Teratogen Psychological Effect on Fetal Development
1
The course of pregnancy is both very rewarding and challenging. The end result is a beautiful creation and enjoinment of two people. The fragile aspect of newborn life is not the first time a mother faces protecting the child. The beginning of a successful foundation for life starts the second a women becomes pregnant. Prenatally, many different toxins can create issues surrounding the physical and mental development of a baby. Some of the toxins are very obvious, where many fly under the radar. The toxins a pregnant woman takes in may cause issues with the development of a child. Awareness about the possibility of teratogens causing development issues is needed to ensure a safe, normal, and sociable future for the children. When care is not taken, children and family face dealing with disability for life.
Teratogens are any chemicals that are taken into the body during pregnancy. The toxins have an effect on mental and physical development in many ways. Understanding human development states that, “sometimes exposure of the mother to a specific teratogen inevitably causes damage to the embryo or fetus: accidentally ingested poisons often act this way. More frequently, however, the teratogen results in increased risk of damage, which may occur in varying degree or not at all, depending on a wide array of factors.” (Dunn, 2007) The point that damage may not happen is completely valid, but the risk of potential harm should be enough to bring awareness. When damage does occur the effects continue to arise. Developmentally, babies that are exposed to teratogens are face issues with learning. The psychological effects are very detrimental to the child’s emotional, social, and educational endeavors throughout life. Teratogens can come in many different forms. They can surface from prescription to recreation drugs, nutrition, and even environmental factors like radiation. 2
Drug Teratogens can be broken down into two main groups. The first group
The course of pregnancy is both very rewarding and challenging. The end result is a beautiful creation and enjoinment of two people. The fragile aspect of newborn life is not the first time a mother faces protecting the child. The beginning of a successful foundation for life starts the second a women becomes pregnant. Prenatally, many different toxins can create issues surrounding the physical and mental development of a baby. Some of the toxins are very obvious, where many fly under the radar. The toxins a pregnant woman takes in may cause issues with the development of a child. Awareness about the possibility of teratogens causing development issues is needed to ensure a safe, normal, and sociable future for the children. When care is not taken, children and family face dealing with disability for life.
Teratogens are any chemicals that are taken into the body during pregnancy. The toxins have an effect on mental and physical development in many ways. Understanding human development states that, “sometimes exposure of the mother to a specific teratogen inevitably causes damage to the embryo or fetus: accidentally ingested poisons often act this way. More frequently, however, the teratogen results in increased risk of damage, which may occur in varying degree or not at all, depending on a wide array of factors.” (Dunn, 2007) The point that damage may not happen is completely valid, but the risk of potential harm should be enough to bring awareness. When damage does occur the effects continue to arise. Developmentally, babies that are exposed to teratogens are face issues with learning. The psychological effects are very detrimental to the child’s emotional, social, and educational endeavors throughout life. Teratogens can come in many different forms. They can surface from prescription to recreation drugs, nutrition, and even environmental factors like radiation. 2
Drug Teratogens can be broken down into two main groups. The first group
Cited: Chung, W. (2004). Teratogen and Their Effects. Retrieved from http://www.columbia.edu/itc/hs/medical/humandev/2004/Chpt23-Teratogens.pdf Dunn, G. J. (2007). Understanding Human Development. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson PRentice Hall. Edwards, G. (1998, july). Section B: Health Effects. Retrieved from Health and Environmental Issues Linked to the Nuclear Fuel Chain: http://www.ccnr.org/ceac_B.html#b.18 Immunotoxins as Teratogens. (n.d.). Retrieved from Birth Defects Research for Chldren Inc.: http://www.birthdefects.org/research/immterat.php Kathleen Howe, C. J. (1996). Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Diagnosis, Epidemiology, Prevention, and Treatment. Washington, DC: National Academies Press. Pamela L. Neidert, C. L. (2010). Behavior Analysis in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Psychological Services , 7 (2), 103-113. Schuntermann, P. (2007, May/June). The Sibling Experience: Growing Up with a Child Who Has Pervasive Developmental Disorder or Mental Retardation. Harvard Review Psychiatry , 93-108. The Teratology Society. (n.d.). position papers. Retrieved Sept. 16, 2008, from The Teratology Society: http://teratology.org/positionpapers.asp World Health Organization. (2010, Novemeber 1). Better health, better lives: children and young people with intellectual disabilities and their families. Retrieved from http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/126570/e94430.pdf