What are some factors that can affect fetal development?

What are some factors that can affect fetal development?

Genetic, nutritional, environmental, uteroplacental, and fetal factors have been suggested to influence fetal growth. Uteroplacental and umbilical blood flow and transplacental glucose and fetal insulin are major determinants of fetal growth.

What is the most likely threat to prenatal development?

Prenatal risk factors include chronic maternal illness, certain maternal infections, toxin exposures and nutritional deficiencies. Risk factors in the perinatal period include pregnancy-related complications, prematurity and low birth weight, and infection exposure during pregnancy or at time of birth.

What are the threats to the fetal environment?

Air pollution: A small study of 60 newborns in New York City found that expectant mothers’ exposure to combustion-related urban air pollution — emissions from cars, trucks, residential heating, power generation and tobacco smoking — may alter the structure of chromosomes in their fetuses.

What environmental factors cause birth defects?

An environmental cause can include a drug, alcohol or a disease the mother has that can increase the chance for the baby to be born with a birth defect. An agent that can cause a birth defect is known as a teratogen.

Is asthma a birth defect?

Asthma is caused by an inborn imbalance in the chemical system that controls proper lung function. One or more environmental factors may trigger this imbalance to cause an asthma attack.

Can asthma meds cause birth defects?

Asthma Drugs in Pregnancy Linked to Slight Risk of Rare Birth Defects. Jan. 17, 2012 — New research provides some reassuring news for many pregnant women who have asthma. Treating your asthma during pregnancy most likely does not increase your baby’s risk for most major birth defects, a new study shows.

Does asthma make pregnancy high risk?

However, severe or poorly controlled asthma during pregnancy might increase the risk of various problems, including: A pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and signs of damage to another organ system, often the kidneys (preeclampsia) Restricted fetal growth. Premature birth.