The influence of harmful factors on the body of the mother and fetus. We analyze the influence of various factors on pregnancy

02.08.2019

Expectant mothers need to know that they are daily exposed to various negative factors that can have a negative impact on the course of pregnancy and on the health of the unborn child.

One of the most common and well-known factors of negative influence is often a simple cold that affects the weakened body of the expectant mother. Its negative effect affects not only the mother, but also the child. In terms of its danger, infection caused by cold viruses is in the first place.

The first weeks of pregnancy are especially critical in this regard, during the formation of the main systems and organs of the baby. This often leads to various pathologies in the development of the fetus, so you should not start a cold and consider it a simple innocent disease. Treatment should be started in a timely and comprehensive manner, without waiting for the further development of the process.

In this case, you should not self-medicate, since many medicines and herbs have contraindications for a pregnant woman. Therefore, if you have a cold, you should immediately contact your doctor.

In the early stages of pregnancy, you should definitely warn your doctor about this, especially if you need to take X-rays, since this radiation negatively affects the health of the unborn child.

If a woman is registered with diseases of hormonal dysfunctions, such as diabetes, thyroid disease or hepatitis, she should be observed in the antenatal clinic from the very first days of pregnancy to prevent various complications during pregnancy.

The expectant mother needs to completely abandon bad habits such as alcohol and smoking. Statistics unambiguously indicate that fetal pathology can be found in almost every mother who uses cigarettes or alcohol, and these pathologies can also be revealed after the birth of a child. If you wish your baby health, try to give up bad habits even before conceiving a fetus.

Long-term work at the computer is also a negative factor for any pregnant woman; such work should be reduced to a minimum for the entire period of pregnancy. Contact with various chemical compounds at work should be avoided, because even ordinary paint for the expectant mother is a toxic substance and affects the fetus.

In order to avoid various negative factors during pregnancy or to minimize their influence, a woman during pregnancy needs to be outdoors more often, to use food rich in vitamins, and to air the living space more often. You should also strictly follow the rules of personal hygiene and take tests in a timely manner during the entire period of pregnancy, being observed in the antenatal clinic.

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Besides, negative factors can lead to various malformations in the embryo and complications in the fetus.

The most famous and common negative factors affecting pregnancy - the common cold and flu. The female body is especially weakened during childbearing. And, since what affects the mother also affects the baby, a viral infection is very dangerous. Viral diseases are especially dangerous in the first weeks of pregnancy, since it is at this time negative factors can affect the formation of organs and systems. At first glance, a completely innocent cold can cause fetal pathology. Therefore, if you catch a cold, you need to start a course of treatment in a timely manner. Do not eliminate such negative factors independently and self-medicate. Many medicines and medicinal herbs are contraindicated for pregnant women. It is worth contacting a doctor who will prescribe medications for you in accordance with your situation.

One more negative factors that have a bad effect on the course of pregnancy are X-rays. They cause mutations in the genetic apparatus of cells and can lead to developmental abnormalities, so you should warn your doctor about your situation if you are in an early pregnancy. If possible, he should avoid the appointment of such a procedure.

Negative factors also represent some chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, thyroid disease, hepatitis, and so on.

Those women who are registered due to such diseases and hormonal imbalance should be registered with the antenatal clinic from the very beginning of their pregnancy so that it is possible to track possible complications during pregnancy and prevent them in a timely manner.

Very negative factors that can lead to serious malformations are bad habits. Every person knows about the dangers of smoking and alcohol for a child. All sorts of fetal pathologies are found in almost every drinking or smoking mother. After all, not all complications are detected immediately, during the birth of a child. There are also other negative factors affecting pregnancy and fetal development. These include long-term work at a computer, work in harmful conditions, for example, in factories, in laboratories, where chemical elements, paints, toxic to pregnant women, and so on are found.

Thus, in order for the formation and development of your baby to be normal, try to ensure that the course of your pregnancy is not influenced by any negative factors... And then your baby will be born completely healthy.

