Developmental Psychology Dr van Widenfelt PSYC 307 100 September 11 2015 Extra lecture The mother and pregnancy Factors related to mother s well being pregnancy and fetus Age Diet Health Use of substances meds drugs alcohol Stress support Mother s Age More women are giving birth later in life than 2 or 3 decades ago due to societal transformations Childbirth delay has potential consequences for mothers and children s health Prematurity and low birth rate more likely Increased incidence of Down syndrome Risks exist for atypically young women Increased prematurity Higher mortality rate Mother s Diet Most knowledge of environmental factors that affect developing fetus comes from the study of mother There are ways to counteract types of maternal malnourishment that affect prenatal development Maternal ENVIRONMENT Maternal nutrition what the pregnant woman eats drinks and breathes predicts infant health often for the rest of their lives Folic acid reduced CNS abnormalities Iron reduced cognitive motor deficits better emotional functioning Malnourished mothers more risk for children to be malformed develop schizophrenia antisocial personality disorder diabetes obesity liver and kidney failure Dutch Hunger Winter of 1944 1945 infants born to mothers in famine were much more likely to become obese and diabetic adults Obese moms risk infants with neural tube defects neonatal death injury Diet quality is linked to ethnicity SES and education Maternal malnutrition associated with low SES Mother s Health Mothers who eat the right foods maintain an acceptable weight and who exercise appropriately maximize the chances of having a healthy baby A mother s diseases may affect a developing fetus depending on when the illness is contracted Mother s Prenatal Support High mortality rate for babies of adolescent mothers reflects Physiological problems related to mothers young age Adverse social and economic factors which can affect infant health Maternal ENVIRONMENT Maternal stress is a common risk factor for child health deficits As infants malformations anemia hyperactivity irritability feeding and sleeping difficulties As children psychological and behavior disorders depression anxiety asthma As adults Increased rates of schizophrenia NIH and WHO recommend that effects of maternal stress during pregnancy should be given high research priority Social support network can help Mother s Drug Use Mothers use of many kinds of drugs poses serious risks to unborn child Even prescription drugs have sometimes had disastrous consequences Illicit drugs may pose equally great and sometimes even greater risks for environments of prenatal children Mother s Drug Use Fetal Alcohol Syndrome FAS Cognitive disorder caused by the pregnant mother consuming substantial quantities of alcohol during pregnancy potentially resulting in mental retardation and delayed growth in the child Fetal alcohol syndrome physical and cognitive abnormalities in children whose mother s drank alcohol during pregnancy facial misproportions heart malformations and other physical abnormalities stunted growth and behavior problems Leading cause of preventable mental retardation in U S No known safe amount of alcohol Do Fathers Affect the Prenatal Environment Fathers behavior may influence prenatal environment Smoking Use of alcohol and illegal drugs Physical or emotional abuse to pregnant wives Teratogens Teratogens A teratogen anything that can reach the developing organism and cause a birth defect cognitive and or behavioral deficits drugs incompatible blood types pollutants viruses stress etc Prenatal Environment risks Nature AND Nurture matter in utero The timing and quantity of exposure to certain environmental factors are crucial Critical periods nurture particular stages of development when certain environmental influences strongly impact development Especially during rapid prenatal development Teratogens and timing Most serious damage from teratogen exposure in first 3 8 wks TERATOGENS PRENATAL DEVELOPMENT Prescription teratogens In general legal and illegal drug use during pregnancy are associated with developmental deficits including lower IQ scores poor school performance higher risk for dependency problems later in life Prescription drugs that may affect the embryo or fetus antibiotics antidepressants hormones Accutane prescribed for acne Thalidomide for morning sickness and anxiety Sleeping pills Anti anxiety drugs Non prescription Teratogens Non prescription teratogens include Diet pills aspirin Aleve ibuprofin Advil Psychoactive Drugs Act on the nervous system to alter states of consciousness modify perceptions and change moods Nicotine marijuana caffeine alcohol X crack heroin etc In general the more mind altering the drug the worse the birth defects will be Dose response principle Common teratogens Caffeine 2 cups of coffee or 2 to 3 cans of cola per day increase risks for spontaneous abortion and low birth weight Pregnant women who consume 300 or more milligrams of caffeine a day have an increased risk of fetal death Common teratogens Nicotine Increased risk of learning disabilities stunted growth upper respiratory and ear infections cleft palate Increased risk of premature births low birth weights miscarriage respiratory problems and sudden infant death syndrome SIDS also known as crib death when mothers OR fathers smoked during the pregnancy Common teratogens Marijuana Increased irritability nervousness tremors Prenatal exposure predicts later marijuana use by the age of 14 More Teratogens Flu and viruses associated with numerous psychological disorders STD s associated with brain damage deafness blindness and a range of serious physical and neurological disabilities