Drug Effect On Fetus

Bad influence of foreign substances (including medications), the fetus in the womb, can occur through direct or indirect via interference with the function of the placenta, uterine or systemic changes as the balance of hormones and biochemical mother.

It depends on the nature of each foreign compounds and gestational age mother. Ill effects on the fetus in the womb can be fetal effects, teratogenic and toxic. Effect of lethal namely the death of the embryo in the womb. Teratogenic influences occur at sub-lethal doses of the occurrence of anatomic malformation on fetal organ growth. The effect is the occurrence of abnormal toxic or physiological or biochemical disturbances in varying degrees in the fetus without anatomic malformations.

The occurrence of adverse effects of foreign compounds, including drugs to the fetus in the womb is very dependent on gestational age or fetal growth phase itself. Contagion occurs can vary according to each phase.

Phase implantation

At the gestational age of less than 3 weeks. The ill effects that may arise adopt a pattern of "all or none", the happening or not happening at all. If the contagion arises will result in death resulting embryo abortion.

Phase embryonal / organogenesis

At gestational age between 3 -8 weeks. In this phase occurs differentiation growth for the formation of organs, so it is the most sensitive phase.

Bad influences that can arise at this stage there are several possibilities:

1.     Effect of lethal, the occurrence of fetal death and abortion.
2.     Effect of sublethal, but it did not happen fetal death occurred malformations anatomic (structural) organ growth or teratogenic effects. Teratogenic word itself comes from the Greek meaning monster.
3.     Functional or metabolic disorders which appear later in the new permanent, not directly visible or raised at the time of birth.

Phase lethal

In the second and third trimester of pregnancy at which this phase occurs further maturation and growth of the fetus. Bad effect of foreign compounds on the fetus at this stage not be more anatomic malformations. But one may still be an interruption to the growth of both physiological functions or organs biokemik. Also the influence of foreign compounds that may occur in the parent, it can also occur in the fetus in different degrees.