Prenatal Influences Affect on Person’s Later Life, Essay Example

This paper is based on an article Journal titled “Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Fetal Programming: Effects on Neuroendocrine and Immune Function” which is authored by Xingqi Zhang among others and published by Experimental Biology and Medicine Journal in 2005.

According to Zhang, Et al (2005) when the pregnant mother takes alcohol the developing baby also takes it and it has negative effects in their development and growth. Heavy use of alcohol affects the developing baby as the blood which flows from the mother to the child contains alcohol. Therefore, high levels of alcohol would lead to damage and affects the baby’s cells growth especially the spinal cord and brain cells which are more likely to be damaged.

Webmd, (2009) elaborates the range of alcohol effects on the unborn as “Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder” (FASD) whose effects are evident in the development of the child to adulthood. The alcohol effects would lead to; child with odd facial features such as narrow eye opening which will eventually affect their visibility, flat face and a small head hence not enabling the brain to develop normally.

The children would also experience growth problems and might end up being much smaller than the other children of the same age. Such poor growth would result them being less energetic, susceptible to ailments and have improper brain development which is essential for their skills and knowledge development. Hence, these would influence on their behavior and learning.

In severe effects, alcohol would lead to births defects on body parts such as the heart, urinary tract, ears, eyes or even bones which would have a long term effects even in their adulthood. It is therefore advisable not to take alcohol when pregnant and if it’s a must the mother should take it moderately.

References

Webmd, (2009). Alcohol Effects on a Fetus. Retrieved on January 28, 2010 from http://www.webmd.com/baby/tc/alcohol-effects-on-a-fetus-topic-overview

Zhang, X., Sliwowska, J & Weinberg, J. (2005). Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Fetal Programming: Effects on Neuroendocrine and Immune Function. Experimental Biology and Medicine Journal.  230, pp. 376-388. Retrieved on January 28, 2010 from http://www.ebmonline.org/cgi/content/full/230/6/376