Drug+Babies+-+Rachel

=How Drug Usage During Pregnancy Effects the Baby=

A 2005 national survey published that approximately 4% of pregnant women use "illicit drugs." Not only dangerous on the baby but the mother also, since drug usage may interferes with her body's ability to perform healthily and support the fetal formation.

Illicit Drugs?
 * marijuana
 * cocaine
 * amphetamines (ie. Ecstasy)
 * heroin

The most common risks include prematurity, deformation, low body weight, and cognitive/behavorial difficulties.



Drug Use During Stages of Development
Organ Development (first 10 weeks) Prenatal Growth Birth
 * Malformation
 * Heart
 * Limbs
 * Face
 * Malformation of organs still growing (ie. eyes)
 * Nervous system at great risk
 * Increase rate of premature birth
 * Miscarriage
 * IUGR - Intrauterine growth retardation
 * Very Risky!
 * Increase dangers of delivery

Effects of Certain Drugs
On average precise studies are difficult to accomplish, especially with the most addictive and detrimental, because most addicts are not exclusive to a single drug.

Alcohol
 * Fatal Alcohol Syndrome
 * Retardation
 * Deformed facial features
 * Deformed teeth

Amphetamines (chemically similar to Meth or Ecstasy)
 * Effects similar to cocaine
 * Lack of oxygen caused by increased heart rate causes low birth weight
 * Increased risk of premature birth, miscarriage, or abruption of placenta
 * Baby usually born addicted to drug causing them to face symptoms of withdrawal

Cocaine
 * Early: Increase risk of miscarriage
 * Later: Increase risk of placenta abruption
 * Cocaine lasts much longer in the babies bloodstream than it does the mother
 * Withdrawal upon birth
 * Defects and health complications during later years

Hallucinogenics (PCP, LSD, Date Rape Drug) Heroin Inhalants
 * Not much testing done, but usually birth defects include:
 * Brain damage
 * Low birth weight
 * Withdrawal symptoms
 * Weak muscle control
 * Very special care and precautions must be taken when mother is addicted
 * If not medically monitored during cleaning process, baby will go through withdrawal improperly causing a still birth.
 * Since addiction is so hazardous to both parties, methadone treatment is most highly suggested.
 * Baby will, just as the mother will, become addicted to methadone and withdrawal will occur to the newborn but it is manageable under proper medical care.
 * Severe damage to mother's organs
 * Birth defects
 * Miscarriage
 * Preterm labor
 * Delivery occurring < 37 weeks
 * Slow fetal growth

Marijuana
 * Major problem THC penetrates placenta effecting the developing fetus
 * Premature birth
 * Damage to cognitive abilities
 * Low fetal growth
 * INTERESTING FACT: Exposure to marijuana smoke may lead to attention problems during adolescence (March of Dimes).

Opiod Painkillers (similar to morphine - ex. OxyContin)
 * Withdrawal
 * Slow fetal growth[[image:http://www.babble.com/CS/photos/mar2007/images/9137/original.aspx width="152" height="203" align="right" link="http://www.babble.com/CS/photos/mar2007/images/9137/original.aspx"]]
 * Abuse of painkillers is very risky!

Tobacco
 * Deprives body (AND BABY) of oxygen and nutrition
 * Miscarriage
 * Premature birth
 * Slows down fetal growth

sources: http://www.pregnancy.org/article.php?sid=1201 http://www.acde.org/parent/Pregnant.htm http://www.babyzone.com/pregnancy/is_it_safe/a342/2 http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14332_1169.asp

all images are linked to source sites.