Respond to these post below. Based on what each learner wrote, what else can expectant mothers do to avoid teratogens? What additional resources might you recommend?

Laroya post

Teratogens

Teratogens can be defined as any agent that can be disturb the development of an embryo or fetus. This may cause a birth defect in a child or halt the pregnancy outright. Teratogen are broken into classes that includes: radiation, maternal infections, chemicals and drugs. It tends to harm the prenatal brain, affecting the future child’s intellectual and emotional functioning.

Effects of Teratogens

While all teratogens increase the threat of harm to the development of a child, none always cause damage. The critical impact depends on the complex interchange of numerous factors. These are factors are timing, exposure and genetic variability. Timing is a critical factor doing the pregnancy when teratogen can be exposed to the fetus. Some teratogen cause damage only in a specific days or weeks while others are harmful doing any time of the pregnancy. Exposure is another effect that is harmful to the pregnancy due to the development of organism. Genetic variability is another factor that determines whether a specific teratogen will be harmful is the make-up of developing organism having and not having certain genes may make the developing child more susceptible to teratogens.

Ways to Avoid Teratogens

It’s imperative that pregnant moms educate themselves on teratogens and importance of avoiding things that cause harm to their body. The only safe option of action is to avoid the risk of mothers being exposed to teratogens during pregnancy is to avoid taking any type of medication if possible, being exposed to excessive heat, herbal treatments, children with rashes, fever and runny nose, alcohol, tobacco, lead & radiation.

Resources to be informed about Teratogens

It is essential that all pregnant mothers get all the necessary knowledge on avoiding teratogens. Consulting their primary OBGYN is the number one source of receiving informative information concerning teratogens. Visiting their local health department is another helpful source. If the mother would like to do her own personal research, she can always visit the internet to google any questions or concerns she may have concerning teratogen and how it may affect her pregnancy.

Wilder post

Some expecting mothers aren’t aware of Teratogens, what they are and how they may affect prenatal and infant development. Teratogens is a term used to refer to any environmental agent that causes damage during the prenatal period. (Berk & Meyers, 2016). Such as alcohol, tobacco, prescribed medication, drugs, or even a hereditary disease from the mother now can cause the unborn baby to be born with defects like spontaneous abortions, preterm labor or miscarriage.

The teratogen I would discuss is alcohol. Alcohol is one of the popular teratogen. Women who use or abuse alcohol is at risk for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), a term that encompasses a range of physical, mental, and behavioral outcomes caused by prenatal alcohol exposure. This disorder can cause facial abnormalities such as thin upper lips and short eyelid openings. It can also cause brain injuries that can impair three areas of function like language, attention span, social skills and memory. The effects of damaged cause by the teratogen depends on the fetus age, poor nutrition and lack of care. Another factor is dosage larger doses over longer time periods usually have more negative effects.

Alcohol disrupts the neurotransmitters so messages are unable to get from one area to another. Because there is no safe amount of alcohol to consume, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome can be prevented by not consuming any alcohol during pregnancy (Streissguth, n.d.).

To better assist and educate women who aren’t aware of teratogens and how to avoid them and their effects I would provide resources such as articles “Alcohol Abuse in Pregnant Women Effects on the Fetus and Newborn, Mode of Action and Maternal Treatment” where they can read up on the information. (Ornoy, A., & Ergaz, Z. (2010). Alcohol Abuse in Pregnant Women: Effects on the Fetus and Newborn, Mode of Action and Maternal Treatment. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 7(2), 364–379. http://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph7020364). As well as provide centers that will support the women needs like National Institute: Alcohol Abuse and