As you learned, thalidomide is a teratogen meaning that causes birth defects when taken by pregnancy women. Another teratogenic compound is alcohol, which is known to cause birth defects in developing child's nervous system and contributes to the development of fectal alcohol in terms of environmental factors that play a role in organism also development? What does the presence of teratogen mean for pregnancy women who wish to have a healthy pregnancy for both themselves and their future children?

Presence of a teratogen in the body of mother during pregnancy is responsible for mal growth of child or incomplete growth which may lead to abortion, still birth or even a defective child.

Explanation:

A teratogen is a substance that is known to cause defects in growth of child during the intrauterine growth period. Thalidomide was used as a morning sickness drug which relieved the vomiting nature of the would be mother. But the presence of thalidomide was responsible for less growth of limbs of the child. Alcohol in intrauterine life may cause Fetal Alcoholic Syndrome which damages the fetus' sense organs and neural cord.

The presence of a teratogen during the 1st trimester is more serious than in last trimester because the main formation of different organs and systems take place in the 1st trimester and maturity takes place in third trimester.