During pregnancy, many different factors can have a detrimental effect on the development of the first embryo and then the fetus. In this case, the influence of harmful factors on the health of parents should be taken into account both during the formation of gametes and on the eve of conception. In this regard, pregnancy should be planned for a time when the future parents are healthy, do not abuse bad habits, are not associated with harmful production factors, eat normally, and mutually want a child. Damaging factors during the period of embryogenesis are most dangerous and can cause death, deformity or disease of the fetus.

There are factors that do not cause pathological changes in the fetus, but contribute to miscarriage, which ultimately still leads to complications in the newborn.

Some factors are dangerous at any stage of pregnancy (radiation, infections, chemical hazards). It is advisable that a woman planning a pregnancy does not work in hazardous industries. Even in ancient times, newlyweds were not allowed alcoholic beverages, they were not allowed to plan pregnancy during fasting, during fasting, pregnant women were allowed to use fast food.

Harmful factors can be grouped into the following groups:

1. Occupational hazards, among which work with radioactive substances, X-rays, chemicals, contact with infectious patients, strains of microorganisms, any excessive loads are especially harmful. So chemical substances (for example, organophosphates) can accumulate in the body and have a harmful effect even several years after a woman quit her job.

2. Infections. All infectious diseases are dangerous, especially during embryogenesis. For example, rubella, cytomegaly cause fetal deformities. The infections themselves are dangerous, both overt with clinical manifestations (syphilis, hepatitis) and latent infections (toxoplasmosis, mycoplasmosis). Since antibacterial drugs are used in the treatment of infectious diseases, this can also have an adverse effect on the fetus. In the case of a severe infectious disease during embryogenesis, in which, moreover, massive antibiotic therapy is carried out, abortion is indicated.

3. Harmful environmental factors. This can be environmental pollution due to a woman living in an industrial zone, in areas with strong radiation or chemical pollution. All pregnant women must be evacuated from environmental disaster zones. Some areas are characterized by an insufficient content of essential minerals (iodine, calcium) in the water, with a high content of salts, etc. This can be corrected by the appointment of a special diet, vitamin and mineral complexes. A sharp change in environmental conditions can be a stressful factor for a pregnant woman (change in the height of the area, natural or weather conditions).

4. Oxygen deficiency can be due to environmental violations, conditions of an industrial city, production, abuse of bad habits, lack of nutrition, being in poorly ventilated rooms.

5. Bad habits (smoking, alcoholism, drugs). Their influence, especially drugs and alcohol, is completely unacceptable during pregnancy, as it leads to hypoxia and fetal deformities. Often women who abuse these habits are not interested in pregnancy and violate the rules of preparation for childbirth. According to statistics, unfortunately, the number of women who smoke has increased recently. If a pregnant woman quit smoking during early toxicosis, then you should not return to this habit, since a woman who smokes has a child behind in development and, as a rule, is small in weight. If a woman cannot completely quit smoking, then she should reduce the number of cigarettes smoked.

6. Insufficient nutrition. To combat this problem, it is necessary to inform a woman about proper nutrition and the importance of it; some women need social support. Excessive and unbalanced nutrition is also harmful during pregnancy.

7. Somatic diseases.

8. Complications of pregnancy (gestosis, anemia, miscarriage, etc.). The influence of somatic diseases and pathology of pregnancy is discussed in the next chapter.

9. Taking medications. It is categorically unacceptable to take medications during pregnancy without the appointment of an obstetrician. Taking medications in the first trimester of pregnancy is especially undesirable. A healthy pregnant woman does not need to take medication at all. True, in order to prevent complications in the northern area, where women receive little ultraviolet radiation, vitamins, especially with an unbalanced diet, it is recommended to take vitamin E and folic acid in the II trimester; intake of calcium, vitamin D (or fish oil), UFO sessions - in the third trimester.

