Question

In 4-5 paragraphs, answer the following: What is teratology, and what are some of the main hazards to prenatal development?

Answer 1

What is Teratology?

The term ‘’Teratology’’ is basically used to describe the Congenital diseases. Teratology is a part of medical study which focuses on the birth defects, abnormalities, prenatal abnormalities. Teratology also focuses on the abnormality in Physiological development, Abnormalities in development of the organism.

Teratogens are basically some substances that can cause the birth defect also. The study of Teratology also explains the effects drugs, radiations, Infection and environment in a pregnant woman.

Main Hazards to Prenatal Development-

Prenatal development is refers to the main development process in which a fetus develops. In this stage, a pregnant woman needs to be very careful. Otherwise there are some main hazards to pre-natal development that can lead to defect of the new born. These main hazards are

Unhealthy Environment- An unhealthy environment is not good for the fetus and for the mother. Unhealthy environment like dirty and polluted environment can cause infection for the fetus and for the mother also.

Prenatal environment is also a hazard in prenatal development. The inside environment of the Uterus is the place where an unborn baby is developing. The placenta in Uterus is the part which protects the baby from any kinds of danger. But according to the researches, Harmful substance might reach to the Baby by crossing the Placenta. This is how the prenatal environment of the baby is getting polluted and becoming a hazard.

Using Alcohol or drugs-   Taking drugs and alcohol during pregnancy can hamper the prenatal development of the baby.

Alcohol can cross the placenta very quickly and can directly affect the unborn baby. Taking Alcohol during the period of pregnancy can cause the fetal Alcohol Syndrome to that unborn baby.

Other drugs also the hazards to prenatal development. Taking drugs like Tobacco can result low weight for the baby. So we can say that, using any kinds of drugs during the pregnancy period is considered as the Hazard.

Pollutants-   Pollutants like Synthetic Hormones, Bacteria and pesticides are very much harmful for the pregnant mother and the newborn baby. This is also a main hazard to prenatal development.

Mal-Nutrition- Proper nutrition is the key to keep the baby healthy. A mother must have proper nutrition in during her pregnancy period. Mal nutrition can cause the defects or miscarriage of the newborn.

Infection – Any kinds of viral infection of the mother is harmful for the newborn child. Infection during the prenatal development can hamper the brain development of the child. So we can conclude that any kind of infection during the prenatal development is harmful for the newborn.

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