The Affect of Teratogens on Fetal and Child Development

For a woman giving birth to a healthy baby after nine months of pregnancy is nothing short of a miracle. Many harmful substances are filtered out by the placenta, however some may still pass through to the fetus. From harmful environmental chemicals to maternal diseases, there are many factors that can negatively affect the development of the fetus. These factors are referred to as teratogens. Teratogens are any chemical, substance, or exposure that could possibly cause birth defects in a developing fetus (Greater Baltimore Medical Center, p. 1). Exposure to teratogens seems to result in malformations especially when it occurs during the fourth and tenth week of pregnancy (The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library, p. 17). Four teratogens that affect fetal and child development are toxoplasmosis, varicella, isotretinoin, and cocaine.