1. Avoiding Dangers to the Baby
This presentation will focus on dangers that can affect a baby and the mother.
Avoiding Dangers to the Baby

2. Alcohol
A woman who drinks during pregnancy risks having a child with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS).
FAS leads to physical and mental damage to the child.
The degree of damage to the child is usually directed to the amount of alcohol consumed, and the stage of pregnancy when it was consumed.
As you have learned previously, it is not safe for an expectant mother to consumer alcohol at any time during the pregnancy. A woman who drinks during pregnancy creates the risk of having a child with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, also known as FAS. This syndrome leads to physical and mental damage to the child. The degree of damage to the child is usually directed to the amount of alcohol consumed, and the stage of pregnancy when it was consumed.

3. Alcohol Those who live, could face several problems:
Intellectual disability
Slow growth
Poor coordination
Heart defects
Facial disfigurement
Learning problems
Hyperactivity
Vision and Hearing Problems
There is no cure for FAS
Children who have fetal alcohol syndrome can face a wide range of problems and disabilities. Those include but are not limited to intellectual disabilities, slow growth, poor coordination, heart defects, facial disfigurement, learning problems, hyperactivity, and vision and hearing problems. Children born with FAS will most likely have distinctive facial features that indicate alcohol was used during the pregnancy. The facial features related to FAS are a small head, a low nasal bridge, small eye openings, epicanthal folds, a flat midface, short nose, smooth philtrum, thin upper lip, and an underdeveloped jaw. There is no cure for fetal alcohol syndrome, but there are treatments that can help with the problems that develop as a result.

4. Other Drugs
Many doctors believe that drugs are one of the main causes of birth defects. Alcohol is one of the drugs, others include:
Medicines, including prescription & over the counter.
Caffeine, found in food and beverages.
Nicotine, found in tobacco.
Illegal drugs, such as heroine, LSD, marijuana, & cocaine.
Inhalants: fumes inhaled through the lungs.
Not only does alcohol affect the baby during pregnancy, so do drugs. Many doctors believe that drugs are one of the main causes of birth defects. These drugs will be focused on in more details in the upcoming slides and they are over the counter and prescription medicines, caffeine, nicotine, illegal drugs, and inhalants.

5. Prescription & Over the Counter Drugs
All medications, including aspirin, cold medications, & allergy pills can cause harm.
It is important to read labels and talk with doctors about all medications being taken during pregnancy.
Medicines or infections have the most devastating effects during the first 3 months of pregnancy.
This is when the brain is developing and can cause intellectual disabilities.
10 OTC Drugs to Avoid During Pregnancy
Many people may not know that general over the counter medicines can be harmful if taken by a mother while pregnant. All medications including aspirin, cold medications, and allergy pills can cause harm to the baby. It is very important for expectant mothers to read all labels and talk with doctors about all medications before taking them while pregnant. Because the baby’s brain is developing during the first three months of pregnancy, medicines or infections caused by medicines have the most devastating effects during the first three months. If taken, the use of these medications could lead to intellectual disabilities for the baby. Follow the hyperlink at the bottom of this slide to learn about the top ten over the counter medicines to avoid while pregnant.

6. Caffeine Found in: May decrease blood flow to the placenta.
Coffee
Tea
soft drinks
Chocolate
some foods
medicines
May decrease blood flow to the placenta.
Large doses can cause birth defects.
Increases the chance of miscarriage.
Caffeine is also another drug that can lead to harmful effects on the baby. Caffeine can be found in coffee, tea, soft drinks like Coke and Pepsi, chocolate, some foods, and even some medicines. It is best to avoid these things in order to limit the amount of caffeine intake. Caffeine does have the potential to decrease blood flow to the placenta, which is where the baby gets its oxygen and nutrients. If taken in large doses, caffeine can cause some birth defects and will increase the chance of miscarriage.

7. Tobacco Increases the risk of a miscarriage
Can cause problems with the placenta
Raises the risk of premature birth
Can cause the baby to have a low birth weight, which is not healthy.
Causes birth defects
Increases the risk of SIDS
Tobacco use can cause a huge array of health problems for the baby. It has been found that smoking increases the chance of miscarriage. It can also cause problems with the placenta which is the source of the baby's food and oxygen during pregnancy. For example, the placenta can separate from the womb too early, causing bleeding, which is dangerous to the mother and baby. Smoking also raises the risk of premature birth which can bring about many problems. Smoking while pregnant has also been found to cause the baby to have a low birth rate which can cause the baby to become sick. Babies born to women who smoke are more likely to have certain birth defects, like a cleft lip and cleft palate. Finally, smoking can also increase the risk of SIDS also known as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. As you can see, smoking is very harmful to the health of the baby. This is only some of the many side effects of smoking while pregnant.

