FMLY 1010 Lecture Notes - Lecture 19: Congenital Disorder, Teenage Pregnancy, Birth Weight

• School: University of Manitoba
• Department: Family Social Sciences
• Course: FMLY 1010
• Professor: Christine A.Schippers

Document Summary

Women should also abstain from drinking alcohol while they are trying to get pregnant. Heroin and methadone can cause miscarriage, premature labour, and early death. 60-80% of babies born from mothers using heroin, are also addicted themselves. Addicted babies have high-pitched cries, suffer from withdrawal symptoms (irritability, uncontrollable tremors, vomiting, convulsions, sleep problems: symptoms can last as long as 4 months. Use of cocaine by pregnant mother is linked to developmental problems in children. Studies on marijuana during pregnancy have yielded mixed results: small reduction in birth weight, not considered a human teratogen. Folic acid (b vitamin found in beans/spinach) inadequate amounts linked to neural tube anomalies spina bifidia. Take preconception measures (400 micrograms/day: important to take in sufficient overall calories and protein to prevent malnutrition. Lwb if malnourished especially in last 3 months. Intellectual difficulties in childhood, mental illness in adulthood. Greatest impact on the developing nervous system (reduced brain weight and learning capacity)