Harriet and Al decided to have children soon after they were married. But, as it happened, it was nearly four years later that Harriet missed a menstrual period and thus allowed her hopes to rise. When she went to her obstetrician a couple of weeks later, tests confirmed that she was pregnant. But not long after that, Harriet's baby "spontaneously" aborted. (a) Discuss possible natural causes for
the spontaneous abortion. (b) List possible teratogenic causes. (c) By analogy to "postpartum depression," what emotional effects would you expect Harriet to experience?
What will be an ideal response?
(a) Natural causes include abnormal implantation of the embryo, burrowing of the embryo into a site incapable of sustaining it, malformation or immature development of the embryo, and genetic abnormality of the embryo. (b) Many teratogens have the potential to cause damage that trigger spontaneous abortion. The more likely ones are chicken pox, cytomegalovirus, hypertension, influenza, mumps, smallpox, hallucinogens, tobacco, and radiation. (c) Given the degree of enthusiasm over the pregnancy, Harriet might well mirror the effects of postpartum depression, especially if she comes to believe that she somehow caused the abortion. Her symptoms could include depression, irritability, and generalized hopelessness and despair.
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