Assignment 4

First and for most Laura should stop drinking and smoking. Heather should explain to Laura the effects of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome the baby can develop because of her drinking. Also, smoking can cause birth defects such as low birth weight. It probably would have been a good thing for Laura to change her lifestyle before she got pregnant, but she should really focus on being healthy now. Heather should also encourage Laura to consult a doctor about a healthy diet and prenatal vitamins. Laura should know that everything she puts in her body and does to her body directly effects the baby. That doesn't mean she cannot have fun but she should do it in a healthy way. Heather should encourage Laura to look into exercise classes for pregnant women. If the mother is healthy and nourished so will the child and the less likely the child will be born with birth defects. The amount of sensory information the child should be exposed to should be up to the discretion of the parents and doctor. Some doctors believe that sensory information does not help with cognitive development and others believe that the more the child is exposed the better. Some types of sensory information that can be helpful with cognitive development is rubbing the belly, listening to music, and reading out loud to the fetus.