1. Alcohol

• mental deficiency, stillbirth (babies born to chronic alcoholics may have fetal alcohol syndrome or withdrawal)

2. Aspirin

• large amounts may be fatal

3. Cortisone

• possible relation to cleft palate

4. Caffeine

• increased incidence of miscarriage, limb and skeletal malformations

5. Dilantin (used to control seizures)

• mental deficiency, abnormalities of the face and hands

6. Heroin, Cocaine, Morphine

• irritability, shrill cry, vomiting, withdrawal symptoms, can be fatal

7. Lead

• spontaneous abortion, anemia, fatal

8. Tetracycline (antibiotic primarily used to treat acne & rosacea)

• stains teeth, inhibits bone growth

9. Thalidomide

• hearing loss, cardiac anomalies, fatal

10. Tobacco

• intrauterine growth retardation (poor growth of fetus or in the lower 10% for developmental age)

11. Methylmercury (obtained by eating certain fish, most often)

• congenital abnormalities, growth retardation, can cause abortions

12. Radiation Therapy

• growth retardation, chromosomal damages, mental deficiency, stillbirth

Other Common Factors

1. Mother’s Stress

• premature labor

2. Poor Nutrition

• prematurity, anemia, undersized growth, lower levels of intellectual performance