10. Stressful situations. It is necessary to protect a woman during pregnancy from stressful situations. These are the responsibilities of the family, loved ones, the midwife and the woman herself. A woman should avoid conflicts, an excess of negative information and an excess of communication, choose literature, television programs, contacts with others and topics of conversation very thoughtfully. Even in ancient times, it was said that a pregnant woman should look at the beautiful, think about the sublime and act nobly so that a healthy and beautiful child would be born to her. You cannot frighten and offend a pregnant woman. In the old days it was said that the one who offended or refused the request of a pregnant woman committed a sin. However, in our intense age, it is completely impossible to avoid negative information. It is necessary to teach a woman to cope with psychological problems and fears, to concentrate her attention on carrying a pregnancy.

A sign of fetal development disorders can be: fetal lag in development,
identification of developmental abnormalities, deterioration of movement, fetal heartbeat, pathological changes in the blood of the fetus and in the amniotic fluid.

You can diagnose deterioration using the following methods:

Control over the dynamics of fetal movement (interviewing a pregnant woman, control over movement during palpation and ultrasound).

Fetal heart rate monitoring (listening with an obstetric stethoscope, ultrasound devices, fetal cardiography using an electrocardiograph or cardiotocograph).

Monitoring the dynamics of fetal growth (measuring the circumference and height of the standing of the bottom of the uterus in dynamics, identifying the dynamics of fetal growth using ultrasound).

Study of amniotic fluid by amniocentesis.

Fetal blood examination using cordocentesis (umbilical cord puncture).

Evaluation of placental-uterine circulation using ultrasound placentography.

Examination of some indicators in the mother (for example, the study of alpha-fetoproteins, the study of estriol).

The methods of antenatal protection of the fetus include: the isolation and elimination of harmful factors, the identification of abnormalities in the development of the intrauterine fetus, the appointment of medication and non-medication for the prevention and treatment of intrauterine fetal hypoxia.

Professor A.P. Nikolaev proposed a method for the prevention and treatment of intrauterine fetal hypoxia, which was named after him by the triad of Professor A.P. Nikolaev. The classic triad includes: inhalation of oxygen, intravenous administration of 40% glucose solution (20-40 ml) and respiratory analeptic corazole (10% - 2 ml). Then, instead of corazole, cordiamine (25% - 2 ml) was used.

In recent years, the following agents have been used to improve placental-uterine circulation: sygetin 1% - 2 ml intramuscularly or orally (estrogen-like drug, improves placental-uterine blood circulation); ku-rantile; piracetam (nootropil). Improvement of the vital functions of the intrauterine fetus is facilitated by: unitiol, vitamins C and E, folic acid, Essentiale, methionine.

Problems of a pregnant woman and help in solving them

Physical problems.

In the first trimester of pregnancy, women are most often worried about dyspeptic disorders, gustatory and olfactory fads, drowsiness, apathy, lethargy, or, conversely, irritability, tearfulness, that is, symptoms that are usually called dubious or presumptive signs of pregnancy.

It is sometimes difficult for a pregnant woman to get used to changes in her figure, especially in the later stages, when the uterus compresses the great vessels. It is difficult for a pregnant woman to walk, since she cannot see her legs because of the abdomen, and besides, the center of gravity is constantly changing. It is difficult for her to find a comfortable sleeping position. Therefore, the midwife needs to tell her how to lie down more comfortably using small pads.

Constipation is a fairly common problem. This is due to many factors. For example, progesterone, which dominates in the first and second trimester of pregnancy, not only helps to relax the uterus, but also to reduce intestinal motility. Congestion in the circulatory system, intestinal compression and lack of exercise also contribute to constipation. Lower torso unloading exercises (eg, knee-elbow position) and nutritional advice can help alleviate this problem.
It is also possible to use laxatives, which must still be treated with caution, since they can, if used excessively, lead to excessive excitability of the uterus. Constipation can be one of the reasons contributing to the development of hemorrhoids. This is a fairly common problem in pregnant women, which we refer to as pathology, and here we mention it in terms of preventing complications. In addition to constipation, the development of hemorrhoids is facilitated by an increase in blood viscosity at the end of pregnancy and venous congestion in this area.

Some pregnant women are worried about colostrum leakage, in this case, special pads for absorbing milk can be recommended. Under no circumstances should you express milk. It is possible that milk leakage is due to a lack of estrogen.

