Okay, now that I got that little thought out of my system, here's the real deal:
Teratogens. Apparently, they're everywhere. The obvious no-nos include alcohol and cigarettes. Heavy alcohol use during pregnancy can cause Fetal Alcohol Syndrome which can result in a higher chance of miscarriage, small eyes and nose, small nails, ear abnormalities, heart defects, learning difficulties, behavioral problems, and mental retardation. Smoking cigarettes during pregnancy can cause a higher risk of stillbirth, miscarriage, premature birth, low birth weight, asthma, and even sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS.)
But did you know that some antidepressants, antibiotics, and even acne medication can be incredibly harmful to an unborn baby? Even more surprising, the infection toxoplasmosis, can be brought on by accidental ingestion, something as simple as touching raw meat and then touching your mouth. The fetus of a woman who contracts toxoplasmosis in the first trimester has a 15% chance of having the infection, in the second trimester, 30%, and in the third trimester it goes as high as 60%. This infection can cause premature birth, low birth weight, enlarged liver and spleen, visual defects, and mental retardation.
It's crazy how sensitive and vulnerable a pregnant lady and the fetus are. That is why it is essential that pregnant women take every step possible to prevent such teratogens from harming their unborn babies.
I guess this is but another reason why teenagers should not be having children.
ReplyDelete"If you're still taking acne medication, you're not old enough to have a kid. Don't test it- your child could have birth defects." <-- they should write that on pamphlets and hand them out to teenagers during health classes.
In all seriousness, there's so much that can go wrong, it's a bit scary.
This is so scary. So many things can go wrong when you're pregnant. One wrong move and your baby is in danger. I agree with Racheli. They should definitely let kids know how many things can actually hurt the fetus--even acne medication! Are all of these consequences irreversible? Or can something be done once the baby is born to get rid of whatever damage the mother caused to the baby while it was in the womb?
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