Page 124 - 86 human physiology part-2

Pregnancy and Birth

• Gestational Diabetes is diabetes mellitus that develops during pregnancy. All women
should be tested for the condition at about 28 weeks gestation. Gestational and pre-existing
diabetes can cause large for gestational age babies, a sudden drop in a neonates blood sugar
after birth, and has a high risk for stillbirth

Other serious risks include:

• Teratogens (substances that cause birth defects including alcohol and certain prescription
and recreational drugs)

• Infection (such as rubella or cytomegalovirus) An infection in the eleventh week is less
likely to damage the heart, but the baby may be born deaf.

• Genetics (such as Factor V Leiden) Diabetes, blood conditions, etc.

• Radiation (ionizing radiation such as X-rays, radiation therapy, or accidental exposure to
radiation)

• Nutritional deficiencies

• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or FAS exposure is the leading known cause of mental
retardation in the Western world. It is a disorder of permanent birth defects that occurs in the
offspring of women who drink alcohol during pregnancy, depending on the amount, frequency,
and timing of alcohol consumption. Alcohol crosses the placental barrier and can stunt fetal
growth or weight, create distinctive facial stigmata, damage neurons and brain structures, and
cause other physical, mental, or behavioral problems. Drinking during pregnancy should be
avoided. Women who drink more than 4 or 5 drinks per day may cause permanent damage to
their fetus, including, behavioral problems, sight and hearing loss, deformed organs and central
nervous system dysfunction.

• Smoking can cause low birth weight, still birth, birth defects, preterm births and immature
lung development. It can also contribute to addiction in the child's later teen years.

• Illegal Drugs can be the most devastating. Risks include SIDS (Sudden Infants Death
Syndrome), learning disorders, birth defects, uncontrollable trembling, hyperactive, and drug
dependency. Most drugs can be tested by a simple urine or blood test.

• Medications. All medication use should be discussed with your doctor. Many over the
counter and prescription drugs have warning labels. Follow these precautions to help avoid birth
defects or other related problems.

Miscarriage

Miscarriage or spontaneous abortion is the natural or spontaneous end of a pregnancy at a stage
where the embryo or the fetus is incapable of surviving, generally defined in humans at a gestation of
prior to 20 weeks. Miscarriages are the most common complication of pregnancy. Basic Facts: 15-20%
of pregnancies end in miscarriage, 70% of the time there is a chromosomal abnormality with the fetus,
and one miscarriage does not increase your risk in the next pregnancy. Miscarriage is almost never the

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