Maternal Age And Genetic Counseling

Maternal Age: Women who have their first child after the age of 35 years are likely to experience more problems during pregnancy and complications during delivery. Similarly, the incidence of two-egg twin formation, mental retardation, microcephaly (mental retardation associated with small skull and brain), Down’s syndrome (earlier known as Mongolism) low birthweight, and even cerebral palsy, is greater.

Genetic Counseling: Genetic counseling has become possible through advances in biology and genetics. Through amniocentesis, and chromosomal analysis in early pregnancy, it is possible to detect various chromosomal abnormalities (and these can be many) such as mental deficiency, blindness, Down’s syndrome and analysis. Parents then have the option to terminate the pregnancy and avoid the distress of having an abnormal child. There are many ethical issues involved and it is best that any decision after amniocentesis is taken jointly by parents and doctors. Of course, the mother should be consulted first and properly; every aspects must be presented to the mother and the family transparently, so that they can take a firm decision of their own.

The Main Effects Of Adverse Conditions

The foetus is affected by adverse conditions depending on their timing and the development stage of pregnancy. Since the various organ systems begin and end their prenatal development at different times, their sensitivity to the different factors, varies over time. The most vulnerable period for the brain is from 15 to 20 days, for the eyes from 24 to 40 days, for the heart from 20 to 40 days and for the legs from 24 to 36 days. Normally, the organism is less vulnerable before implantation and after the beginning of the foetal stage. Mishaps during the embryonic period, when the different organs are developing, could have drastic effects.

Parental conditions that can affect a child’s development are:

•           Maternal diseases and health
•           Drugs taken by the mother
•          Maternal diet
•          Maternal emotions
•          Maternal age

Since individual factors influence specific development processes they produce specific patterns of the developmental deviation. For example, German measle in the first trimester affects mainly the heart, eyes and brain. The physiological status of the mother, such as maternal nutrition, uterine conditions and hormonal balance will not only affect prenatal development but may intensify the adverse effects of the various drugs taken by the mother.