink alcohol, eat poorly and not exercise
Mothers age
• Prenatal development is most likely to proceed normally when women are 20-35 years of age
• 40-45 years= Nearly half of all pregnancies result in miscarriages
• Under 20 years= Problems during pregnancy, labour and delivery often due to socioeconomic
disadvantage
Teratogens
• Any agents that can cause abnormalities- drugs, chemicals, infections, pollutants
Infectious diseases
Several infectious diseases that a mother has before or during her pregnancy can impact prenatal
development
Disease
Potential consequences
AIDS
Frequent infections, neurological disorders, death
Chlamydia
Premature birth, low birth weight, eye inflammation
Chicken pox
Spontaneous abortion, developmental delays, mental retardation
Cytomegalovirus
Deafness, blindness, abnormally small head, mental retardation
Genital herpes
Encephalitis, enlarged spleen, improper blood clotting
Rubella
Mental retardation, damage to eyes, ears and heart
Syphilis
Damage to the central nervous system, teeth and bones
Toxoplasmosis
Damage to eye and brain, learning disabilities
Drugs
Certain women exposed to certain drugs in certain doses at certain times during the prenatal period
are damaged for life. Some of these drugs affect the foetus or newborn rather negatively.
Drug
Effects
Antiepileptic drugs
Drugs used to treat seizures may increase incidence of cleft lip and
palae, neural tube defects kidney disease and restricted growth
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Document Summary
The prenatal environment: the developing foetus is influenced by its physical and social environments, physical= molecules through to climate. Social= people who can influence and be influenced by the developing foetus. Teratogens: any agents that can cause abnormalities- drugs, chemicals, infections, pollutants. Several infectious diseases that a mother has before or during her pregnancy can impact prenatal development. Cytomegalovirus deafness, blindness, abnormally small head, mental retardation. Mental retardation, damage to eyes, ears and heart. Damage to the central nervous system, teeth and bones. Certain women exposed to certain drugs in certain doses at certain times during the prenatal period are damaged for life. Some of these drugs affect the foetus or newborn rather negatively. Drugs used to treat seizures may increase incidence of cleft lip and palae, neural tube defects kidney disease and restricted growth. Used in large quantities, such drugs may cause neonatal bleeding and gastrointestinal discomfort, low birth weight, prematurity and increased risk of miscarriage.