8. Illegal Drugs
A mother who is addicted to a drug when pregnant usually passes on that addiction to the baby.
At birth, infants go through withdrawal.
Painful condition resulting from the body no longer receiving the drug.
Many times, withdrawal is so severe it causes death.
Those who survive have an uncertain future.
Are known to cause miscarriages, stillbirth, premature birth, and birth defects.
Illegal drugs are illegal and should be avoided by people who are pregnant and people who are not pregnant. If a mother is addicted to a drug when she is pregnant, there is a huge chance that she will pass that addiction on to the baby. Because the baby will no longer be receiving the drug after birth, the infant will experience withdrawals. This is a painful condition that is a result of the body no longer receiving the drug. For some, the withdrawal could be so serious that it causes the baby to die. Illegal drugs can led to many bad things for a baby including miscarriages, stillbirth, premature births, and a wide array of birth defects.

9. X-RAYS
Radiation from X-rays, or from other sources can cause birth defects.
If an X-ray is necessary, the mother should inform the medical staff that you are pregnant.
Abdominal shields should be worn to reduce the amount of radiation that the fetus is exposed to.
Dental X-rays are considered to be safe because they are focused far from the uterus.
X-Rays are another thing to be very aware of while pregnant. The radiation from the x-rays and other sources can cause birth defects. If an x-ray is necessary while pregnant due to an accident, illness, or dental work, the mother should inform the medical staff that she is pregnant. The people conducting the x-ray will have abdominal shields that should be worn in order to reduce the amount of radiation to the fetus. Dental X-rays are considered to be safe because they are focused far from the uterus; however some dentists will wait until after birth to perform X-rays.

10. HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES/ CHEMICALS
Substances that should be avoided include:
Paint
Pesticides
Lead
Carbon Monoxide
Mercury
Solvents: Paint Thinners, Formaldehyde
There are other hazardous materials, substances, and chemicals that should be avoided during pregnancy. Some of these are paint, pesticides, lead, carbon monoxide, mercury, and solvents. These can cause birth defects because a mother can breathe them and they may get into the bloodstream.

11. RUBELLA (German Measles)
Contagious viral infection that is known by its red rash.
Can cause severe birth defects especially during the first 3 months of pregnancy.
Birth Defects Include: Blindness, Deafness, Heart Disease, and Intellectual Disabilities
A vaccination is available, but can be dangerous if taken while pregnant or soon before becoming pregnant.
Important to check to see if you have been immunized for Rubella before becoming pregnant.
Rubella, also known as the German measles, is a contagious viral infection that is known by its red rash. This infection can cause severe birth defects throughout the whole pregnancy, but especially if caught during the first three months. These birth defects can include blindness, deafness, heart disease, and intellectual disabilities. There is a vaccination available but should be taken before becoming pregnant. The vaccination is know as MMR and protects against measles, mumps, and rubella, and varicella.

12. TOXOPLASMOSIS A infection caused by a parasite.
Birth Defects Include: Blindness, Hearing Loss, and Learning Disabilities
Can cause miscarriages or stillbirth.
Precautions:
Never clean kitty litter boxes
Always wash fruits and vegetables before eating
Do not eat undercooked meat
Wash hands immediately after handling raw meat
Toxoplasmosis is an infection in the body caused by a parasite. It can also lead to birth defects such as blindness, hearing loss, and learning disabilities. It has also been known to cause miscarriages and stillbirths. Some precautions for mothers who are expecting to avoid this infection are keeping away from kitty litter boxes, washing all fruits and vegetables before consumption, not eating undercooked meats, and always washing hands immediately after handling raw meat.

13. CHICKENPOX
Pregnant women who get chickenpox are at risk for complications.
Very dangerous to a mother during 1st and early 2nd trimesters
Raises the chance the baby is born with congenital varicella syndrome
Women who have not had Chicken Pox should get vaccinated before becoming pregnant, and avoid contact with people who have chicken pox.
Chickenpox is another infection that can cause problems in women who are pregnant. Catching the infection can be very dangerous to a mother during the first and early second trimesters. This raises the chance that the baby will be born with congenital varicella syndrome. Babies born with congenital varicella syndrome may be of low birthweight and have scarring of the skin and problems with arms, legs, brain, and eyes. It is important that a woman be vaccinated before becoming pregnant and avoid all contact with any people who have chickenpox.