Essay Sample on Teratogen Affects on Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a gift in life. You are giving birth to a new human, creating a new life. When you are pregnant one of the last things you want to hear is that your baby is not healthy or is developing a birth defect. Many birth defects can be avoided if you avoid the use of teratogens while you are pregnant. Teratogens are a substance or agent such as drugs or alcohol that can cross the fetal barrier and harm the fetus. Teratogen’s cause “approximately 4 to 5 percent of birth defects” (Healthline Editorial Team, 2016). The duration of the exposure of a teratogen, amount of exposure, stage of fetal development and health factors from the mother all affect the chances of the baby developing a defect (Tantibanchachai, 2014).

One of the most common disorders caused by teratogens is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). This is caused when a mother consumes too much alcohol while they are pregnant. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is divided into three classifications based on the severity of the defect. FAS can cause a slowed physical growth as well as facial abnormalities and brain injuries. Some known brain injuries include lower “IQ’s, attention, learning and cognition” (Barr et al. 1989). 

Notably, women are most susceptible to teratogens during their first eight weeks of pregnancy. From weeks 4-8, alcohol consumption can increase the chance of neurological development, compared to any other time during the pregnancy period (Pelz, 2018). It is essential that while you are pregnant you avoid any know teratogens such as drugs, alcohol, some medications, excessive heat, ionizing radiation and cat feces (Healthline Editorial Team, 2016). 

As with all things, there are some unknown teratogens which is why it is so critical that you avoid the know ones. Many doctors advise patients that if they become pregnant, they are to stop their medication. This is highly common for antidepressants. Doctors have found that it is safer to treat pregnant mothers for their conditions in other ways than medications in order to keep the fetus safe. Some cases where this is not the case is if the mother is on a medication for a disorder such as epilepsy where they can begin to have uncontrolled seizures which put the baby at a higher risk (Healthline Editorial Team, 2016). 

In addition, teratogens can also have a different effect based on the mother’s genetic characteristics. Women who have conditions such as diabetes, thyroid issues, or malnutrition are putting their fetus at a higher risk (Tantibanchachai, 2014). “If a pregnant woman is malnourished then her fetus likely lacks the nutrients essential for its development” (Tantibanchachai, 2014). Without proper nutrition the fetus will develop conditions to try to supplement the needed nutrients. Fetuses can have brittle bones if they are not receiving enough calcium, or generate a blood condition where their blood is not able to clot if they do not have enough vitamin K. They can also generate hypoxia due to a lack of blood flow or low oxygen in the blood (Adam et al. 2021).

Furthermore, if mothers are in the presence of/or using teratogens during the first two weeks after conception, it can cause death of the unborn child. During these two weeks the child is still a zygote dividing and is not vulnerable to teratogens to cause abnormalities, just death (Pelz, 2018). During the embryonic period, or weeks three to eight after conception, extensive abnormalities could occur, affecting the heart, central nervous system, limbs, and facial features (Pelz, 2018). Throughout the fetal period, weeks 9-38/end of term, teratogens can affect the fetus’ brain and external genitalia as well as cause functional defects (Pelz, 2018). 

According to Pelz, alcohol is the number one teratogen used and tobacco is the second most used teratogen (Pelz, 2018). Tobacco usage can cause “low birth weight, placenta previa, preterm delivery, fetal growth restriction and sudden infant death syndrome” (Pelz, 2018). Alcohol and tobacco are some of the easiest teratogens to acquire while you are pregnant, and as stated by Pelz, the most common. If it were not so easy for pregnant women to get a hold of these substances, would there be less birth defects due to teratogens? Pregnant women need to take the time and watch what they are consuming and interacting with to prevent association with a teratogen. Mothers need to be diligent to clean and not do any drugs including cocaine, heroin, and marijuana.  These drugs can cause brain damage, still births, and pass the drug addiction to the child (Pelz, 2018). 

Even after birth, teratogens can affect children. Young children are known to put anything in their reach in their mouths. In older homes, they used paint that contained lead. If a child obtains a piece of chipped paint and eats it, they are being exposed to lead which can be damaging (Pelz, 2018). Some teratogens must reach a certain level of exposure before they begin to impact the fetus (Pelz, 2018). Consuming a paint chip may potentially reach the exposure level needed to impact a child’s health if they were exposed to lead prenatally. 

Teratogens influentially impact the health in which a child will be in once they are born. The less interactions they have had with teratogens, the better their health should be and the lower the chances of them having a birth defect are. While nothing is ever a 0% chance, not having contact with teratogens significantly lowers the chances for a fetus to develop neurological conditions or difficulties.