When you are pregnant, you are sharing everything with your unborn child. Whatever you eat, drink, and the same air and blood supply. Whenever you consume any substance, it is important to think about the child you are about to give birth to. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health says that 4.5% of women from age 15-44 have done drugs during their pregnancy. Doing drugs while pregnant can lead to some permanent and deadly consequences for your child.
Using marijuana or crystal method can lead serious impacts on the baby. Cocaine cause cause your baby to have heart attacks, strokes, respiratory failure, and seizures. There is also a chance of birth defects, premature babies, stillborn births, and underweight babies. Smoking crack cocaine can also affect cognitive performance, being able to do simple tasks and information processing issues. Babies exposed to cocaine also tend to have smaller heads which could mean they have a smaller IQ. Birth defects can include urinary tract infections or heart problems. They can also get strokes resulting in brain damage or death as well as the risk of an early miscarriage. Babies can also have a low birth weight and become irritable with feeding issues.
Smoking marijuana can cause a higher risk of premature birth and a low birth weight as well. They can experience withdrawal symptoms such as excessive crying and trembling. When you smoke cigarettes, you are passing the nicotine and carcinogenic chemicals to your unborn child. Smoking can cause a hole in the wall of a baby’s left and right chambers in the heart. Most babies end up with congenital heart defects where they die within the first year of their lives. The baby’s placenta can be affected which is a problem since the placenta provides nourishment to the baby in the womb.
If you are going to take any form of drug during pregnancy, it is best to be safe. Always read the medication label to see if there are any warnings about pregnancy impact. Talk to your healthcare provider about whether certain natural remedies are good for you such as herbs, amino acids, minerals, and megavitamins. The FDA says that ibuprofen and aspirin should not be taken during the last three months of pregnancy unless a doctor says it is okay as well as certain prenatal vitamins. Always keep your child in mind with any substances you take.
Smarmore Castle Private Clinic in County Louth, near Dublin was founded in 1988 as a residential rehabilitation hospital treating people suffering from drug and alcohol purposes. Smarmore Castle believes in helping patients lead a life of abstinence through 12 Step programs, detox and medical treatment, psychotherapy, and complementary therapies. For more information, please call 041-214-5111. For those who live out of the country, the international number is 00353-41-214-5111.
