A bundle of joy

THE birth of a healthy baby brings joy in every house. Though this depends largely on one's genes and general care, certain steps need to be taken to ensure that the baby does not have any problems.

Folic acid

A multivitamin with 400 micrograms of folic acid daily in addition to a healthy diet is a must for expectant women. Consumption of folate rich foods does not ensure 100 per cent absorption, whereas synthetic folic acid is fully absorbed. Moreover, some people may have a genetic defect that could prevent breakdown of folate from food into active folic acid. Such women are at increased risk of having children with neural tube defects. However, with the advances in medical science such women can be helped.

Taking this supplement helps prevent

* neural tube defects caused by the failure of bony structures to close over the neural structure during early development.

* Problems like cleft lip and palate.

* Certain types of anaemia, heart disease and colon cancer.

Two viral infections that can cause havoc if contracted by a pregnant woman are German measles (rubella) and Herpes simplex.

German Measles: In a child, this is a relatively mild infection and may not even be recognisable in an adult. But in a pregnant woman, it can have devastating effects on the foetus. If contracted in the early months of the pregnancy it can result in

* abortion

* poor brain development, mental retardation of the child

* congenital cataract and other eye defects,

* poor bone development,

* enlarged liver and spleen.

After birth, the baby may have also suffer from

* low birth weight,

* feeding problems

* illnesses like pneumonia or meningitis.

Women who have not been vaccinated should be immunised as soon as possible. Women should not conceive till three months after the vaccination. It is advisable to vaccinate men too, since rubella is highly contagious.

Herpex simplex: It causes painful blisters, but does not pose a serious health problem. After the primary infection, the virus lingers in the nerve cells to launch repeated attacks. Babies can be infected during delivery or even before birth. Generally primary herpes infection causes more problems in the baby than a reinfection. The risks to the baby apart from the those mentioned for German measles are skin or mouth sores and eye lesions, fits, and visual and hearing impairment. The infected mother should be treated with the drug acyclovir even during pregnancy to protect the baby.

Age and genes

The ideal age for conception for a woman is after 20. If too young, she is not fit, either physically or emotionally, to care for the baby. Problems like premature birth or birth defects are likely. These problems may also occur if a woman conceives in quick succession. Older women face other problems. Women who conceive after 35 years of age face the risk of the child being born with problems like Down's syndrome. Similarly, an older man too tends to carry genetic defects due to gene mutations. These are likely to lead to what are called single gene defects like achondroplasia (dwarfism), Marfan syndrome and other problems.

The genetic make up of the couple also determines congenital defects in the child. Both parents contribute equally to the genes of the child. Genes exist in pairs, one from each parent. The chance that the couple carry the same defective gene is very remote unless they are close relatives. Some problems that occur in the children of couples who are closely related are: albinism (lack of pigmentation); visual and hearing impairment and mental retardation.

Alcohol and cigarettes

The adverse effects of smoking and drinking alcohol on health is well known. Children, babies and the foetus suffer when the mother smokes or drinks. The growth of the foetus is adversely affected resulting in premature birth or birth defects. Even if there are no obvious developmental problems, the child may suffer a setback due to oxygen deprivation and absorption of toxic products. The problems caused by these habits are

* Low birth weight,

* slow development after birth,

* intellectual impairment,

* learning problems,

* cleft palate,

* heart problems

In general the effects depend on the genetic susceptibility, time of foetal exposure, quantity of exposure and mother's nutritional status.

DR. PREMA LAKSHMINARAYANAN

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Features
Previous : Healing the ancient way
Next     : It's time to slow down