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Chapter 4.2 – Problems in Prenatal Development

Chapter 4.2 – Problems in Prenatal Development. Losing A Baby. Miscarriage – when the developing baby dies prior to the 20 th week of pregnancy Fairly common 15% of recognized pregnancies end in miscarriage The cause is usually not known. Losing A Baby.

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Chapter 4.2 – Problems in Prenatal Development

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  1. Chapter 4.2 – Problems in Prenatal Development

  2. Losing A Baby • Miscarriage – when the developing baby dies prior to the 20th week of pregnancy • Fairly common • 15% of recognized pregnancies end in miscarriage • The cause is usually not known

  3. Losing A Baby • Stillbirth – when the developing baby dies after the 20th week • Occurs in about 1% of pregnancies • Most common causes are problems with the placenta, abnormal chromosomes, poor growth, and infections.

  4. Dealing With Grief • The loss of a child can be very unexpected and painful • Often go through stages of grief similar to those experienced by the loss of a child that was already born • May feel alone or may blame themselves • Most cases – the death was completely out of the parents’ control • Still able to healthy children later on

  5. Birth Defects • Birth Defect – a serious problem that threatens a baby’s health, and is present at birth. • Approximately 120,000 babies are born each year in the United States with a birth defect. • Scientists and medical professionals are working hard to understand the causes of birth defects.

  6. Types and Causes of Birth Defects • Not all birth defects are obvious at birth • Some may cause an abnormality in the structure of the body • Some may cause one or more systems of the body to not function properly • Scientists do not full understand the causes for most birth defects, but they have found four main causes.

  7. Four Main Causes of Birth Defects • Factors in the environment • Hereditary factors • Errors in chromosomes • A combination of environmental and hereditary factors

  8. Environmental Causes of Birth Defects • The nutritional balance of the mother’s diet • Any diseases or infections the mother has during pregnancy • Harmful substances the mother consumes such as alcohol, over-the-counter medications, tobacco, and illegal drugs • Some medicines that benefit the mother but hurt the baby • Air pollution • Exposure to X-rays and high levels of radiation, or to certain chemicals such as solvents and pesticides, especially in early prenancy.

  9. Hereditary Causes • Every person has approximately 20,000 to 25,000 genes that determine traits • Genes direct the growth and development of all the body systems • Recessive inheritance – when a child receives two copies of a faulty recessive gene that causes some type of birth defect • Tay-Sachs disease • Cystic Fibrosis • Dominant inheritance – when a child receives one defective dominant gene • Huntington’s disease – does not appear until middle age

  10. Errors in Chromosomes • Several types of birth defects are caused by problems in the number or structure of chromosomes. • An error may occur when an egg or sperm cell is developing. • Can cause a baby to have too many or too few chromosomes • Or have broken or rearranged chromosomes • Down Syndrome – an extra copy of chromosome 21

  11. Interaction of Heredity and Environment • Some birth defects are caused by a combination of heredity and environment • Child may inherit a tendency that may later lead to a heart defect • If a factor such as drug use or a virus affects the baby during pregnancy it will have the heart defect • If the baby didn’t inherit the gene and get exposed to the drug or virus then it wouldn’t have the heart defect. • Examples: Cleft lip, cleft palate, spina bifida

  12. Prevention and Diagnosis of Birth Defects • Quit smoking and drinking is there is a possibility of pregnancy • Visit the doctor for prenatal care • Avoid alcohol, drugs, and tobacco the entire pregnancy • Only take medications approved by doctor • Genetic Counseling • Prenatal Testing

  13. Genetic Counseling • Some family doctors may be able to perform genetic counseling but usually referred to a genetic counselor • Examined by genetic counselor: • Family History • Medical History • Diseases • Causes of death in the family • Physical Exam • Blood samples • Body tissue samples

  14. Prenatal Tests • Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) • Ultrasound • Amniocentesis • Chronic Villi Sampling • New Prenatal Diagnosis

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