Psychological problems can be very individual, but still some fairly typical ones can be distinguished: fear of examinations and childbirth, fears about the health of the child and one's own. Some women have a hard time changing their occupations and lifestyle, they are afraid of losing their harmony, the love of their husband. Unmarried women are more difficult to endure all the vicissitudes of pregnancy. It is psychologically difficult to give up some bad habits (smoking, drinking alcohol, especially beer, overeating).

Social problems.

Social problems can also be quite individual, however, some typical difficulties can be distinguished among them. Most often, this is the inability to continue work, study, lead the way of life to which the woman is accustomed, financial problems.

It is very important that a healthy woman does not feel sick during pregnancy, but, if possible, lead a normal active lifestyle. Some restrictions are fully compensated by active preparation for childbirth, the prospect of having a healthy child and experiencing the joy of motherhood.

Many problems arise from a lack of information. For this, classes are held at the LCD. Thus, a woman can receive information about pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period by attending group lectures and special classes for pregnant women (it is possible to attend classes with her husband). Lectures can be accompanied by the showing of video films, in practical exercises, certain exercises (breathing, postures, etc.), methods of caring for a child can be practiced. During the reception - individual conversations, advice, answers to questions. Reading special literature for pregnant women is recommended.

The main topics of conversations and classes for a pregnant woman: changes in the body of a pregnant woman, hygiene of a pregnant woman, daily routine, nutrition of the expectant mother, raising a child, how to prepare for childbirth, how to behave in childbirth, how to take care of a child, breastfeeding, etc. Closer to childbirth classes can be combined with psychoprophylactic preparation for childbirth and exercise therapy.

A woman, on the advice of a midwife, must choose a maternity hospital in advance. She should know:

When to enter the maternity hospital (regular contractions, drainage of water, in case of any complications).

How to get there (by your own transport or an ambulance).

What to take to the maternity hospital (individual maternity card, passport and insurance policy, hygiene items, new slippers, and the rest must be found out in advance at the maternity hospital). In some maternity hospitals, it is not allowed to bring anything else, the woman is given everything she needs: linen and medicines; but in some maternity hospitals, taking into account individual wards, it is allowed to use one for the mother and child).

The family should prepare everything for the child (clothes,) in advance. Some women, for superstitious reasons, do not want to do this in advance, then it is necessary to give an assignment to family members, to order what needs to be prepared while the woman is in the maternity hospital.

The external environment of the fetus during its intrauterine development is the mother's body. It serves as a protective barrier for the unborn child from harmful factors, which at this time are very dangerous for him.

Unfortunately, the protective capabilities of a pregnant woman's body are very limited, they are depleted over time and cannot resist the enormous force of harmful factors, which are conventionally divided into two groups:

Those that come from a pregnant woman;
External factors affecting the embryo or fetus through the mother's body.

What you need to know : how the fetus will develop depends largely on the health of the mother and her environment, which, to one degree or another, affects the unborn child through the body of a pregnant woman.

The development of the fetus will be accelerated or slowed down, whether it will stop completely depends on which month of pregnancy the woman is in, what dose, duration and strength of the harmful effect.

Abnormal fetal development can be caused by the following teratogenic agents:

medicinal and chemical substances;
radioactive radiation;
and etc.

Their effect entails not only anatomical defects, but also genetic ones.

The harmful factors that have a detrimental effect on the fetus include:

Why you shouldn't drink alcohol during pregnancy

Alcoholic drinks consumed by a woman during pregnancy are biological poison for her unborn child, which he receives along with the mother's blood.

This applies not only to spirits, but also to lighter wines and beer. Even in small quantities and only once drunk by the mother, an alcoholic drink can cause enormous harm to the fetus, since it does not have an enzyme (alcohol dehydrogenase) that would destroy ethanol. Alcohol easily crosses the placental barrier, affecting the placenta. As a result, the conditions for the development of the fetus deteriorate, and its nutrition is disrupted. Alcohol also has a detrimental effect on a pregnant woman, reducing the resistance of her body and making it vulnerable to various infections.

