Question

Please peer reviw

1. The two environmental maternal factor that I feel make the most impact at this stage are the mother's health and the mother's drug or alcohol use. In this stage ensuring a healthy lifestyle will only increase the baby's chances to be healthy and have good habits when it is born. It is said that once babies are grown enough, they tend to love the foods the mother ate while pregnant. For example, my mother had a lot of coffee during her pregnancies and my, now three year old, brother loves to steal her coffee and drink it. This however is not always a good thing if the mother is using drugs or alcohol. They not all can cause tragic birth defects, but they can cause babies to become addicted to a drug once they are born. That is why I believe the second most important factor is drug and/or alcohol use.

2. Two strategies I can see being helpful to pregnant women that will reduce the negative risks are to immediately seek help for drug or alcohol use if a women suspects or knows that she is pregnant. There are many programs that would be a great help, or to even ask family/friends to help them stay a way from it. Another would be to plan a healthy lifestyle by prepping healthy meals and exercising a few times a week. Friends and family can help with this too. The goal is to ensure that the women want what is best for their baby and to give the baby what it needs to grow healthy and happy.

Answer 1

1. The two most critical environmental factors that I feel make the most impact during pregnancy are the mother's health and the mother's drug or alcohol use. In this stage, ensuring a healthy lifestyle will only increase the baby's prenatal and postnatal health and have a possible impact on this habits during their development. It is often said that as babies grow older, they tend to favour foods their mothers consumed while pregnant. For example, my mother had a lot of coffee during her pregnancy and my now three year old brother often steals her coffee and drinks it. This however is can have a detrimental impact if the mother is using drugs or alcohol. Consumption of substances can not only lead to tragic birth defects, but they also increase the likelihood of babies to becoming addicted to a drug once they are born. That is why I believe the second most important factor is drug and/or alcohol use.

2. Two strategies I can see being helpful to pregnant women that will reduce the negative risks are to immediately seek help for drug or alcohol use if a women suspects or knows that she is pregnant. While there are many external programs and interventions that can be a great help, reaching out for support to one’s own family/friends can also be extremely beneficial. Additinalku, the mother should plan a healthy lifestyle and stick to it, by consuming healthy meals and exercising at least a few times a week. Friends and family can help with this too. The goal is to ensure that the women want what is best for their baby and to give the baby what it needs to grow healthy and happy.