ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the possible effects of drugs and medications on both the mother and the developing fetus, and identifies the possible effects of maternal diseases on the developing fetus. It describes the most common genetic factors known to affect prenatal growth and development. The chapter explains both the ACOG and the US Department of Health and Human Services guidelines concerning exercise during pregnancy and the postpartum period. The factors influencing prenatal life are believed to result from genetic or environmental influences, and they have either positive or negative effect. An environmental agent that causes harm to the embryo or fetus is known as a teratogen. Prenatal development of the human organism can be described in three major phases: the germinal period, the embryonic period, and the fetal period. Although medical technology is constantly creating new diagnostic tools, the five most current prenatal diagnostic tools are ultrasound, amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling, the alpha-fetoprotein test, and triple marker screening blood test.
