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Many types of drugs, medications, and even nutritional supplements can affect fetal development or cause complications. For over-the-counter and prescription medications, healthcare professionals can help weigh the potential risks and benefits of taking medication while pregnant and if it is needed.
Environmental toxicants and fetal development is the impact of different toxic substances from the environment on the development of the fetus. This article deals with potential adverse effects of environmental toxicants on the prenatal development of both the embryo or fetus, as well as pregnancy complications .
Cocaine can also show up in breast milk and affect the nursing baby. [27] [28] The severity of effects depends on how much of the drug is used, how often, and the stage in the development of the fetus. [29] Cocaine prevents the reuptake of the neurotransmitters dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. [19]
Opioids can cross both the placental and blood-brain barriers, which poses risks to fetuses and newborns exposed to these drugs before birth. This exposure to opioids during pregnancy can lead to potential obstetric complications, including spontaneous abortion, abruption of the placenta, pre-eclampsia, prelabor rupture of membranes, and fetal death.
Developmental disorders can include a wide range of physical abnormalities, such as bone or organ deformities, or behavioral and learning problems, such as an intellectual disability. Exposures to some chemicals during pregnancy can lead to the development of cancer later in life, called transgenerational carcinogens.
Fetal hydantoin syndrome, also called fetal dilantin syndrome, is a group of defects caused to the developing fetus by exposure to teratogenic effects of phenytoin. Dilantin is the brand name of the drug phenytoin sodium in the United States, commonly used in the treatment of epilepsy .
Drug testing was conducted on the surviving children as well. According to the complaint, a 3-year-old child tested positive for fentanyl, norfentanyl and benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine.
Crystal Methamphetamine is an example of a recreational drug that can have serious negative consequences on fetal memory development if used during pregnancy. Similarly to nutritional intake, drugs consumed by the mother during pregnancy can affect the brain development of her fetus.