Lecture 8

Question 1

What types of neonatal testing get done?

Answer 1

Blood testing, jaundice screening, auditory, reflexes, dietary, developmental milestones

Question 2

What happens at your first prenatal checkup?

Answer 2

Personal history, complete physical, blood pressure (for preeclampsia and miscarriage risk), pregnancy test, dental records, pelvic exam, uterus measurement (top of uterus shows fetal growth)

Question 3

What is one of the most harmful things in a pregnancy?

Answer 3

Consistent, extreme stress-reduces oxygen.

Question 4

What does an ultrasound at 4-5 weeks pregnant tell us?

Answer 4

Date of conception, ectopic pregnancy

Question 5

What does an ultrasound at 20weeks pregnant tell us?

Answer 5

Fetuses sex, growth deformities, whether there are multiple babies

Question 6

What does an ultrasound at 38 weeks pregnant tell us?

Answer 6

Position of baby

Question 7

What are maternal serum tests?

Answer 7

Blood tests for parents DNA, extra proteins could mean abnormalities (done at 10-11 weeks). Has a high risk of a false positive.

Question 8

What are some issues with maternal serum tests like Chronic Villius and Amniocentesis?

Answer 8

Chronic Villius-1% greater chance of miscarriage

Amniocentesis- 0.25% greater chance of miscarriage.

Question 9

What are teratogens?

Answer 9

Anything that interferes with prenatal development

Question 10

What are some natural teratogens?

Answer 10

Disease, drugs, toxic chemicals, hot tubs

Question 11

What are some individual variations that affect how a teratogen affects the fetus?

Answer 11

Genotype, dosage and amount, critical periods

Question 12

What are some of the diseases that affect fetuses the most?

Answer 12

Severe infections-Rubella, Zika

STIs

Question 13

What are some drugs that can affect fetuses?

Answer 13

Thalidomide-morning sickness drug in 50s, causes limb stunts (10 000 babies affected)
Aspirin- blood clots, miscarriage, brain bleeds in fetus
Anxiety and depression drugs- addiction and withdrawal when goinoff
Herbal: Ginkgo, St, Johns Wort

Question 14

What is FASD?

Answer 14

Caused by drinking alcohol during pregnancy, can cause heart damage, intellectual impairments, physical features like a small head, thin upper lip, short nose, wide spaced eyes

Question 15

How does Nicotine affect pregnancy?

Answer 15

Constricts blood vessels, miscarriages, small weight and premature birth, more allergies and asthma, intellectual, attentive, and behavioural issues (second hand smoke also matters if it’s constant)

Question 16

How does cannabis affect pregnancy?

Answer 16

We don’t know much about it because cannabis used to be illegal and people didn’t want to admit to doing it (and the people who did admit it also did other drugs) BUT belief is that it leads to intellectual, attentive, and behavioural issues, small weight, premature birth, motor control issues

Question 17

How does caffeine affect pregnancy?

Answer 17

Risk of miscarriage goes up, low birth weight, decreased muscle tone (should be fine at less than 200 mg)

Question 18

What are some toxic chemicals that can affect pregnancy?

Answer 18

Lead, mercury, cleaners, hair straighteners and relaxers, x-rays and tanning beds, insecticides and fertilizers, cat litter

Question 19

Why do things like hot tubs and saunas affect pregnancy?

Answer 19

Baby is always hotter than the mom (cooks them)