Pregnancy Substance Abuse

• For a pregnant woman, pregnancy substance

abuse is twice as dangerous:
– drugs may harm her own health which interferes
with her ability to support the pregnancy.
– some drugs can directly impair prenatal
development
• Pregnant women who use drugs such as
heroin, cocaine, marijuana, methadone,
and/or amphetamines may give birth to drug-
addicted babies.
• Many of these babies experience withdrawal
symptoms known as neonatal abstinence
syndrome (NAS).
 Symptoms of NAS may include:
• tremors
• increased sensitivity to noise or other stimuli
• feeding problems
• poor coordination
• excessive crying and/or irritability
Illegal Drugs

• The American Pregnancy Association reports

that abuse of illicit drugs while pregnant can
result in miscarriage, premature labor, low
birth weight, placental abruption (separation
of the placenta from the lining of the uterus)
and fetal death.
The Effects of Cocaine on the Fetus may include the
following:

• growth defects
• intestinal abnormalities
• hyperactivity
• uncontrollable trembling
• learning problems
• Cocaine use during early pregnancy can cause
miscarriage. When the drug is used late in
pregnancy, it may trigger labor. It can also
cause a stroke or death to the unborn baby.
• Studies show that women who use cocaine
during pregnancy are three times more likely
to have a premature baby.
• Cocaine cuts the flow of nutrients and oxygen
to the baby. Cocaine-exposed babies tend to
have smaller heads, which may indicate a
smaller brain.
 ALCOHOL ABUSE - Fetal Alcohol Syndrome [FAS]

• Be born small.
• Have problems eating and sleeping.
• Have problems seeing and hearing.
• Have trouble following directions and learning how
to do simple things.
• Have trouble paying attention and learning in
school.
• Need special teachers and schools.
• Have trouble getting along with others and
controlling their behavior.
• Need medical care all their lives.
 Smoking
• Smoking during pregnancy is associated with low
birth weight, high rates of SIDS (sudden infant death
syndrome), behavior problems, and learning
difficulties.
Nicotine

• According to the March of Dimes, cigarettes

contain over 2,300 different chemicals that,
when used during pregnancy, can result in
pre-term delivery and low-birth weight, and
increase the chances of serious health
problems or chronic disabilities later in life.
• It is believed that smoking reduces the flow of
oxygen and nutrients to the fetus.
• There is an increased risk of miscarriages and
stillbirths in women who smoke while
pregnant.
 Most common complications associated with
substance abuse:
• miscarriage,
• fetal growth restriction,
• preterm delivery and
• birth defects