Effects of drugs on pregnant women.In the past, little was understood about drug or alcohol abuse, and not a lot could be done to help a person with these problems. Today healthcare providers are able to give suggestions on effects of drugs on pregnant women and provide care for those who use or abuse drugs, alcohol or other substances. Don't be embarrassed to confide in your doctor about substance use. Your doctor's concern is for you and your developing baby.
We have learned much about drug and alcohol use and the effect on pregnancy in recent years. We now believe the safest approach to drug or alcohol use during pregnancy is no use at all.
It makes sense to solve these problems before pregnancy. By the time you realize you're pregnant, you may already be 8 or 10 weeks along. Your developing baby goes through some of its most important stages in the first 13 weeks of pregnancy. You might use drugs and not realize you are pregnant. Few women would take these substances if they knew they were pregnant. Stop using any substance you don't need at least 3 months before trying to conceive!
Research continues, showing that use of drugs or alcohol during pregnancy may affect a child's IQ, attention span and learning ability. To date, no safe level of these substances has been determined.
Drug use before pregnancy is serious business. Fortunately, there is help for those who use drugs. Get help before you become pregnant. Preparing for pregnancy may be a good reason for you and your partner to change your lifestyle.
Common Substances of Abuse
Tobacco
We have known for a long time that smoking affects fetal development. Mothers who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to have low-birthweight babies or babies with intrauterine-growth retardation. Ask for help to stop smoking before you become pregnant. Your caregiver should be receptive to this request. (See page 39 for tips on quitting.)
Alcohol
In the past, some believed a small amount of alcohol during pregnancy was OK. Today, we believe no amount of alcohol is safe to drink during pregnancy. Alcohol crosses the placenta and directly affects your baby. Heavy drinking during pregnancy can cause fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) or fetal alcohol exposure (FAE), discussed in Weeks 1&2.
Cocaine
Cocaine has been shown to affect the baby throughout pregnancy, not just during the first trimester. If you use cocaine during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, you run a higher risk of miscarriage. Cocaine can also cause severe deformities in a fetus. The type of defect it causes depends on the point at which cocaine is used in the pregnancy.
Infants born to mothers who use cocaine during pregnancy have been found to have long-term mental deficiencies. Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is also more common in these babies. Many babies born to women who use cocaine are stillborn.
Cocaine affects the mother, too. It is a stimulant and increases the user's heart rate and blood pressure. Women who use the drug during pregnancy have a higher rate of placental abruption, the premature separation of the placenta from the uterus.
In some parts of the United States, more than 10% of all pregnant women use cocaine at some time during their pregnancy. Stop using cocaine before you stop using birth control. Damage to the embryo (later the fetus) can occur as early as 3 days after conception!
Effects of marijuana during pregnancy
Marijuana (and hashish) is dangerous during pregnancy because it crosses the placenta and enters the baby's system. It can have long-lasting effects on babies exposed before birth. Research has shown that a mother's marijuana use during pregnancy can affect cognitive function, decision-making ability and planning ability in her child. Use can also affect a child's verbal reasoning and memory.
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