Transcript Problem Pregnancies

Influences on
Birth Defects
FACTS
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About 150,000 babies are born each
year with birth defects.
The parents of one out of every 28
babies receive the frightening news that
their baby has a birth defect
There are over 4,000 known birth defects
Birth defects are the leading cause of
death in the first year of life.
What is a Birth Defect?
Environmental Influences on
Birth Defects
Inadequate nutrition of mother
 Exposure to diseases or infections
during pregnancy
 Harmful substances consumed during
pregnancy
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Environmental Influences on
Birth Defects
Inadequate nutrition of mother
Stunted
brain development of baby
Leads to mental retardation
Environmental Influences on
Birth Defects
Exposure to diseases or infections
during pregnancy
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Rubella, or German Measles, can cause blindness,
deafness, heart disease, and mental retardation
Toxoplasmosis, can cause hearing loss, learning
disabilities and death; found in cat litter and some
raw meats
Chicken pox, scarring of babies’ skin, limb defects,
eye problems, and miscarriage
STDs can be passed to unborn child and lead to
serious illness, physical disabilities, or death
Environmental Influences on
Birth Defects
Harmful substances consumed during pregnancy
 Nicotine from smoking tobacco or secondhand
smoke
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Smaller babies
Miscarriages and premature births
Respiratory infections or allergies
Environmental Influences on
Birth Defects
Harmful substances consumed during
pregnancy
 Alcohol can cause fetal alcohol
syndrome (FAS)
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20% of infants die
Facial deformities, delayed physical growth, heart
defects, and hyperactivity
Mental retardation or disabilities
Poor coordination
Difficulty controlling behavior
Environment Influences of
Birth Defects
Harmful substances consumed while pregnant
 Drugs
Over-the-the counter drugs
 Drug addiction
 Long-term learning and behavioral problems
 Risk of miscarriages
 Congenital heart problems
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Environmental Influences on
Birth Defects
Exposure to hazards during pregnancy
 Chemicals
 X-rays
 Toxoplasmosis – extreme high blood
pressure
Environmental Influences on
Birth Defects
Accidental injuries
 Cerebral palsy caused by damage to
brain before, during, or shortly after
birth
 Falls lead to a variety of complications
Hereditary Influences on
Birth Defects
Dominant genes?
Recessive genes?
Can you explain the difference?
Hereditary Influences on
Birth Defects
1. Defective recessive genes inherited from both parents
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Cystic fibrosis
Tay-Sachs disease
Sickle cell anemia
2. Defective dominant gene inherited from one parent
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Hemophilia
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Huntington’s disease
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Duchenne muscular dystrophy
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Color blindness
3. Errors in chromosomes
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Down syndrome
Combined Influence of Heredity
and Environment Birth Defects
Drugs + virus = heart defect
 Cleft lip/cleft palate
 Spina Bifida – reduce risk by taking
folic acid
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What potentially causes birth
defects?
Can birth defects be
prevented?
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While the potential causes of most
birth defects are not known, there are
a number of steps a woman can take
to reduce her risk of having a baby
with a birth defect.
Factors that contribute to
Birth Defects:
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Overweight
Underweight
Jewish descent
African-American
Brainstorm
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Visit a health care provider for a prepregnancy check up, especially if a woman
has health problems
When pregnant take daily multivitamins
containing 400 mg of the B-vitamin folic acid
Avoid alcohol, drugs, smoking, prescription
or over-the-counter medication unless
approved by a health care provider
More factors that contribute
to birth defects
Drinks alcohol
 Uses prescription drugs
 Has used street drugs
 Takes vitamins
 Drinks caffeine
 Has had exposure to chemicals
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More factors that contribute
to birth defects
Lives in a home built before 1955
(lead paint)
 Constant exposure to cats
 Has had x-rays during pregnancy
 High blood pressure
 Diabetes
 Sickle cell anemia
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More factors that contribute
to birth defects
Health problems
 Genital herpes
 Gonorrhea
 Syphilis
 No immunizations against rubella
 Miscarriage
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Can some birth defects be
diagnosed before birth?
Can birth defects be treated
before birth?
Preventing Birth Defects
•Avoid…
Review
How do you define birth defect?
 What factors contribute to birth
defects?
 Can some birth defects be diagnosed
before birth?
 Can birth defects be prevented?
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