The effect that malnutrition have on the fetus during critical development in pregnancy is that the impairment of the development of an organ is irreversible. Maternal malnutrition can adversely affect the division and replication of cells in the embryo at this stage, impairing its development. The effects of malnutrition during critical periods of pregnancy are seen in defects of the nervous system of the embryo, poor dental health among other effects.
