Chapter 2 Flashcards
Nutrition
-Inadequate maternal nutrition may result in premature birth and low birth weight -Mother should increase calorie intake by 10-20%
Spina Bifida
-A failure of the neural tube forming part of the spine to close -Affects about 1 in 100 births worldwide -Risk can be significantly reduced by taking folic acid before conception (for up to 3 months) and for first 12 weeks
Anencephaly
-Neural tube does not close completely during development but in this case it is the caudal part of the tube (that forms into the brain)
General Risk Factors
-Nutrition -Stress -Mother’s age
Stress
-Extreme maternal stress is associated with low birth weight and premature births
Prolonged/Extreme Stress
-Increases hormones reducing oxygen -Weakens mother’s immunity -Makes mother more likely to smoke or drink alcohol
Mother’s age
-Teenage mother -Older women (35 and older) -Older women (40 and older)
Teenage mothers
-Often suffer economic and educational disadvantage, poor prenatal care and marital difficulties -Likelier to experience pregnancy, labor and delivery problems -Have children who do less well in school and have behavioral problems
Older mothers (35 and older)
-More likely to have difficulty getting pregnant -Miscarriages -Stillbirths
Older mothers (40 and older)
-Higher risk of down syndrome
Three Types of Teratogens
-Drugs -Diseases -Environmental hazards
Teratogens
-Cause abnormal prenatal development
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
-One of the most common forms of mental retardation -Results from drinking 5+ oz. of alcohol a few times each week during pregnancy -Children with FAS may have mental retardation, facial deformities and heart defects
Why is alcohol so dangerous to prenates?
-Placenta does not block many harmful compounds -The developing susceptible to damage -Prenates do not have fully developed livers and other organs to assist with detoxification and management -B/c of prenates underdevelopment and small size, small amounts can have a large impact
Teratogens: Diseases
-AIDS, cytomegalovirus, genital herpes, rubella, and syphillis Effects Include: -Deafness -Neurological disorders -Blindness -Mental disability -Damage to bones, eyes, eyes or heart