Lifespan Development Controversies: Alcohol Use During Pregnancy and Immunization Debate

Part 1: Alcohol Consumption During Pregnancy

Claudia, a 43-year-old first-time pregnant woman, is unsure if her nightly intake of two glasses of wine is harmful to her baby. Although she thinks that moderate use of alcohol might help decrease her stress and keep her blood pressure at normal levels, the medical community strongly advises against the use of alcohol during pregnancy because it can be harmful to fetal development: Lifespan Development Controversies: Alcohol Use During Pregnancy and Immunization Debate.

Alcohol and Fetal Development Risks

Alcohol can cross the placenta and directly affect the developing fetus, leading to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs). These disorders lead to lifelong physical, behavioral, and cognitive disabilities, including learning disabilities and developmental delays. Research has not established a safe amount of alcohol in pregnancy, and even moderate drinking increases the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth (Popova et al., 2021). The first trimester, which is the period of organ formation, is the most critical period and, hence, the worst time to consume alcohol.

Considerations: Claudia’s Age and First-time Pregnancy

At 43, Claudia’s age is already at risk for advanced maternal complications such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and chromosomal abnormalities. Alcohol could very well heighten those risks, putting her health and the development of the baby in danger. Moreover, in her first time experiencing motherhood, Claudia may need to be guided in better choices than alcohol to help her cope with tension and anxiety (Lally & Valentine-French, 2019).

Stress Management Recommendations

If Claudia uses wine to reduce stress, then learning safer alternatives is in order. Activities like prenatal yoga, mindfulness meditation, and walking have proven to bring relief without the dangerous side effects. Support from her healthcare provider, seeking personalized guidance, would help empower Claudia to do what is best for her baby.

In the final analysis, the risks associated with alcohol consumption during pregnancy far outweigh any perceived benefits. Although her family’s warnings may feel overly restrictive, they do fall within the realm of medical guidelines. Empathetic, evidence-based discussions can help Claudia discontinue alcohol use and adopt healthier habits for a safer pregnancy (Gomez et al., 2022).

Part 2: Immunization Controversy

Vaccination remains one of the most effective public health interventions, yet hesitancy persists due to misinformation, cultural beliefs, and mistrust in healthcare systems. Addressing these concerns requires a combination of education, empathy, and respect for caregivers’ autonomy.

Reasons for Immunization Hesitancy

Some of the outcomes reported for dental and general care are that caregivers neglect vaccinations due to their side effects. Another shared misconception that has been given up deals with vaccines and their association with autism. It is frequently shared on social media and nonacademic or nonprofessional sites and regularly appears in searches for these exercises (Cooper et al., 2021).

Lastly, such beliefs as religion could make people avoid vaccination preferring natural skin instead. Inequality in care and health, especially from a history of colonialism, and perceived or real lack of integrity with drug manufacturers add to justified doubts.

The Role of Education

Healthcare providers must present evidence-based information about vaccines’ benefits. Providing information about disease prevention and the careful measures taken during the development of a vaccine relieves caregivers of doubt. Health-care providers should dispel these beliefs outright, where clients are assured that minor side effects are part and parcel of it and are indeed much milder than the diseases that the vaccines protect the individuals from.

On the same note, one should make sure to encourage the caregivers to use reliable sources such as the CDC or WHO to help reinforce the information with the right data set. Knowledge of herd immunity by caregivers is also very crucial. It may persuade caretakers of the importance of vaccinations for all if it is pointed out that they assist groups that have been significantly impacted, such as the elderly and newborns.

Balancing Respect and Advocacy

Respecting caregivers’ autonomy while advocating for children’s health is crucial. Providing a nurturing culture fosters discussion where caregivers can freely raise an alarm without fear of being dismissed or ridiculed. Where patients have chosen not to take vaccines, healthcare staff should also write this down but should keep encouraging them regarding this matter in subsequent appointments. Of the two, empathy enables clients to feel free to express their feelings and have the correct information to make necessary decisions.

In conclusion, immunization hesitancy is rooted in fears, beliefs, and mistrust. By education, they can enlighten the caregivers with the factual information they need to have while at the same time building a relationship of trust. This approach is suitable for improving children’s and communities’ health standards.

References

Cooper, S., Schmidt, B.-M., Sambala, E. Z., Swartz, A., Colvin, C. J., Leon, N., & Wiysonge, C. S. (2021). Factors that influence parents’ and informal caregivers’ views and practices regarding routine childhood vaccination: a qualitative evidence synthesis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2021(10). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8550333/

Gomez, K. U., Goodwin, L., Chisholm, A., & Rose, A. K. (2022). Alcohol use during pregnancy and motherhood: Attitudes and experiences of pregnant women, mothers, and healthcare professionals. PLoS ONE, 17(12), e0275609. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0275609

Lally, M., & Valentine-French, S. (2019). Lifespan development: A psychological perspective (2nd ed.). Open Textbook Library. https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/lifespan-development-a-psychological-perspective

Popova, S., Dozet, D., Shield, K., Rehm, J., & Burd, L. (2021). Alcohol’s impact on the fetus. Nutrients, 13(10). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13103452

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Week 2 Assignment 

Required Resources
Read/review the following resources for this activity:

• Lally, M., & Valentine-French, S. (2019). Lifespan development: A psychological perspectiveLinks to an external site. (2nd ed.). Open Textbook Library. https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/lifespan-development-a-psychological-perspective
  • Chapter 1: Introduction to Lifespan Development
  • Chapter 2: Heredity, Prenatal Development, and Birth
  • Chapter 3: Infancy and Toddlerhood
  • Chapter 8: Middle Adulthood
• Cummings-Clay, D. (n.d.).  Child DevelopmentLinks to an external site. Pressbooks. https://library.achievingthedream.org/hostoschilddevelopmenteducation/
  • 26. Cognitive Development: The Theory of Jean Piaget
  • 65. Learning Approaches
  • 91. Psychosocial Development
• edapt concepts
• Minimum of 2 scholarly sources (in addition to the course text and/or edapt). Remember to use the Chamberlain LibraryLinks to an external site. to research scholarly resources
  

  Lifespan Development Controversies: Alcohol Use During Pregnancy and Immunization Debate

Instructions
For this assignment, you will compare/contrast two controversial topics in lifespan development.

For the first one, your patient is a 43-year-old female. She is 4 months pregnant for the first time, and she never expected to get pregnant as she believed herself to be infertile. She has enjoyed 2 glasses of wine each night her entire first trimester because she read a few articles by some renowned international obstetricians who suggested that having a glass of red wine during pregnancy is healthy to maintain normal blood pressure and reduce anxiety levels.

Your patient, Claudia, wants to know if it’s important for her to stop drinking her red wine each night, or if the warnings given by her family are just “super strict and overly protective.” Claudia needs facts to change her mind about this topic.

As her nurse/healthcare investigator, can you explain to her what the risks are for her to continue drinking 2 glasses of wine every night while she is pregnant? Do you think that you should also address other factors like her age, first-time pregnancy, etc.? Use your nurse/healthcare investigator skills and present the facts to her.

Next, you will explore the immunization controversy in the medical profession. Be certain that your answers are cogent, well-formed, and supported by outside research rather than based on personal opinion.

Write about the immunization controversy in the medical profession. Be sure to address why people delay immunizations and why some refuse all immunizations for their children.

As a medical professional, how might you educate these caregivers about their child’s health and development concerning this issue? What is your role in this process/situation? How can you best respect the caregiver’s wishes and provide the best healthcare in this situation?