I REALLY do believe that adequate human resources are essential for national development.  It is therefore appropriate to call for increased procreation within socio-economic and family planning norms. This is so, especially in the case of developing countries like Guyana.

So, in such a quest, it is important for would-be mothers to understand the clinical implications both for herself and her unborn child. The pregnant state entails changes in the cardiovascular (heart and blood vessels), respiratory, urinary, haematologicic (blood) and gastrointestinal systems which may be influenced by dental treatment.
Pregnancy is merely an altered physiologic state, and during the first trimester (three months), all drugs should be avoided, unless the circumstance is exigent, since at this time the foetal organs are forming. Distortion of this phase of development could produce a monstrosity.
The presence of vomitus (vomit) in the mouth during “morning sickness”, or hyperemesis gravidarum, causes decalcification of the mineralised structure of the teeth from increased gastric acid production. This leads to caries. But the solution to this is quite simple. Mix one teaspoon of baking soda (I find the Arm and Hammer brand to be excellent) in a glass of water and rinse the mouth thoroughly with this solution after each bout of vomiting. No damage to the enamel will occur from the acid in the vomitus.
When a woman who is seven months pregnant sits in a dental chair, the reclined position forces the heavy uterus against the inferior vena cava (largest vein in the body), compressing it and decreasing the venous return.
The woman could then present signs of shock (low blood pressure, rapid heart beat, fainting etc). It is advisable for the dentist to detach one arm of the dental chair, and have the woman lay on her right side as much as she can.
If maternal oxygen reserves are significantly decreased, that would put the pregnant patient and foetus at risk for hypoxia. In other words, the foetus can suffocate in the absence of air, even for a short period. In addition, there is risk of thrombo-embolism (blood clots forming in the legs as a result of a decrease in velocity of the venous flow, among other factors).
The objectives of treatment planning, with respect to the foetus, are avoidance of foetal hypoxia (lack of oxygen) or premature labour and/or abortion, and teratogens (drugs that can produce deformed babies). General anaesthetics were also found to be associated with foetal death.
The drug thalodimide is best known to produce human “monsters”. Penicillin is safe, but ampicillim has been linked to diarrhoea and trush in breast-fed infants via the mother. Tetracycline produces yellow to brown discolouration of the teeth and bones, while Chlorophenicol is best avoided during late pregnancy and lactation (milk production), as this may kill the foetus.
Aspirin is reported to have caused cleft lip and palate, growth retardation and foetal death due to prostagnandin syntase (enzyme) inhibition, while Indocid has been related to non-growth of the penis and brain haemorrhage of the foetus.
There is no documented cases of ill effects of local anaesthetics used in normal amounts for extractions, etc.
No law would permit experimental procedures in humans using drugs. Many of the findings published are therefore gleaned from the work of researchers, authors and scientists.