maternal characteristics and environmental influences Flashcards
what is the best age to have a baby?
Dollberg et al. (1996): the safest time to have a baby is between the ages of 16-35 years
what are the risks of having a baby young?
Phipps, Sowers and Demonner (2002): an increased risk of bearing a stillborn foetus/live child who fails to survive
Koniak-Griffin,and Turner-Pluta (2001): more likely to experience birth complications, deliver prematurely, and have low birth weight babies
what are the risks of having a baby older?
Mothers over 35 face increased risks of problems during pregnancy and infant mortality
They also risk an increased incidence of spontaneous abortion
how can a mothers emotional state affect the unborn foetus?
Mothers’ hormones (e.g. adrenaline) may cross the placental barrier and enter the foetal bloodstream
DiPietro et al. (2003): found maternal stress to both increase and decrease foetal heart rate
Mothers anxious throughout pregnancy at greater risk for complications
Persistently anxious mothers often have babies that are hyperactive, irritable and irregular in their habits
Stress hormones in the mother may divert blood to the large muscles away from the foetus, thereby reducing its supply of oxygen and nutrition
Persistent Stress can weaken the mother’s immune system - more susceptible to infectious diseases
Emotionally stressed mothers might eat poorly, smoke, use alcohol and drugs, leading to foetal growth retardation and low birth weights
what kind of diet should mothers have?
high calorie, high protein, should gain 25- 30 pounds
how can malnutrition affect the pregnancy?
increases the risk of congenital defects, prolonged labour, low birth weight, still birth and infant mortality
babies can exhibit cognitive deficits later in childhood
why is malnutrition most harmful in the last 3 months?
Foetal brain cells are rapidly multiplying then
The unborn child is gaining most of its eventual birth weight
Autopsies show these children have fewer brain cells and lower brain weights
what is teratology?
the study of pre-natal malformations and birth defects caused by environmental agents (e.g. diseases, drugs, chemicals) that the mother is exposed to (Fifer, 2005)
why is rubella most harmful in the first 3 months?
Weeks 1-8 of pregnancy: 60-85% of babies will have defects including eye and heart defects
Weeks 6-13: deafness is more common
Reduces to 16% of infants showing some defects in weeks 13-20 (Kelley-Buchanan, ’88)
why is taking the drug thalidomide most harmful in the first 40 days?
Days 25-27th resulted in deformed arms
Days 28-36th resulted in deformed legs
how can a large amount of aspirin affect the baby?
linked to foetal growth retardation, poor motor control and (rarely) infant death
how can a large amount of caffeine affect the baby?
linked to low birth weight and miscarriage
what are the characteristics of foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)?
Microcephaly (small head); malformations of the heart, limbs, joints and face (Abel, 1998)
FAS babies tend to display excessive irritability, hyperactivity, seizures and tremors, tend to be smaller and lighter than normal, with slowed physical growth
Majority score well below average in intelligence during childhood and adolescence; 90% display serious adjustment problems as adolescents and as young adults (Schneider et al., 2008; Stratton, Howe & Battaglia, 1996)
what are the characteristuics of foetal alcohol effects (FAE)?
retarded physical growth, minor physical abnormalities, poor motor skills, difficulty paying attention; sub normal intellectual performance (Jacobson et al ’93; Streissguth et al ’93)
