AVOIDING DANGERS TO THE BABY
EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS ON
PREGNANCY
Mother-to-be has a big responsibility throughout
pregnancy
 Good prenatal care is avoiding hazards

Alcohol
 Drugs
 Smoking
 X-rays
 Chemicals
 Other substances
 infections

EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS ON
PREGNANCY
Researchers and doctors believe that drugs
consumed during pregnancy are a major cause for
birth defects linked to environmental factors
 These drugs include:

Alcohol
 Prescription and over-the-counter medicines
 Caffeine
 Nicotine
 Illegal drugs, such as heroin, LSD, ecstacy, etc.
 Inhalants

ALCOHOL
Alcohol is a drug
 Small amount of alcohol can harm the
developing baby
 Doctors recommend women consume no
alcohol while trying to become pregnant and
during pregnancy

ALCOHOL

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) – incurable condition
found in some children of mothers who consumed
alcohol during pregnancy
Includes wide range of physical and mental disabilities
 1 in 5 babies born with FAS does not live to see first
birthday
 Delayed physical growth
 Heart, liver, or kidney defects
 Hyperactivity
 Facial deformity
 Some are mentally retarded

ALCOHOL
Difficulties with learning, attention, memory, or problem
solving
 Interfere with tissue growth and development
 Poor coordination and difficulty controlling behavior


Some children may suffer from fetal alcohol
effects
Abnormalities caused by consuming alcohol while
pregnant
 Suffer from same problems, but to a lesser degree


Extent of damage to child is related to amount of
alcohol consumed and stage of pregnancy
PRESCRIPTION AND OVER-THE-COUNTER DRUGS
Expectant mother should check with doctor
before taking any medications, vitamins, or
herbal supplements
 First three months of pregnancy are the most
critical because body systems are being formed
 Chemicals found in some medications can
cause severe harm

 Include
prescription and OTC
 Even antacid can harm a fetus
PRESCRIPTION AND OVER-THE-COUNTER DRUGS
In 4th through 9th months, harmful substances
may cause slow growth, infections, and
bleeding at birth
 Medicines that are not necessary should be
avoided!
 No drug is completely safe to use during
pregnancy

CAFFEINE
Caffeine is in coffee, tea, cocoa, and most soft
drinks
 Also in some foods and OTC medications
 Caffeine is a drug
 Can increase fetal heart rate and movement
 Large amounts increase risks of miscarriage,
premature birth, and low birth rate
 Also high risks of infant death

CAFFEINE
Babies born with low birth weight can have
serious health problems and greater risks of
long-term problems
 Caffeine can take fluid and calcium out of the
body and interfere with the absorption of iron
 Caffeine also makes you feel full, which can
interfere with proper nutrition

TOBACCO
Nicotine is harmful to the health of any person
 Especially harmful to baby’s development

 Low
birth weight
 Premature birth
 Linked to respiratory infections and allergies
 Secondhand smoke has similar effects
ILLEGAL DRUGS
Should never be used, especially for expectant
mothers
 Mother usually passes on addiction to baby
through the bloodstream
 Newborns may suffer throughout their lives

 Go
through period of withdrawal, those who survive
have uncertain future
 Many children have learning and behavioral
disorders
ILLEGAL DRUGS

Cocaine proven to increase the risk
 Miscarriage
 Stillbirth
or premature birth
 May cause unborn child to have stroke
 Stroke
can cause brain damage, heart attack, birth
defects, or death
 Low
birth weight
 Smaller heads
 Risk of seizures and sudden infant death syndrome
(SIDS)
ILLEGAL DRUGS
 Tremors
 Exaggerated
startle response
 Sleeping and feeing problems
 Irritability
 Developmental delay
ILLEGAL DRUGS

Marijuana and Methamphetamine
Low birth weight
 Premature delivery
 Breathing difficulties
 Poor attention span
 Drowsiness
 Heart defects


Ecstasy
Heart disease
 Physical abnormalities

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS
Pregnant women should be aware of these
hazards
 X-rays

 Birth
defects
 Mother should inform medical staff if pregnant
 Should always wear abdominal shields during x-rays
ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS

Hazardous Substances and Chemicals
 Pregnant
women should be careful about
substances at home and work
 These include
 Paint
 Pesticides
 Lead
 Carbon
monoxide
 Mercury
 Solvents
DISEASES AND INFECTIONS
Mother may get infection during pregnancy
 Some pose more risks than others
 Some can be treated without harm to baby, if
found early and treated properly

DISEASES AND INFECTIONS

Rubella
“German measles”
 Severe birth defects

 blindness
 Deafness
 Heart
disease
 Mental retardation
Vaccine may be dangerous for pregnant women
and those who become pregnant shortly after
 Every women should be sure she is immune
before becoming pregnant

DISEASES AND INFECTIONS

Toxoplasmosis
 Caused
by parasite
 Quite common
 60 million in US carry parasite
 Developing babies are at risk if mother gets disease
 Never clean cat’s litter box
 Never eat uncooked meat
 Wash hands after handling raw meat
DISEASES AND INFECTIONS

Chicken Pox



Varicella is a viral infection that usually occurs in childhood
Some women who have not had it will get it during
pregnancy
If pregnant woman gets it in early pregnancy, baby has slight
risk of getting congenital varicella disease.
Congenital means present at birth
 Can cause scarring of skin, limb defects, eye problems, and other
abnormalities
 Sometimes miscarriage


Women who have not had it should get the vaccine before
becoming pregnant
DISEASES AND INFECTIONS

Chicken Pox
Some women who have not had it will get it during
pregnancy
 If pregnant woman gets it in early pregnancy, baby has
slight risk of getting congenital varicella disease.

 Congenital
means present at birth
 Can cause scarring of skin, limb defects, eye problems, and
other abnormalities
 Sometimes miscarriage

Women who have not had it should get the vaccine
before becoming pregnant
DISEASES AND INFECTIONS

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
 Can
be passed to child through the birth process
 Syphilis
 Gonorrhea
 Hepatitis B
 Genital herpes
 AIDS
 Chlamydia
 May cause physical disabilities or even death
DISEASES AND INFECTIONS

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
 Most
doctors test pregnant women for syphilis and
group B streptococcus
 Medical treatment can cure syphilis and gonorrhea
and can relieve symptoms of herpes
 Syphillis
 Skin
rash or lesions
 Bone or facial defomities
 Deafness
 Brain damage
DISEASES AND INFECTIONS

Syphillis
 May





develop
Anemia
Jaundice
Pneumonia
2 in 5 pregnancies will end in miscarriage, a stillbirth, or death if
left untreated
AIDS
 35%
to 65% risk that the virus will be passed
 Attacks the brain
 Baby may have seizures and retarded mental development
 Many states require and AIDS test early in pregnancy
 Mother with AIDS may take medication to help reduce risk of
passing it to baby
DISEASES AND INFECTIONS
 Genital
 Brain
Herpes
infection or mental retardation
 Some newborns will die
 Transmitted during birth process
 Medications to treat during pregnancy