Introduction:
Substance abuse during pregnancy is a serious health concern that may cause harmful maternal and fatal consequences. So if anybody is planning to get pregnant and want a healthy baby, it is advisable to avoid drugs. Cocaine, Marijuana, and Methamphetamine are drugs that are harmful to fetal development. Smoking, alcohol, and cocaine also have a lasting effect on the fetus.
What Are the Consequences of Drug-abuse on Babies?
When the mother eats or drinks something, it enters the baby by the placental and umbilical cord connection. This means that any drug the mother takes also enters the baby's body. The fetus is susceptible to drugs and cannot remove drugs from the body as we do, leading to many health issues and sometimes death of the fetus. So mothers should be cautious about what they eat to give birth to a healthy baby.
Using drugs during pregnancy can cause:
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Premature birth.
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Miscarriage.
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Low-weight babies.
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Sudden infant death.
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Congenital disabilities.
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Drug dependency in babies.
The harmful effects that occur to the fetus depend on factors like:
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How the drug or medicine is taken.
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The types of drugs taken.
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The quantity of the dose.
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How often the drug is taken.
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The response of the baby to the drug or medication.
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The gestational age of the baby.
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Other factors such as maternal health and diet.
Even one-time use of drugs during pregnancy can affect the child's development. Using drugs during early pregnancy can affect the developing organs and limbs of the fetus. In most cases, congenital disabilities or miscarriages can happen. Using drugs in the later pregnancy period can affect the development of the baby's nervous system.
Does Drinking Alcohol During Pregnancy Affect the Baby?
Alcohol can have harmful effects on the developing baby. A fetus cannot remove alcohol from the body like an adult. The alcohol is more concentrated in a baby and can halt sufficient amounts of nutrients and oxygen from reaching their vital organs. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can result in fetal alcohol syndrome, which causes miscarriage, small for gestational age, and intellectual impairment in children as called.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) - Fetal alcohol syndrome is a congenital symptom that causes mental and physical defects in babies.
Fetal alcohol syndrome can cause many problems in babies, include:
1) Physical Defects -
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Unique facial features include small eyes, a thin upper lip, a short, smooth skin surface between the nose and upper lip, and an upturned nose.
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Small head circumference and brain size.
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Deformities of joints, limbs, and fingers.
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Slow physical growth.
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Vision or hearing problems.
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Defects in internal organs like the heart and kidney.
2) Nervous System and Brain Problems - Poor memory, intellectual difficulties, poor coordination and balance, difficulty identifying and choosing objects, rapid mood changes, poor judgment skills, and hyperactivity.
3) Behavioral Problems and Social Issues - Trouble mingling with others, poor social skills, problems with behavior control, hard to adapt to changes and switching tasks, difficulty in planning and working.
To deliver a healthy baby and save the baby from alcohol-related danger, the mother should not drink any alcohol while pregnant. The first three months of pregnancy are crucial because this is when the critical organs develop, and drinking during that period is dangerous. So, if you plan on becoming pregnant shortly, avoid drinking alcohol during a significant time in the baby's development.
What Are the Effects of Smoking on an Unborn Baby?
Pregnant women, while smoking, pass nicotine and other dangerous chemicals to the unborn through the placenta. Mothers who smoke during the early pregnancy period are more likely to give birth to babies with heart defects, including septal defects (holes in the wall between the heart's left and right chambers). Most infants with congenital heart defects cannot survive for an extended period. Infants who survive often struggle with lengthy hospital stays and numerous surgeries. Mothers who smoke are more likely to have placenta problems, which is a serious concern because the placenta provides oxygen and nourishment to the fetus.
The birth defects caused due to smoking include:
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Low-birth-weight babies.
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Premature deliveries.
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Babies with cleft palate (a congenital split in the palate).
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Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
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Congenital heart diseases.
What Are the Other Drugs That a Pregnant Woman Should Quit?
Street Drugs -
When a pregnant woman uses drugs like cocaine, crack, heroin, and methadone, there are chances of babies getting addicted to these drugs. Cocaine is one of the most harmful drugs; it can cause miscarriage, preterm birth, bleeding, and fetal strokes, leading to brain damage and death. After the delivery, babies will be affected with jitters and irritability when they undergo withdrawal. Comforting these babies is hard. Cocaine use during pregnancy may also cause an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Marijuana -
Fetal development can be affected by the use of Marijuana. Although the marijuana effect on a fetus is still unknown, studies show babies experience premature births, small birth sizes, complex or long labor, and increased newborn jitteriness. The effects of Marijuana remain in the baby's fat cells for 7 to 30 days. Marijuana is not recommended during pregnancy, and it can harm the baby at any stage.
Over-the-Counter Medicines -
Avoid over-the-counter antacids, laxatives, cold medications, pain relievers, and sleeping pills. Some drugs are safe for pregnant women, but many drugs are not. Suppose you feel any discomfort or health issues, immediately contact the health care provider. This is relatable to large doses of over-the-counter vitamin drugs, for taking large doses of extra vitamins can be harmful to you and your baby.
When to Stop Using These Drugs?
It is ideal to stop using drugs or alcohol before getting pregnant. If you are in the initial stage of pregnancy, quit immediately, which can help develop a healthy baby. Consult a doctor for help to quit drugs or alcohol. Drug treatment centers, alcoholism, drug abuse counselors, and social and family service agencies can give you support and provide you with the appropriate resources to help you stop using drugs or alcohol. Even during breastfeeding, talk to your doctor or healthcare provider before taking anything. Alcohol, illegal drugs, and certain medications can be transferred to your baby through your breast milk and cause complications.
Conclusion -
The fetus's physical growth and mental development depend upon the mother's intake. Taking drugs and alcohol during pregnancy can pave the way for a complicated pregnancy, unhealthy babies, and even the baby's death. So it is advised to quit drugs before pregnancy to deliver a healthy baby.
