Drugs
and Pregnancy
A woman's
drug use can affect both her fetus and
her newborn. Most drugs cross the placenta – the
organ that provides nourishment to the fetus. Some can cause
direct toxic (poisonous)
effects and drug dependency in the fetus. After birth, some
drugs can be passed to the baby through breast-feeding.
Drugs can cause problems throughout your pregnancy. For example, the early
part of pregnancy is the most critical for the health of a fetus. This is
when the main body systems are forming. Using drugs during this time can
cause severe damage. During the last 12 weeks of pregnancy, drug use poses
the greatest risk for stunting fetal growth and causing preterm birth.
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Alcohol
Alcohol is
found in many kinds of drinks. Beer, wine, wine coolers, and liquor
all contain alcohol. Alcohol slows down body functions, such as
the beating of the heart and breathing. If you are pregnant, alcohol
quickly reaches your fetus through your bloodstream. The same level
of alcohol that goes through your bloodstream goes through the
bloodstream of your fetus.
Women who
drink heavily while pregnant have a higher risk of miscarriage than
women who don't drink. The more a woman drinks while pregnant,
the greater the danger to the fetus. The risk is greatest early
in pregnancy. The use of alcohol may cause fetal
alcohol syndrome (FAS). This is the most common cause of
mental retardation in babies. Babies can be shorter, weigh
less, have heart and face defects, and have poor control over
body movements. Children with FAS can be hyperactive,
nervous, jittery, and have poor attention spans.
Some of the harmful effects of alcohol for the woman are:
- Vitamin
and mineral deficiency
- Damage
to the heart, brain, liver, muscles, and digestive system
- Poor
muscle control
- Depression
- Higher
risk of some cancers
Is there
a safe level of drinking for a pregnant woman? It isn't known
how much is harmful. Therefore, it is safest to not drink any
alcohol while you are pregnant. This will increase your chances
of having a healthy, normal baby.
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Smoking
When you smoke before, during,
or after birth, you risk not only your own health but that of
your baby. Each puff subjects you and the fetus to harmful
chemicals such as nicotine, tar, and carbon monoxide. If you
or your partner smoke around the baby after he or she is born,
the
baby is exposed to the harmful effects of the smoke.
Smoking
may make it harder for you to have a normal pregnancy. If you
smoke, you are more likely to have:
- An ectopic
pregnancy
- A miscarriage
- A stillbirth
- A preterm
baby
- Vaginal bleeding
- Problems
with the way the placenta attaches to the uterus
- A baby
with low birth weight (weighing less than 5-1/2 pounds at
birth)
- A baby
with sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
The sooner
you quit smoking, the better it will be for both you and your
baby. If you stop during the early months of pregnancy, your
chance of having a low-birth-weight baby will be close to that
of a woman who doesn't smoke. If you can quit while you are
pregnant, you can quit for a lifetime. Cutting down or stopping
smoking at any time while you are pregnant is better than not
stopping at all. Tell your health care provider if you need
help with quitting.
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Cocaine
Cocaine
(also known as coke, crack, or snow) is a highly addictive drug.
It can be used by injection with a needle, through the nose
(snorting), or by smoking (freebasing).
Cocaine
may cause the placenta to detach from the uterus too soon (placental
abruption). This can cause bleeding, preterm
birth, and fetal death. Women who use cocaine have a 25%
higher chance of having a preterm birth. The fetus may also
have withdrawal symptoms. Babies born to mothers who use cocaine
may:
- Grow
more slowly
- Have
smaller heads
- Have
brain injury
- Be irritable
and fussy
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Marijuana
Marijuana
(also called grass or pot) is smoked or eaten. It is a drug
that changes your moods and makes you feel disoriented. As
with cigarettes, your fetus is exposed to the marijuana smoke
you inhale. The effects of marijuana use during pregnancy are
not well known. Because marijuana is a drug, however, it is
best not to expose your fetus to it.
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Other
Drugs
The use
of heroin, PCP, LSD, amphetamines, glues and solvents during
your pregnancy is also dangerous to both you and your baby.
Even occasional use can cause birth defects and other problems
with your fetus. If you need help quitting any drug, talk with
your health care provider or check your phone book for drug
treatment and support services in your area.
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Prescription & Over-the-Counter
Drugs
If you are
pregnant or planning to become pregnant, you should discuss
the use of any prescription drugs or over-the-counter (OTC)
medications with your health care provider. Certain prescription
drugs or common over-the-counter medications can cause birth
defects. These may include drugs used to treat:
- Acne
- Cold
or flu
- Infection
- Other
common ailments
- Epilepsy
- Blood
clots
- Breast
cancer
After your
first trimester, the following OTC medicines are currently
considered safe to take:
- Sudafed
- Tylenol
- plain
Robitussin (NOT Robitussin-DM formula)
Talk to
your health care provider before taking any other OTC medications.
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Quitting
now ...
When you use drugs, so does your baby. Women
who stop alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use during
their pregnancies have healthier babies than those who
do not. Women who seek
drug treatment and prenatal care also have healthier babies.
If you stop now, you can give your baby a better chance
to be born healthy. Your health care provider is not there
to
judge you but instead can work with you to help you understand
how to quit with the least discomfort. If you have a problem
with drugs or alcohol, it's OK to ask for help.
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