The Effect of Teratogens & Impacts on the Three a’s

The Effect of Teratogens & Impacts on the Three A’s

A developing fetus is astonishing. The rate in which the limbs and systems are formed is overwhelming when one thinks of how a baby develops in a short, nine month span. Yet, during this developmental time of creation, there may be malfunctions which have a potential to cause harm or death to the fetus. Although some prenatal problems are nature made, there are other risks and dangers that are caused by various exposures the mother subjects to her fetus while it is in the womb. If the fetus is exposed to teratogens, it can cause various problems such as low birth weight, missing limbs, or brain damage. Although most babies are born healthy, it is important to understand what may happen if the child is affected by teratogens, and the impact this has on the child’s developmental challenges (http://psychology.about.com/od/early-child-development/a/environmental-influences-on-prenatal-development.htm)

The purpose of this paper is to briefly discuss and examine teratogens, explain a specific teratogen that a fetus could be exposed to; and how that can affect the development of that child. We will focus upon the developmental challenges this child may have, and how these challenges affect the caregiver/teacher providing the three A’s.

According to the free medical-dictionary, a Teratogen is: any substance, agent, or process that interferes with normal prenatal development, causing the formation of one or more developmental abnormalities in the fetus. Teratogens act directly on the developing organism or indirectly, affecting such supplemental structures as the placenta or some maternal system. The type and extent of the defect are determined by the specific kind of teratogen, its mode of action, the embryonic process affected, genetic predisposition, and the stage of development at the time the exposure occurred. (http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/teratogen).

Therefore, depending upon...