ALCOHOL AND ANTICONVULSANT MEDICATION USE DURING PREGNANCY - EFFECTS ON THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF INFANTS AND CHILDREN

It is well known that factors in the pregnant woman's environment can adversely affect the fetus. Organ and limb malformations, poor growth, and brain injury manifesting in developmental delay and learning disa bilities are some of the problems that have been attributed to prenata l exposures to teratogenic agents. This article describes two intensiv ely studied prenatal teratogen exposures in the pregnant woman-anticon vulsant medications and alcohol. In the fetus, both exposures can prod uce poor growth and miscarriages; in the newborn, poor growth, small h ead size, and major and minor malformations are seen. Infants and youn g children with histories of such intrauterine exposure may be mentall y retarded and have significant social and behavioral problems. Many o f the anatomic and behavioral problems observed in children who were e xposed to alcohol and anticonvulsant medications have been replicated in prenatally exposed laboratory animals. Parents and professionals ca n benefit from awareness of disability related to fetal exposure; trai ning in this area can both improve early identification of affected ch ildren and aid in prevention of exposure-related impairments. Parents and professionals should also be cognizant of these problems for their own reproductive health.