Children born to drinking mothers, as a rule, lag behind in physical, psychomotor, and often mental development. Often they have congenital deformities and defects that appear as they grow up.

So, violations from the central nervous system (central nervous system) can manifest themselves:

a decrease in the size of the skull and brain (microcephaly);
ataxia (impaired coordination of movements);
decreased intelligence;
motor disinhibition;
dementia.

Such a child may be stunted, have abnormalities of internal organs, facial skull, limbs. With alcohol syndrome, fetal mortality in the perinatal period is very high.

What you need to know: It is strictly forbidden to drink alcohol in the first trimester of pregnancy, when the main organs and systems of the child's body are laid and formed.

It is not uncommon for alcohol to provoke the development of hereditary diseases, the occurrence of which might not have occurred in a normal, healthy course of pregnancy.

How nicotine affects the fetus

Smoking is harmful, especially during pregnancy! All doctors of the world came to this conclusion. The fact is that after smoking a pregnant woman just one cigarette, after about half an hour, a spasm of the vessels of the uterus occurs. Nicotine and other toxic substances, getting into the blood of the fetus, cause depression of its respiratory movements.

Babies of mothers who smoke are born with low birth weight. The risk of sudden death in such babies in the perinatal and neonatal periods is very high. Often, newborns have:

development of pulmonary failure,
encephalopathy,
delayed psychomotor development.

What you need to know: nicotine is present in breast milk, so a smoking mother who breastfeeds her baby poisons her baby every day. Nicotine negatively affects the growing body of the child. The baby becomes vulnerable to various diseases, grows weakened, often lags behind in development.

How drugs affect the course of pregnancy and the fetus

The use of drugs by a pregnant woman complicates the course of pregnancy, adversely affects the intrauterine development of the child, and leads to difficult childbirth.

In pregnant women who use narcotic drugs, frequent miscarriages, bleeding, premature birth, spontaneous abortions, premature placental abruption, and intrauterine fetal death are recorded.

It should be noted that the fetus, like the mother, develops drug dependence, which threatens the newborn with a withdrawal syndrome, leading in 5% of cases to death or the development of postpartum drug withdrawal.

This pathological condition is manifested by hyperactivity, irritability (the child constantly screams), frequent sneezing, yawning, decreased muscle tone, and increased body temperature.

Intrauterine fetal hypoxia, which develops when a pregnant woman uses drugs, leads to the development of the following anomalies in the unborn child:

underdevelopment of the respiratory system;
violation of external respiration;
defects in the development of the limbs and genitourinary system;
intrauterine growth retardation.

Such children are often born with defects of the cardiovascular and nervous systems, mental disorders. Cases of cerebral stroke in the perinatal period are frequent.

Effect on the fetus of drugs

Approximately 80% of women during pregnancy use certain drugs, but few people know that various changes occurring in the physiological state of the body at this time affect the pharmacokinetics of drugs used by a pregnant woman.

What you need to know: the harm that drugs cause depends on the stage at which the intrauterine development of the fetus is, the dose used and the pharmacological action of the drug funds.

There are five critical points when a drug can cause significant harm to the embryo / fetus:

Time prior to conception;
Time from conception to the eleventh day of pregnancy;
From the eleventh day to three weeks;
From the fourth to the ninth week;
The period from the ninth week to delivery.

It is believed that the teratogenic effect of drugs is highest between 31 and 81 days from the last menstruation. The most vulnerable in the embryo at this time are the central nervous, cardiovascular systems, ears, palatine plate.

Therefore, in the first trimester of pregnancy, the use of drugs is better at all refuse. Well, if such a need arises, the benefits of the drugs prescribed to a pregnant woman should exceed the possible harm at times.

The strength of the teratogenic action of drugs is determined by the degree of their penetration through the placental barrier, which depends on the molecular weight of the drug, fat solubility and its other properties.

Low molecular weight drugs easily cross the placental barrier and enter the embryo / fetus's bloodstream.

What you need to know: no medicinal product taken internally during pregnancy should be considered absolutely harmless.

