When having a new baby the most important thing is your baby health. For 39 weeks you as a mother constantly watch what you eat and maintaining a healthy environment. From the Germinal stage until the fetal stage your worse fear is your fetus facing any reproductive challenges. Technology today has provided so many different types of testing to detect any early signs of abnormalities. Ultrasound imaging is commonly used and don’t seem to have any ill effect on the fetus. This test allows you to observe the fetus coordination and movements. During you first trimester (between 11 &13 weeks) you normally have what physician call a combined test. This includes an ultrasound testing and a blood sample to test the HCG and PAPP-A protein. The HCG may increase while the PAPP-A decreases when a women is carrying a fetus with Down syndrome. Another screening called, Alpha-Fetoprotein Test (AFP) can be done in the second trimester (17-20 weeks). AFP can also be used to detect Down syndrome and neural tube defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly. Amniocentesis is a parental test that uses a sample of the amniotic fluid. The amniotic fluid can be used to detect more than 100 genetic disorders, including Tay-Sachs disease, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, and hemophilia. Lastly Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is a technique where fetal tissues are collected from membrane that surrounds the fetus. CVS can be used to diagnose chromosomal, metabolic, and blood-borne conditions.

Down syndrome is a genetic disorder and a condition that cannot be physically passed around like a disease. It is inherited from your parents. We normally have 23 pairs of chromosomes, each made up of genes. The cells of a person with Down syndrome only have 21 chromosomes. While the fetus with Down syndrome is developing, its body cells do not make a replica as fast. In addition this is the main reason why these babies are physically smaller at birth compared to newborn babies.

Many of us are unfamiliar with the problems that are involved with pregnancy. Some mothers even continue drinking and abusing drugs throughout their pregnancy. They are not thinking about the damage that it causes to their baby. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is the most severe type of disorder. Children who encounter FAS suffer from a small head, malformations of the heart, limbs, joints and face. The alcohol enters the bloodstream though the placenta and then the damage begins to occur. FAS is the leading cause of mental retardation.

Autism is another reproductive challenge. Autism is a brain disorder that originates in childhood and continues throughout adulthood. It affects three areas of development: verbal and nonverbal communication, social communication, and creative or imaginative play. It is also a severe disorder of communication and behavior. Autism is a developmental disability that could prevent the child from properly understanding what they see, hear and sense. The cause of autism remains unknown. Autistic children typically look normal and develop well physically.

Sometimes thing may be perfect during your prenatal period but you could still face some complications during delivery. The fetus could be lying in a usual position in the womb. The mother or the baby’s health could become endanger, or the baby’s head could be too large to pass through your cervix which could result in a caesarean section. One of the most common delivery complications is lack of oxygen to the baby which is call anoxia. Prolonged anoxia can occur also if the umbilical cord is blocked or tangled during delivery. Another complication that may occur is dealing the baby’s and mother’s blood type. The mother body could build up antibodies that attack the red blood cells of the fetus, reducing oxygen and leading to possible brain damage.
As you start to realize there are many miscellaneous things to consider when you decide to have a baby your challenges are not fished. You may encounter new challenges even after delivery. One major issue is financial challenges. Having enough money to pay the bills and put food on the table can be a constant struggle. Another struggle may be undertaking such an overload. In taking so many overloads can also lead to anxiety and depression. In conclusion, you may also suffer from emotional stress. Having your new bundle of joy can also become very stressful. To minimize your stress you should assure you have a great support team.

Child and Adolescent Development by Anita Woolfolk and Nancy E. Perry

.