Download Dangers to the Baby

Dangers to the Baby
Chapter 5
Section 4
Child/Human Development
Dangers to the Fetus
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Tobacco: increases the risk of premature babies
Low-birth weight babies
Alcohol: fetal alcohol syndrome: many physical
and mental defects
Children may have a very small head, improperly
formed nose and mouth, sight and hearing
problems, heart and kidney defects, poor
coordination, and mental retardation
Children may be overactive and have learning and
behavior problems
Dangers to the Fetus
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Caffeine
Medications and Drugs- any medication or
drug that a pregnant woman takes passes
through the placenta into the bloodstream of
the fetus
Problems linked to medication include
miscarriage, early labor and premature birth,
low birth weight, infant addiction and
withdrawal, and infant death
Dangers to the Fetus
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Illegal Drugs- infants exposed to drugs in
the uterus are at risk of being physically
deformed.
Respiratory problems, fetal brain damage,
premature birth, low birth weight, death
The mother can pass the addiction on to her
child
These babies are 40 times more likely to die
during their first month
Dangers to the Fetus
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X Rays- radiation from X rays can cause birth
defects
A pregnant woman who is in an accident, is
sick, or has dental work should inform doctor of
pregnancy
Rubella- (German measles)- deafness,
blindness, heart disease, or mental retardation
A vaccine is now available
STDS- many can be passes to the baby