Important Influences on Brain Development before Birth
1. Nutrition
• Good nutrition is important for a developing fetus since brain growth is influenced by the quality of a pregnant woman’s diet
• Adequate levels of folic acid (to prevent birth defects), iron (for healthy blood), calcium (for strong bones & teeth), and protein (for cell development) are critical
2. Avoid alcohol & cigarettes
• Alcohol and cigarettes impair the formation and wiring of brain cells
• Consumption of alcohol leads to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, and causes birth defects; there is no ‘safe’ amount of alcohol to consume when pregnant!
• Use of cigarettes contributes to low birth weight, and impaired respiratory systems
• Whatever the mother consumes, or is exposed to, the baby is exposed to as well – alcohol, cigarette smoke (primary or secondary), or narcotics
FAS outside and inside…
• Babies born to mothers who smoked during the pregnancy are more likely to have cleft lip (A, B, C,) and/or cleft palate (D)
• They also run an increased risk of low birth weight and impaired respiratory functioning
3. Avoid chemicals & radiation
• Chemicals and radiation are potentially harmful to fetal brain development
• This is of much concern for women who work on farms where chemical sprays are used, in factories, laboratories, hospitals, dry-cleaning stores, or other sites that expose them to dangerous chemicals
4. Avoid infections
• Infections pose perhaps the greatest risk to brain formation and the wiring of the fetal brain cells
• In particular, avoid contact with:
• Rubella (causes German Measles)
• Varicella Virus (causes Chicken Pox)
• Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
• Toxoplasmosis (found in cat feces)
• Some sexually transmitted diseases like Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Genital Herpes
5. Practice strict hygiene
• Pregnant women must:
• Wash their hands frequently
• Avoid contact with sick friends/co-workers
• Not share food or drinks with others (to avoid the spread of germs and disease)
• Hand washing must be done thoroughly and properly in order to be effective!
6. Avoid stress!
• Pregnant women must learn to relax in order to prevent stressing the fetus
7. Exercise!
• Adequate levels of exercise are important to maintain overall health, and prepare muscles for child birth
8. Avoid unnecessary medications
• Ensure that any medications are taken with doctor’s approval
• If taking over-the-counter medications, ensure that you read the labels completely and if possible, consult
the pharmacist
9. Receive regular medical care
• As soon as pregnancy is suspected, begin receiving regular medical care in order to provide the best possible outcome for your pregnancy