About Using Drugs When Pregnant

Drug use during pregnancy can be risky for the mother and fetus. Drugs, whether taken under prescription or illicitly, can cause defects in the unborn child. Illicit drug use can contribute to developmental delays after the baby has been born.
Medications taken for conditions such as high blood pressure and depression, and even live vaccines, can have an effect on the baby.
"Social" drugs, such as alcohol or cigarettes, can also cause problems.

Significance

• Ingesting substances which can harm the unborn fetus sometimes occurs innocently. If the pregnant mom takes a prescription medication, she may not know that her baby can be harmed.
  Drinking coffee in small amounts -- less than two cups a day -- should not harm the unborn baby. Drinking over seven cups of coffee a day can stimulate the fetus, increasing the heart rate; caffeine can decrease the blood flow to the placenta and decrease the absorption of iron.
  Even though the effects of smoking on the unborn fetus are commonly known, pregnant moms still smoke. Cigarette smoke can stimulate the baby's heart rate and can cause heart and brain defects.

Types

• Pregnant mothers who use illegal drugs need to get a reality check and understand just how they are harming their babies.
  Using heroin can cause the baby to be born addicted; the baby can then suffer from withdrawal symptoms.
  Using marijuana can cause the child to have problems paying attention.
  Use of amphetamines can potentially cause congenital heart defects in the unborn child. Amphetamines can also cause premature delivery of the baby.

Effects

• If the mother takes a prescribed medication, she needs to know the potential for negative effects on her baby. Taking a medication for high blood pressure can reduce blood flow to the placenta, which causes the baby to get too little blood and oxygen. Taking aspirin late in pregnancy can cause a lowered level of amniotic fluid surrounding the baby.
  Use of live vaccines during pregnancy can cause harm to the unborn baby -- use of the rubella vaccine means that the fetus and placenta can be infected by the vaccine.

Considerations

• If a pregnant woman becomes ill during her pregnancy and is prescribed medications, she and her doctor have to be aware of the potential negative effect on the unborn child. All substances pass through the placenta and reach the unborn child. If it develops that the mother-to-be has to take prescription medication, her doctor can find a safer alternative medication which will pose less of a risk to the baby.

Prevention/Solution

• Medical professionals and researchers have studied substances and the effects they have on the unborn fetus. It is up to the parents of unborn babies to educate themselves as to what effect caffeine, medications or illegal drugs can have on their children.
  When a woman decides to become pregnant or learns that she is pregnant, she has to curtail use of all known dangerous or any suspected dangerous substances.