Drugs, Diet and the Unborn Child

After trying for a baby successfully and enduring nine months of pregnancy, the best gift a couple can get is a healthy bouncing baby. However, up to 3-4% of newborn babies manifest with congenital abnormalities at the time of birth. A further 2% manifest later, at about the age of 5 years. These abnormalities may be inherited or due to environmental factors. We can control some of the environmental factors that affect the unborn child. This should be done right from the moment you decide to try for a baby as you may not know when you actually conceived and yet most abnormalities occur within the first 3 months, when the organs are forming!

How do environmental factors affect the unborn child?
Environmental factors are in the form of nutrition, drugs and poisons and infections. These factors are referred to as teratogens.
There are various known nutritional states, drugs and chemicals and infections that have been associated with occurrence of congenital abnormalities. Some of these are:

  1. Smoking - Fetal growth retardation, increased incidence of miscarriage and prematurity
  2. Alcohol - Fetal growth retardation, abnormalities of the face, mental retardation
  3. Anti-coagulants e.g. warfarin - abnormalities of the bone, facial abnormalities, mental retardation
  4. Anti-cancer drugs - Impaired development of some organs
  5. Tetracycline - impaired teeth and bone development
  6. Chloroquine - increased occurrence of abnormalities of hearing and vision
  7. Infections e.g. Toxoplasmosis, rubella (german measles), herpes, syphilis, Cytomegalovirus, malaria, HIV - these infections pass on to the unborn child and affect the development of the brain and other organs.
  8. Poorly controlled maternal illnesses like diabetes and hypertension may result in impaired development of the child and mental retardation
  9. Folate deficiency - Impaired development of the child's nervous system.
  10. Iron deficiency - Retarded growth of the child.

THESE EXAMPLES ARE MODEST AND THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER KNOWN CAUSES.

What can you do to avoid exposing your child to potential teratogens?

  • Visit the antenatal clinic at the earliest possible time. Then, a couple of blood tests will be done to investigate for some common infections that may be harmful to your child and to find out the level of your blood. You will be advises on the type of diet you should favour and what nutritional supplements you can take.
  • When attending the clinic, your pregnancy will be monitored and any abnormalities in progress will be discovered.
  • Do not take any drug when you are trying for a baby or during pregnancy without consulting your doctor.
  • Avoid smoking, alcohol and use of illicit drugs
  • Avoid radiological investigations like X-rays. Alert the doctor of your pregnancy should he/she make such a request.
  • Prolonged sauna and hot tub baths may expose your child to high temperatures which may be injurious to its development.
  • Eat plenty of proteins (fish, eggs, meat) vegetables and fruits
  • If you have any sexually transmitted disease (including HIV), seek treatment.
  • Plan for your delivery with your obstetrician and paediatrician.