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Problems in Prenatal Development Miscarriage and Birth Defects Losing a Baby • Miscarriage: If the developing baby dies before the 20th week of pregnancy. 15 to 20 percent of recognized pregnancies end in miscarriage. • Stillbirth: If the baby dies after the 20th week of pregnancy This occurs in about 2% of pregnancies common causes: abnormal chromosomes poor growth infections problems with the placenta Dealing with Grief • Parents go through stages of grief – Similar to losing a child that has been born Types of Birth Defects • Birth Defects: babies that are born with problems that threaten their health or their lives. • Hundreds of types • Some mild - barely noticeable • Some severe - lifelong • Some birth defects cause an abnormality in the structure of the body. – Ex. Misshapen foot Missing finger • Others cause one or more body systems not to function properly – Ex. Blindness Mental retardation • Some birth defects are apparent at birth • Others are not discovered until months or years later Achondroplasia Cerebral Palsy Cleft Palate Clubfoot Cystic Fibrosis Down Syndrome Fifths Disease Fragile X Syndrome Gastroschisis Hemophelia Huntington’s Disease Hydrocephalus Marfan Syndrome Muscular Dystrophy Phenylketonuria (PKU) Progeria Rh Disease Sickle Cell Disease Spina Bifida Tay-Sachs Disease Causes of Birth Defects • Environmental Causes **THE BABY’S ENVIRONMENT** (womb) - poor nutrition of mother - diseases or infections of mother - harmful substances taken by mother ex: alcohol, drugs - medicines taken by mother - exposure to hazards ex: X rays, chemicals • Hereditary Causes: – When a child inherits a defect from its parents. • Ex: cystic fibrosis - If both parents pass on a recessive gene for the disease, the baby will get the disease. • Errors in Chromosomes: – Due to problems in the number or structure of chromosomes. Not hereditary, because neither parent has the abnormal chromosome. – Ex. Down Syndrome - an extra copy of chromosome 21. • Interaction of Heredity and Environment: – Some birth defects are caused by a combination of heredity and the environment. For example, a child may inherit a tendency for a birth defect. If an environmental factor exists, the baby will have the defect. – Ex. Cleft palate and cleft lip Spina bifida Prevention & Diagnosis of Birth Defects • Prospective parents should get regular health checkups. • Avoid smoking, drugs & alcohol • Genetic Counseling: – Genetic counselors can inform couples of their chances of having a child with certain birth defects. They will not be told what to do - just what the options and risks are. Prenatal Tests • Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP): – Blood test performed on mother • It checks the levels of AFP being produced by the fetus. Abnormal levels can mean a birth defect. • Ultrasound: – Uses sound waves to make a video image of the developing baby. Some birth defects can be detected with an ultrasound picture (sonogram). • Amniocentesis: Taking a sample of the amniotic fluid that surrounds the developing baby. This is usually used to test for Down Syndrome when the mother is over 35. • Chorionic villi sampling: – Takes a sample of the tissue in the placenta. Used less often, due to greater risks. – Can be used earlier than amniocentesis.