Tetralogy And

Hazards to
Prenatal
Development
Prepared by:
Angielyn V. Montibon
 TERATOLOGY

- Is the field that

investigates the
causes of congenital
(birth) defects. A
Get a modern PowerPoint

teratogen is that
which cause birth
defects. It comes from
the greekword “tera”
which means
“monster”
Teratogens
are substances that may produce physical or
functional defects in the human embryo or fetus after
the pregnant woman is exposed to the substance.
Alcohol and cocaine are examples of such substances.
Exposure to the teratogen affects the fetus or embryo
in a variety of ways
The clusters
of hazards to
prenatal
development:
1.Prescription and Non-
Prescription Drugs

Antibiotic is an example of
prescription and for the
non- prescription drugs are
the diet pills, aspirin and
coffee.
Prescription and Non-
Prescription Drugs
These are pictures of babies affected by
cocaine during prenatal period
2. Psycho active drugs
This includes nicotine, caffeine and illegal
drugs, such as :
Cocaine exposure during pre-natal development is
associated with reduced birth weight, length, and
head circumference ( Hurt, et. Al, 1999 cited by
Santrock, 2002) impaired motor development
(Arendt, et al, 1999) poor attention skills ( Bandstra,
2000, cited by Santrock 2002).
 A child with fetal alcohol
syndrome

Heavy drinking by pregnant women results to

the so called “fetal alcohol syndrome” (FAS)
which is a cluster of abnormalities that appears
in the children of mothers who drink alcohol
heavily during pregnancy. ( Santrock, 2002)
Fetal and neonatal deaths are higher among
smoking mothers. There are also higher
incidences of preterm births and lower
birthweights among children with smoking
mothers ( Wang et. Al, 2000 quoted by
Santrock 2002).
3. Environmental Hazards
These include
radiation in jobsites
and X-rays,
environmental
pollutants, toxic
wastes, and
prolonged exposure
to heat in saunas
and bath tubs.
Radiation from X-rays also
can affect the developing
embryo and fetus, with
most dangerous time
being the first several
weeks after conception
when women do not yet
know that they are
pregnant ( Santrock, 2002)
Some reasons that may endangers the fetus:
4. Other maternal factors such as Rubella (
German Measles), syphilis, genital herpes,
AIDS, nutrition, high anxiety and stress, age
( too early or too late, beyond 30)
According to Santrock 2002, rubella ( German Measles) in
1964-65 resulted in 30000 pre-natal and neonatal (newborn)
deaths and more than 20,000 affected infants were born
with malformations, including:
 mental retardation

malformations
blindness heart problems
Syphilis damages organs
after they are formed.
These damages include
eye lesions, which can
cause blindness, and skin
lesions. When syphilis is
present at birth, other
problems involving the
central nervous system
and gastrointestinal tract
that can develop.
A mother can infect their child in 3 ways:

During gestation
across the placenta
During delivery through
contact with maternal
bloods or fluids

Postpartum ( afterbirth )
through breastfeeding
• Studies shows that
increased stress
during pregnancy
leads to premature
birth and reduced birth
weight.
• Maternal malnutrition
during pregnancy may
also result to
inadequate growth in
the fetus.
 Folic acid is necessary for
pregnant mothers. It can reduce
the risk of having baby with
serious birth defect of the brain
and spinal cord, called the “neural
tube”

 A baby with spina bifida, the

most common neural tube defect
is born with a spine that is not
closed.
 As maternal age increases, the risk for numerical
chromosomal abnormalities increase
 A baby with down syndrome rarely are born to
mother an under age 30 but risk increases after
the mother reaches 30. the risk are also higher
before age 18.
.
5. Paternal Factors
Father’s exposure
to lead, radiation,
certain pesticides,
and petrochemicals
may cause
abnormalities in
sperm that lead to
miscariage
diseases such as
childhood cancer
(Santrock, 2002)
Thank You