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There are serious hazards to development during the relatively short period before birth. These are either physical or psychological. Physical hazards are dangerous but are easily recognised and so they have received more scientific attention. Psychological hazards are equally dangerous because they affect attitudes of the significant people in the society toward the developing child.
Physical hazards: each of the three main
subdivisions of the prenatal period involves certain physical hazards. What
happens to the foetus in the womb and in the process of its birth, the adequacy
of its uterine nutrition, its good or ill fortune at birth with regard to
infection or injury, are all considered as important as its heredity.
Miscarriage and abortion: a
miscarriage or spontaneous abortion occurs when pregnancy is brought to an end
before the developing organism is mature enough to survive outside the womb. It
takes place when the embryo separates from the uterine wall and is flushed out
by the uterus. Nearly 20% of all pregnancies end in a spontaneous abortion
mostly in the first 2-3 months.
Most of the
spontaneous abortions take place without mothers’ awareness and perhaps many
involve an embryo/foetus that was developing in a normal way. Today’s
spontaneous abortion is brought about by abnormalities of the reproductive
tract, viral or bacterial infections and sometimes by severe traumas.
Maternal diseases and conditions: maternal
disease can result into defects by crossing the placental barrier. These
diseases can also be source of damage to the foetus during birth. For instance:
Rubella (German measles): is a
maternal disease that damages prenatal development of children. Those born with
Rubella may have defects such as mental retardation, blindness, and deafness
and heart problems. The greatest danger of this disease is in the 3rd or 4th
week of pregnancy, hence it occurs during organogenesis (when organs are
formed) however, it can be controlled nowadays through vaccine, which is
administered to children. Also, it is advisable for women who plan to have
children to first test their blood before they become pregnant to detect presence
of the disease.
Syphilis: this is devastative later in prenatal development in
4th or more months after conception. Unlike Rubella that damages organogenesis,
syphilis damages organs that have been formed. It causes eye lesions that can
result into blindness.
When
present at birth, then it may cause problems that affect the central nervous
system and gastro-intestinal tract. It is suggested that women should be tested
to detect syphilis before pregnancy.
Genital herpes: this may be contracted during
birth. New-borns contract the herpes simplex virus II when they are delivered
through the birth canal of mothers with genital herpes. Nearly 1/3 of babies
delivered through the birth canal die and ¼ become brain damaged. This can be
prevented by using caesarean section to keep the virus from infecting the
new-born.
HTV/AIDS: today, the number of women with HIV is growing
steadily especially in developing countries. Consequently, more children are
born exposed and infected with HIV. HIV/AIDS is among the leading cause of
death among children between the ages of 1-14 years. Once the immune system of
a baby is destroyed then the result is death. There are 3 ways a mother who
suffers from HIV/AIDS can infect her offspring.
•
During gestation
across the placenta
•
During delivery
through contact with maternal blood or fluids.
•
Postpartum through
breast-feeding
However,
babies born to HIV/AIDS infected mothers can be placed under the following
categories.
•
Those who are
infected and symptomatic (showing HIV/AIDS symptoms)
•
Those who are
infected and asymptomatic (not showing HIV/AIDS symptoms)
•
Those who are not
affected at all.
It is
suggested that couples should be tested to detect HIV/AIDS before pregnancy in
order to prevent the spread of HIV among children. In addition, a woman who is
pregnant and suffers from HIV/AIDS should be put under HIV/AIDS drugs to
prevent the foetus from being infected.
Maternal age: this has been revealed to be a condition that
facilitates possibility of physical hazards during the prenatal period. The
mortality rate of an infant born to adolescent mothers is double that of
infants born to mothers in their 20s. This is because mothers in adolescent
stage may have less developed reproductive system, poor nutrition, lack of
parental care and low socio-economic status. Nowadays, there is delay in child
bearing because women want to establish their careers before starting a family.
This delay can cause Down’s syndrome. Also, as women approach menopause period,
they frequently have endocrine disorders that slow down the development of the
embryo and foetus and this results in developmental irregularities such as
cretinism, Down's Syndrome, heart malformations and hydrocephalus, all of which
cause physical and mental defects.
Maternal Malnutrition: this can
affect normal development especially of the foetal brain as well as physical
aspect. The foetus depends on its mother for nutrition, which comes from the
mother’s blood. Nutrition is determined by any specific diet. A pregnant woman
requires appropriate level of proteins, vitamins, minerals etc. A woman’s
nutrition influences her ability to reproduce and give birth to a healthy
child. Otherwise she may stop menstruating hence making conception impossible.
Drugs: excessive smoking and drinking are dangerous to
normal development especially during embryonic and foetal periods. Taking the
wrong drugs at the wrong time may make an offspring physically handicapped for
life for instance, thalidomide when taken during pregnancy
might prevent growth of arms and legs. Heavy drinking during pregnancy can lead
to deformed limbs, face, heart and mental retardation. Cigarette smoking by
pregnant women can cause foetal and neonatal death as well as low birth
weights.
Environmental hazards: radiation,
chemical and environment pollutants and toxic waste of modem industrial world
are dangerous to the foetus. For instance, radiation can cause gene mutation
(abrupt but permanent change in genetic material). Fathers who are often
exposed to a high level of radiation have higher chances of producing children
with chromosomal abnormalities. X-ray can also affect development of embryo
during pregnancy. Toxoplasmosis caught from outdoor cats, which feed on raw
meat such as rats and mice can cause eye defects, brain defects and premature
birth. The toxoplasmosis organism can pass from the cat in its faeces and lives
up to one year.
It is
therefore suggested that pregnant mothers should wash their hands after
handling cats, raw meat etc. and should ensure that meat is thoroughly cooked
before being eaten.
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