P R E N ATA L I N T R O & B I RT H D E F E C T S

AFTER CONCEPTION….

PRENATAL PERIOD• Development of the baby during the period

before birth.

• Prenatal Develoment in three stages• Zygote—first 2 weeks of pregnancy• Embryo—3rd-8th week of development• Fetus—8th week till delivery

IMPORTANT TIMES TO KNOW

• Prenatal Period lasts 40 weeks• Is measured from the first day of the mother’s last

menstrual period

• The most development happens during the first 6 weeks! This is when the baby is most prone to birth defects

What is a Birth Defect?

• An abnormality of structure, function or body metabolism present at birth that results in physical or mental disability or is fatal.

Birth Defects FACTS

• About 150,000 babies are born each year with birth defects.

• 1 in 28 babies has a birth defect • There are over 4,000 known birth

defects• Leading cause of death in the first

year of life

What causes birth defects?

• Genetic, environmental, and unknown factors

EXAMPLES OF BIRTH DEFECTS

• Cleft Lip/Palate• Club Foot• Cystic Fibrosis • Down’s Syndrome • Fetal Alcohol Syndrome• Muscular Dystrophy• PKU• Polydactyly• Sicke Cell Anemia• Spina Bifida

MAKE A POSTER

1. Name of Birth Defect2. What is it? (signs, symptoms,characteristics etc) 3. What causes it? 4. Treatment/Prevention

• Make sure all your names are on the back

Cleft Lip/Cleft PalateCan affect anyoneAppears at birthCongenital

malformation – Multi-factorial

Two sides of lip and/or pallet not joined

Treatment - surgery

ClubfootAffects anyoneAppears at birth

Congenital malformation – Multi-factorial

Foot and ankle twisted, making it impossible to walk normally

Treatment - surgery

Cystic Fibrosis It's more common among

those of Northern or Central European descent.

Present at birth but usually diagnosed by age 2

Caused by recessive gene

Disease that causes thick, sticky mucus to build up in the lungs, digestive tract, and other areas of the body

Antibiotics, inhalers, special exercises, special diet

Life expectancy – 45 years

Down’s SyndromeBaby born with extra

chromosome Common if baby has

young or old parents

Effects – Some form of mental retardation, oval shaped eyes, thick big tongue, short neck, back of head is flat, small ears, common heart problems

Surgery, special assistance

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Muscular DystrophyAffects – anyoneAppears in childhood

and adulthoodMulti-factorial, sex –

linkedWeakening of muscles.

Inability to walk, move, wasting away and sometimes death

No treatment

PKU - PhenylketonuriaAffects anyoneRecessive disorderAbnormal digestion

of protein, mental retardation, hyperactivity

Preventable diet

.

Children inherit PKU from two parents who carry the recessive gene. Children effected Those with PKU are missing a enzyme called phenylalanine that breaks down the essential amino acid phenylalanine. PKU increases the amount of phenylalanine in the blood. This is harmful to the central nervous system

1 out of 10,000 to 15,000 babies are affected in the U.S

PKU can be prevented. Woman planning to get pregnant should be tested to see if they carry the PKU gene.

Mothers with PKU should follow a strict diet.

Polydactyly A condition in which a

person has more than five fingers per hand or five toes per foot.

You can see the extra digit before the child is born by using an ultrasound otherwise it manifests itself at birth

PolydactylyPolydactyly is

inherited…. BUT….African Americans, are more likely to inherit Polydactyly.

The extra digit often has no bone and is usually surgically removed.

Sickle Cell AnemiaAffects primarily blacksRecessive disorder,

blood disorderAbnormal blood cells,

bout of pain, heart and kidney failure, less oxygen to all parts of the body. Death in childhood. Damage to adult vital organs.

Blood transfusions

Most common genetic disorder

Spina Bifida

Factors that contribute to

Birth Defects:• Mom is over age of 35 • Drinks alcohol• Uses prescription drugs• Has used street drugs• Drinks high amounts of caffeine• Has had exposure to chemicals• Constant exposure to cats• Has had x-rays during pregnancy

More Factors: • Mother is Overweight or

Underweight • Last birth was less than

12 month ago• Has had a baby that weighed

less than 3 ½ pounds• Has had 3 or more miscarriages• Has had more than 5

pregnancies• Has had a still born baby

• Pre-pregnancy check-ups and regular prenatal visits

• Pregnant women should take 400mg Folic Acid

• Avoid alcohol, drugs, smoking, • Avoid prescription or over-the-counter

medication without checking with a health care provider.

• Consider not having kids after 35• Don’t have kids too close together

Prevention of Birth Defects

Can birth defects be diagnosed before

birth?• Some prenatal tests that can be

taken are:–Ultrasound–Amniocentesis –Chronic villus sampling

PRENATAL TESTSULTRASOUND

Sound waves are used to make a video image of fetus

AMNIOCENTESIS

Amniotic fluid is withdrawn do that DNA in amniotic fluid can be tested

CHORIONIC VILLUS SAMPLING

• Samples of tissues surrounding fetus are tested

Can birth defects be treated before

birth?• Advances in prenatal therapy

now make it possible to treat some birth defects before birth.

• Prenatal surgery – urinary-tract blockages, rare tumors in the lungs, spina bifida, ph disease,