The case of thalidomide brought the subject of birth abnormalities into the public sphere. The drug thalidomide was developed in Germany as a sleeping pill and was widely distributed throughout Europe, Australia, and Canada. Physicians prescribed thalidomide to pregnant women for a variety of symptoms, including morning sickness and anxiety.  Many of these women gave birth to children with serious, rare birth abnormalities, including shortened limbs and mental retardation. It was many years before thalidomide was accepted as the cause of these abnormal births. The controversy brought immense shock and guilt to the mothers, who felt responsible for their child’s features. It also raised awareness for testing new drugs for their affect on the fetus.51