Prenatal Factors Affecting Motor Development

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders FAS FAE Alcohol related birth defects (ARBD) Alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND)

Alcohol Leading cause of birth defects in U.S. ~ 40,000 infants/ year

FAS ARND & ARBD = occur ~ 3 times as often as FAS. Currently based on Mother Researchers studying male’s role.

Full FASD = Intellectual and physical defects FAE = less severe (ARND)

(ARND) children = ignored due to “normalcy” “If a pregnant woman drinks alcohol but her child does not have all of the symptoms of FAS, it is possible that her child has an alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND).” retrieved from CDC-2/15/05- (

Characteristics of F.A.S

FAS Facts Secondary problems for FAS & ARND- difficulties in school, alcohol & drug abuse, problems with law, etc $2.8 billion annual cost 2006 – $5.4 billion

Smoking Maternal smoking linked with SIDS SIDS: 3 to 4 times more likely to die from SIDS, when Moms smoke before and after birth

Drugs Possible effects of Cocaine – Fetal Brain damage – Hypertension – LBW – Learning Disabilities

Why are prescriptive drugs problematic to the fetus? Would over-the-counter drugs be problematic?

Chromosomal Disorders Down Syndrome – AKA ? – Most common chromosomal alteration – 47 vs 46 chromosomes – seems to be age related

Atlanto-Axial Subluxation Cardiovascular defects Motor development rates =same sequence, slower rate

Motor Development Research and Infants with Down Syndrome Delays in emergence of reflexes Delays in attaining motor milestones Ulrich Research (p. 96)

Maternal Diseases Rubella HIV Genital herpes Chlamydia

Teen Pregnancy Gallahue statistics

Prenatal Diagnostic Procedures Ultrasound Amniocentesis