Pregnancy and Substance Abuse
When you are pregnant, you are not just "eating for two." You also breathe and drink for two, so it is important to carefully consider what you give to your baby. If you smoke, use alcohol or take illegal drugs, so does your unborn baby.
First, don't smoke. Smoking while pregnant passes nicotine and cancer-causing drugs to your baby. Smoke also keeps your baby from getting nourishment and raises the risk of stillbirth or premature birth. Don't drink alcohol. There is no known safe amount of alcohol a woman can drink while pregnant. Substance abuse during pregnancy can cause life-long physical and behavioral problems in children, including fetal alcohol syndrome. Don't use illegal drugs. Using illegal drugs, that is pregnancy drug abuse may cause underweight babies, birth defects or withdrawal symptoms after birth.
If you are pregnant and you smoke, drink alcohol or do drugs, get help. Your health care provider can recommend programs to help you quit. You and your baby will be better off.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
If you are pregnant and drink alcohol, so does your baby. This can hurt your baby's growth and cause life-long physical and behavioral problems. One of the most severe effects of drinking during pregnancy is fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). FAS is a group of problems that can include
- Mental retardation
- Birth defects
- Abnormal facial features
- Growth problems
- Problems with the central nervous system
- Trouble remembering and/or learning
- Vision or hearing problems
- Behavior problems
Illicit Drug Use During Pregnancy
Nearly 3 percent of pregnant women use illicit drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, Ecstasy and other amphetamines, and heroin, according to a 2003 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These pregnancy substance abuse and other illicit drugs may pose various risks for unborn babies and pregnant women. Some of these drugs can cause a baby to be born too small or to have withdrawal symptoms, birth defects, or learning or behavioral problems. However, because most pregnant women who use illicit drugs also use alcohol and tobacco (which also pose risks to unborn babies), it often is difficult to determine which health problems are caused by a specific illicit drug.
How would I know if I am abusing prescription drugs?
- You consume larger doses than prescribed
- You use it more frequently than prescribed
- You take the medication for reasons other than what it was prescribed for
The hardest part is admitting that there is a problem. When you become pregnant your lifestyle habits will have to change for the protection of you and your baby during this special time.
When you attend your first prenatal visit, your health care provider will ask you a series of questions about your lifestyle. He/she will ask if you smoke, drink and/or are taking any prescription drugs. You should be open and honest with your health care provider.