The most dangerous drugs with a high degree of penetration and strength of teratogenic action include:

antiepileptic drugs (phenytoin, diphenin, finlepsin, valproic acid, etc.);
psychotropic drugs (lithium, etc.);
antithrombotic agents (warfarin, etc.);
retinoids (adaklin, diferin, etc.);
antigonadotropic drugs (danazol, danoval, etc.).

According to embryotoxic and teratogenic effects, drugs are divided into three groups.

The first group includes the most dangerous drugs with a high risk:

cytostatic drugs (methotrexate, melphalan, vincristine, etc.);
antibiotics with antitumor and antimycotic effects (dactinomycin, daunorubicin, exifin, etc.);
immunosuppressants (batriden, azathioprine, etc.).

The second group includes drugs that have a significant degree of risk:

(tetracyclines, rifamycins, etc.);
antiprotozoal (plaquenil, diloxanide, quinidine, etc.);
anticonvulsants (finlepsin, etc.);
antipsychotic drugs;
antiparkinsonian;
anti-thyroid;
antidiabetic;
antipsychotics (antidepressants, antipsychotics);
indirect anticoagulants.

The third group includes drugs of moderate risk:

psychotropic drugs (tranquilizers);
sulfa drugs;
antiprotozoal drugs (metronidazole, etc.);
estrogens.

What you need to know : Effects in the fetus and newborn from drugs taken by a pregnant woman can be very diverse and be expressed by an anomaly in the development of organs and systems, deformities, functional pathologies, and long-term consequences.

Conclusion

In order for a child to be born healthy, develop and grow normally, it is necessary to give up cigarettes, alcohol, drugs even before the conception of the baby. If the onset of pregnancy was not planned, but a decision was made - to give birth, it is necessary to say goodbye to bad habits not only for all nine months, but also for the period of breastfeeding.

During pregnancy, in no case should you self-medicate. All medications are prescribed by a doctor for specific indications and in the most necessary cases.

Video information about the dangers of smoking during pregnancy

Lack of oxygen (or hypoxia);
Exposure to extreme temperatures resulting in overheating or hypothermia;
The action of ionizing radiation;
Influence of organic and inorganic mutagenic substances;
The action of infectious agents;
The influence of drugs.

The concept of the causes of congenital malformations

It should be noted that the causes of about 85% of all congenital malformations have not yet been established, only in 10% of them genetic and chromosomal changes are the etiological factor. According to rough estimates, only about 5% of congenital pathologies arise as a result of the action of medicinal substances, and the rest - under the influence of other factors.

If we turn to history, then it is imperative to recall the results of some studies conducted in order to study the negative impact of aggressive environmental factors on the growing embryo. In 1941, scientist Greg proved that a significant factor affecting the fetus is the infection of the mother with the rubella virus. In the 1950s, a disease emerged in Japan caused by mercury poisoning (Minamata disease).

What is the placental barrier?

Multiple aggressive damaging agents of the external environment exert their pathogenic effect as a result of penetration through the placental barrier or by changing the normal placental permeability. The human placenta is an organ that provides intrauterine development of the fetus with close contact with the mother's blood. The placental barrier means a collection of cells that form small vessels on the fetal surface of the placenta and on the surface of the uterine mucosa (its smallest villi). Thanks to this physiological obstacle, most harmful substances cannot enter the child's bloodstream. Thus, due to its limited carrying capacity, the placenta performs a protective function and prevents the ingress of various toxic products that, penetrating into the mother's body, can have an adverse effect on the fetus.

Those environmental factors that are capable of disrupting intrauterine development of the child and have a damaging effect on it, are called embryotoxic.

How does ionizing radiation affect a growing fetus?

