BIOLOGICAL FACTORS THAT AFFECT DEVELOPMENT

Question 1

What is Foetal alcohol syndrome ?

Answer 1

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy carries huge risk to a baby’s health and development. A child with foetal alcohol syndrome may have life-long developmental/physical defects. The children tend to be smaller and have smaller heads caused by poor brain development. The children may also have heart defects, learning difficulties, and neurological problems.

Question 2

What are Maternal infections during pregnancy?

Answer 2

If a pregnant woman is exposed to/ acquires infections such as rubella, cytomegalovirus, the foetus may be affected. Rubella is particularly dangerous during first month of pregnancy. If a mother becomes infected during this period, baby may be born with impaired hearing/ eyesight or a damaged heart. Most women are vaccinated against rubella to reduce this risk.
Cytomegalovirus is a common virus spread via bodily fluids, if a pregnant woman has an active CMV infection they can pass it on to the foetus (Congenital CMV). Around 1-2/200 babies are born with congenital CMV and around 13% of those are born with symptoms such as deafness and learning difficulties and 14% will develop problems later.

Question 3

What is lifestyle/diet during pregnancy?

Answer 3

Our biological life starts at conception, 9 months before birth. Babies are affected by mother’s diet and breast feeding. If a pregnant or breast-feeding women has a high fat and sugar diet it increases risk of later high blood cholesterol and heart disease for the child.
Malnutrition or lack of healthy food during pregnancy may also negatively affect child’s health.
Food Standards Agency FSA recommends that pregnant women eat plenty of fresh fruit/vegetables, starchy foods (bread, pasta, rice), protein rich food such as lean meat, chicken, fish, plenty of fibre and calcium rich foods (milk and cheese).
Advise that women should avoid/limit alcohol and caffeine which may result in low birth weight.

Question 4

What are congenital defects?

Answer 4

Most common cause of chronic illness, disability, death. About 9 in 1000 UK children are born with congenital defects. The most common, severe congenital disorders are heart and neural tube defects and down’s syndrome.
Congenital defects may be genetic but other factors may be responsible:
Socio-economic factors- Lack of access to sufficient, nutritious food during pregnancy
Environmental factors such as working/living in polluted areas, exposure to chemicals/ pesticides, excessive use of tobacco, alcohol, drugs during pregnancy.
Infectious diseases- Syphilis and rubella