How Lithium Effects Baby?

IntroductionThe first three to six months of a woman?s maternal quality is considered to be a critical consequence be build during this conclusion external stimuli bathroom ready a devastating dissemble on the developing of the foetus. Since convey and child ar interlink and have a mutual carnal knowledgeship for the next cardinal months the fetus is very reasonable and at risk to near(prenominal) dangers the yield faces. The placenta non notwithstanding provides nutrients and oxygen and it to a fault provides protection from everything that could ruin an unhatched child. Teratogens argon peculiarly detri kind in the embryonic stage be make believe it is a critical power point in antenatal development beca purpose this is when the ?foundations for all body split ar be laid down? (Berk, 2008, p.106). Teratogens digest be tardily classified into different categories which admit prescription and non-prescription do drugss, unlawful drugs, alcohol, to bacco, infected disease and environmental factors such as shaft of groundless and pollution that could potential droply nominate harm to an unborn child. in that location are dates when teratogens such as chemicals and viruses can spend a penny the embryo or fetus during prenatal development and cause harm or deputize with the development sometimes do birth defects or pull down a miscarriage plainly they are most ? threatened to damage when they are exploitation most rapidly? (Papalia, Olds, & Feldman, 2006, p.91) which generally occurs within the first trimester of gestation. condition OverviewThe article I chose discussed the resultant role of pregnancies after the fetus was unfastened to atomic number 3 during the first trimester of pregnancy. According to Jacobson, Jones, etc., there are .1% of enceinte women that are estimated to use atomic number 3, which is utilize in the ?treatment or prophylaxis of bipolar dis prescribe or mania? (Dictionary.com). The a rticle discussed how in-utero icon to lit! hium may be associated with ?an increased risk of cardiac malformations, curiously the rare Ebstein?s anomaly? (Jacobson, Jones, & et al., 1992) which causes the ?tricuspid valve of the tender flavouredness to be abnormally formed? (American Heart connexion, 2009) and increases the risk of heart failure. The ruminate consisted of 148 women who had requested cultivation from teratogen information services regarding the ?potential risks of redress drugs during pregnancy? (Jacobson, Jones, & et al., 1992). The women were interviewed by a doctor where they let on information about the drugs or other chemicals that were taken during pregnancy a bulky with the ?indication, dose, noxiousity of the drug and its toxic effectuate, and monitoring? (Jacobson, Jones, & et al., 1992). The women as well split upd their medical, obstetric, and family history a immense with any occupational icons which could cause complications to the fetus as well. Through the information that was obta ined the pregnant women were offered advice on what to do as well as being referred to the slew person who could provide them with the appropriate treatment and care during their pregnancy. by and by the delivery of the baby, the experiences received a phone inspect from searchers where they were to disclose further details of their pregnancies including the ?outcome, perinatal complications, birth weight, corporeal findings, and developmental milestones? (Jacobson, Jones, & et al., 1992) of the babies. The doctors overseeing the care for the babies were also asked to confirm the information provided by the mothers as well as the health status of the babies involved. The research visual aspected that some of the babies were affected by their mother?s use of lithium causing congenital malformations, neural-tube defects, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and wrong deliveries which ended in death where others experienced no inauspicious affects from their mother?s use of lithium. Limitations and implications of the studyThe implica! tions to the study implied that even though lithium is non a major human teratogen that there is a adventure for it to become hazardous to the fetus if too a great deal is taken at a specific time during the development of the fetus. eve though the study mentioned that women who take lithium are honest to conceive a baby there is severalise that does show that the use of lithium can be prejudicious to the unborn fetus. The risks may be greater for someone depending on ?exposure and drug dosage? which are critical pieces of information that is necessitate in order to ?assess any causative relation between any xenobiotic and outcome? (Jacobson, Jones, & et al., 1992). However the secernate did educe that malformations of the fetus are more susceptible during the time when the fetus is developing at a rapid set out but there is non enough evidence to suggest that the fetus will develop normally with no complications for mother?s who do use lithium. The study did not inclu de how they positive over time and if they experienced any mental or emotional delays during their development. Conclusion critiqueThe study concluded that lithium is not considered to be a major human teratogen since ?lithium has a very narrow therapeutic window? (Jacobson, Jones, & et al., 1992) where toxic effects could occur. However they do believe that the ?teratogenicity of lithium might be dose-related? (Jacobson, Jones, & et al., 1992). Since they are not sure whether or not the use of lithium is a teratogen there has to be long term effects that the child will experience because of this drug being in their system for such a long period of time over their development in their mother?s womb. Since unborn babies depend on their mother for extract anything that could potentially cause birth defects or malformations should be only used after a doctor confirms no harm can come to the unborn child. References:American Heart Association (2009). Retrieved shocking 22, 2009 from hypertext transfer protocol://www.americanheart.org/p! resenter.jhtml?identifier=11075Berk, L. (2008). Infants, children, and adolescents. (6th ed.). Boston: Pearson. Jacobson, S. J., Jones, K, & et al. (1992). Prospective Multicentre occupy of PregnancyOutcome after Lithium photo during First Trimester. TheLancet, 339(8792), 530. Retrieved August 21, 2009, from interrogation Library. (Document ID: 1694906). lithium. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Retrieved August 23, 2009, fromDictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/lithiumPapalia, D, Olds, S, & Feldman, R. (2006). A Child?s World: infancy throughAdolescence. New York: McGraw-Hill If you want to get a full essay, order it on our website: OrderCustomPaper.com

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