It is generally accepted that the minimum level of ionizing radiation, which is necessary to exert a toxic effect on the fetus and slow down its growth ( intrauterine growth retardation) 10 times more than the usual background radiation level.
However, it is nevertheless recommended to minimize the X-ray exposure of girls and women of childbearing age. Severe malformations and impaired fetal growth occur at exposure doses of more than 50 rad, but even doses of several rad can dramatically increase the risk of developing leukemia in a newborn child. The increase in the number of newborns suffering from Down syndrome is associated with chronic exposure to microwave radiation. During the experiments, it was proved that the action of ultrasound with a frequency of 1 to 3 MHz and an intensity of more than 5 W / cm2 causes an increase in the death of embryos and an increase in the likelihood of developing defects in laboratory animals. The intensity of the ultrasonic irradiation that is used in medicine for diagnostic purposes is in the range of several mW / cm2, so that it does not cause significant harm. However, there are studies, the results of which indicate that with frequent ultrasound in the process of intrauterine development, these children may subsequently have hearing problems. And it was also found that doctors who conduct ultrasound examinations gradually develop vibration disease.

How does a change in temperature affect?

Intrauterine fetal development and the likelihood of the formation of defects depend on fluctuations in the temperature of the child's environment. A significant increase (hyperthermia) or decrease (hypothermia) can lead to an increase in the likelihood of the formation of major defects. Hyperthermia most often occurs in diseases of a pregnant woman, accompanied by fever with an increase in body temperature to high numbers, as well as when she visits a bath or sauna.

Influence of infections of both viral and bacterial nature

Most often, viruses are the main factor causing all kinds of disturbances in the intrauterine development of the embryo. There are many varieties of them that can lead either to the death of the fetus, or to the formation of large defects in it. The effect of viruses is either direct infection of the fetus, or indirectly (through a high temperature in the mother).
The most dangerous and most pathogenic is the rubella virus, its effect on the fetus is especially pronounced in the first trimester of pregnancy (initial 12 weeks). It causes the development of congenital heart defects, deafness and cataracts (damage to the lens of the eye). The cytomegalovirus, which can be transmitted from a sick person sexually or with saliva particles, can cause intrauterine growth retardation and impaired brain formation (microcephaly). The Coxsackie virus causes cleft lips and face, narrowing of the inlet in the stomach, and other malformations of the digestive system. The virus that causes genital herpes can make a newborn baby sick with herpes pneumonia. In addition to all of the above, a connection was found between the smallpox virus and defects of the central nervous system and extremities.

Infections caused by bacteria are also often accompanied by an increase in the mother's body temperature and infection of the baby, especially in premature babies and with early rupture of the membranes of the fetus. Therefore, during pregnancy, it is not recommended to use medications that contain live microbes, since the immunity of a pregnant woman is weakened during this period. For their treatment, only those vaccines are used that contain the already killed virus.

How do inorganic teratogens affect?

Teratogens are substances that can have a harmful effect on a growing fetus. An increase in the content of these substances in the organisms of a pregnant woman and a child can be in the case of her presence during mining, metallurgical production and metal processing. The main inorganic substance with a teratogenic effect is lead, which causes disruption of the central nervous system and leads to the formation of mental retardation and various paralysis. The influence of mercury will cause a decrease in physical activity and intelligence in a child. The action of cadmium, arsenic and chromium salts will also lead to disruption of the brain.

The harmful effects of alcohol and smoking

When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol in moderation (less than thirty milliliters of ethanol per day), there is no harmful effect on the growing fetus.
If the expectant mother drinks alcohol in an amount equivalent to a dose of ethyl alcohol from 30 to 60 ml per day, then approximately 12% of children are born with signs of intrauterine growth retardation and with minor congenital anomalies. When a pregnant woman uses more than 60 ml of ethanol every day, she is referred to the category of women with alcoholism, while most often they are manifested by low birth weight and subsequent developmental delay (both physical and mental). The reasons for the formation of an alcoholic syndrome in a baby are: the formation of metabolic products of ethyl alcohol (acetaldehyde) in the process of metabolism, a lack of B vitamins, reduced nutrition, and a decrease in resistance to infections.

Smoking during pregnancy is accompanied by an increase in the likelihood of spontaneous miscarriage and also an increase in the frequency of development of defects in the nervous system. In the future, with an increase in gestational age, a woman who smokes has a disturbance in the nutritional processes of the fetus through the placenta, which leads to its change, aging, decreased function and delayed development of the child. The likelihood of placental abruption, the development of gestosis and premature onset of labor increases.

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