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Transfer of drug across the placenta to the fetus
It is true that most drugs are transferred across the placenta to the fetus. The main issues are the rate of transfer, which differs from drug to drug, and the effect the drug is likely to have on the fetus. These will be discussed in due course.
Birth defects blamed on medicine taken during pregnancy
The figure is not known for sure. However, in the Western world,, where approximate figures are available, it is estimated that about one in forty (2.5 per cent) of babies born with defects end up that way because of medicines takes by the mother during pregnancy. This figure is clearly historical as awareness of this problem is much better now and therefore such errors increasingly rarer.
This is about 1 in 1500 of all newborns, since babies with birth defects account
for 2-
This cannot be eliminate entirely because there are a lot of women who take potentially harmful medication before they are aware of their pregnancy. This also happen to be the most sensitive phase of the pregnancy.
Types of birth defects and seriousness differ from drug to drug.
The most sensitive pregnancy phase for drug taking
The embryonic phase of pregnancy, which stretches up to the eighth week, is particularly sensitive to any foreign chemicals. This is the time when organs are being formed. Any damage occurring at this stage is irreversible.
A word of caution: Not all types of medication will cause damage to the fetus, even
if taken in this sensitive period. Moreover, some medications taken outside this
period could still inflict harm
.