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Abstract:
Having a healthy pregnancy is more than proper nutrition, getting prenatal care and exercising appropriately. It is important to keep the environment (where one lives, works, or plays) safe from harmful elements such as chemicals, metals and drugs. The purpose of this article is to inform childbirth educators about environmental exposures that occur in everyday surroundings. Child birth programs have a responsibility to meet the needs of their families and promote a successful outcome. Therefore, it is imperative for educators to be informed and able to disseminate information to childbearing families in order to promote holistic care. Educators should understand fetal susceptibility to specific environmental toxins and offer advice for minimizing exposure.
Keywords: environmental exposure, health education, hazards, childbirth educator
Common chemicals such as tobacco, lead, mercury and plastics can be harmful, especially during the developing stages. Yet, many harmful elements can be found in the home, workplace, school and on playgrounds. It is important to reduce harmful risks for any age group, however, this is especially crucial during fetal development because of the susceptibility to toxins that disrupt the growth process. This article will briefly discuss stages of fetal development, identify common environmental hazards, discuss the impact of teratogenic insults, and offer methods for reducing hazardous exposures.
Fetal Growth and Development
Fetal development occurs during a short period consisting of two phases; embryonic (which occurs during the first nine weeks of pregnancy) and fetal (from week io to birth). According to Kumar, Abbas, and Aster (2013), the first three to nine weeks after conception are crucial, with weeks four to five being most sensitive to teratogenesis.
Impact of Teratogens
The impact of teratogens can be far-reaching. From harmful environmental chemicals to occupational exposure, many factors can adversely affect the development of a fetus. Elements or exposures that possibly cause birth defects are referred to as teratogens. The risk of defects increases when exposures occur during the 4th to 10th week after the last menstrual period, when organs are forming (Merck Manuals Online Medical Library, 2013).
Teratogen effects range from mild to severe, including prematurity, heart defects, missing organs, and brain damage. In order to diminish and potentially avoid such vulnerability, it is vital to understand risk factors that predispose to abnormal fetal...