t far into the pregnancy, making the decision whether or not to abort even more difficult. The article also notes the high false-positive rates of some of these tests, however, increasing the difficulty of the parents' decision. The article notes the ethical considerations involved in these decisions, as well as the medical advances expected in the near future (Springen, 1999, pp. 14-15).
Shaped by Life in the Womb: This article discusses the advances in scientific research about children's lives in the womb. In particular, scientists have found that the health of our liver, heart, kidneys and brains during our lives is determined largely by our lives in the womb (Begley, 1999, p. 16). In particular, low birth weight has been linked to cardiovascular disease in middle-aged patients and women with high birth weights (nine pounds or more) are at an increased risk for breast cancer (Begley, 1999, p. 20). Other diseases linked to programming in the womb (fetal programming) are obesity, diabetes, and high cholesterol. Still, the article does note that our health during our lives is still affected by our life choices after we are born.
The Mystery of Fetal Life: This article addresses the many questions expecting parents have regarding the effect of the pregnant woman's actions and environment on the child in her womb. The article notes both the importance of genetics and fetal programming on the development of the fetus and the child's life once born (Pekkanen, 2001, pp. 23-24). The article also discusses other factors that can affect a developing fetus, such as the pregnant woman's alcohol intake, use of various prescription drugs and caffeine, and the effect of the mother's getting an infection (Pekkanen, 2001, pp. 24-26). Environmental factors addressed in the article include the mother's stress levels and exposure to air-, food-, or water-borne chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in pesticides and mercury in fish (Pe...