Drugs or Alcohol During Pregnancy
While a drug or alcohol addiction is dangerous by itself, the danger is multiplied when you become pregnant. Your actions now affect two people—you and the baby you are carrying. To have a healthy, active child, you must avoid anything that can harm your baby. This includes alcohol, cigarettes, and any illicit drugs. To emphasize this, we have listed some of the effects of using different drugs or alcohol during pregnancy. If abused, one might need medication-assisted treatment (MAT).
Alcohol is one of the maximum risky pills for pregnant women. When you drink alcohol, your body breaks it down into a compound that can cause damage to your baby’s cells.
An alcohol addiction during pregnancy could leave your baby with several congenital disabilities, including a small skull, heart defects, abnormal facial features, low weight, and even mental retardation.
Tobacco
Smoking during pregnancy increases your chances of a miscarriage, but the biggest danger is that tobacco can impede the growth of your fetus. Nicotine is an appetite suppressant, so smoking deprives your baby of the nutrients it needs to grow and be healthy. Also, smoking hinders your lung’s ability to absorb oxygen, which can starve your baby of oxygen.
Marijuana
Like tobacco, marijuana contains toxins that prevent your baby from getting the necessary amount of oxygen. This oxygen deprivation can lead to various congenital disabilities and complications, including miscarriage, low birth weight, premature birth, behavioral problems, and learning problems.
Cocaine
Cocaine remains in your baby’s body much longer than it remains in yours. That means even after the cocaine has vacated your body, it can still be causing harm to your baby. The use of cocaine during pregnancy increases your chance of miscarriage and other complications.
Women using cocaine during pregnancy increase the likelihood of premature birth by 25%. Other problems include severe bleeding, fetal death, physical defects, and learning problems. It is also possible that the baby could suffer from withdrawal symptoms after birth.
Heroin
One of the most dangerous risks of using heroin during pregnancy is that the unborn baby can become dependent on the drug. Those that inject heroin are more prone to contracting HIV, which can then be passed on to the baby.
Other effects of using heroin during pregnancy include:
• Premature birth
• Difficulty breathing
• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
• Infant death
• Bleeding within the brain
If the baby is born addicted to heroin, they may also suffer severe withdrawal symptoms, including diarrhea, fever, convulsions, and irritability.
Methamphetamine
The dangers of the usage of methamphetamine (meth) in the course of being pregnant are much like the ones of the usage of cocaine. The use of meth limits the amount of oxygen your baby receives. Using methamphetamine during pregnancy also increases the chance of premature labor, low birth weight, and miscarriage. In addition, the baby may be born addicted to the substance and experience withdrawal symptoms.
Using drugs during your pregnancy is not worth the risk. If you or your loved one are suffering from alcoholism, drug addiction, or other substance abuse and need help, call a rehab center for customized treatment.
