Final answer:
Infections during pregnancy and alcohol consumption can both harm the mother and the baby. Rubella virus can cause severe consequences, including fetal death and birth defects. Alcohol consumption can lead to abnormalities in growth and development.
Step-by-step explanation:
There are several conditions that can make a pregnant woman unwell and harm the baby. One such condition is infection during pregnancy. Infections can lead to serious illness or death in newborns. For example, rubella (German measles) is a relatively mild disease in adults, but if an infected mother passes the virus to her embryo, it can cause fetal death or various birth defects.
Another condition that can harm both the mother and the baby is alcohol consumption. When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, it crosses the placenta and enters the baby's blood, causing abnormalities in growth and development. This can result in cognitive deficits, developmental delays, behavioral issues, and distinctive facial features in children born with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
In addition to infections and alcohol consumption, exposure to harmful substances such as illegal drugs and some medicines can also harm the baby. It is especially crucial to avoid these substances during the first eight weeks of pregnancy when major organs are forming. Exposure to harmful substances during this time can damage the developing body systems of the baby.