Table of Contents
What effects can drugs have on an unborn baby?
Illicit Drugs Illicit drug use during pregnancy may cause miscarriage, preterm labor, birth defects, stillbirth, withdrawal symptoms in the baby after birth, a higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), poor fetal growth rate, and cognitive and behavioral problems.
How does smoking and other drugs affect the unborn child?
premature birth. low birth weight. miscarriage and cot death. breathing problems and wheezing in the first six months of life.
Which drugs cause neonatal abstinence syndrome?
Causes. NAS may occur when a pregnant woman takes drugs such as heroin, codeine, oxycodone (Oxycontin), methadone, or buprenorphine. These and other substances pass through the placenta that connects the baby to its mother in the womb. The baby becomes dependent on the drug along with the mother.
What is it called when a fetus is exposed to drugs?
Neonatal abstinence syndrome is what happens when babies are exposed to drugs in the womb before birth. Babies can then go through drug withdrawal after birth. The syndrome most often applies to opioid medicines.
How are babies born addicted to drugs treated?
Treatment options suggested by the guidelines range from simply making the infant more comfortable—minimizing exposure to light and sound, or swaddling and rocking—to using medication to reduce moderate to severe withdrawal symptoms.
Why do drugs cause birth defects?
Certain drugs such as alcohol, some illegal drugs, and some prescription and over-the-counter medications are known to cause birth defects if taken during pregnancy. Drugs that can cause birth defects are called ‘teratogens’. A teratogen is a substance that interferes with the normal development of a fetus.
What kind of drugs cause birth defects?
Each of the following drugs or drug groups may cause birth defects in a developing fetus:
- ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors.
- angiotensin II antagonist.
- isotretinoin (an acne drug)
- alcohol.
- cocaine.
- high doses of vitamin A.
- lithium.
- male hormones.
What birth defects are caused by substance abuse?
Babies born to moms who use street drugs during pregnancy can have these complications:
- Premature birth.
- Low birthweight.
- Smaller-than-normal head size (called reduced head circumference)
- Heart defects.
- Birth defects.
- Infections, including hepatitis C, HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) and Zika.
What happens if a baby tests positive for drugs at birth?
Neonatal exposure to some drugs during pregnancy can have harmful effects on development and may lead to acute adverse events, including neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) and infant mortality. Prenatal drug exposure may also contribute to long-term behavioral effects and developmental deficits.
What happens if you test positive for drugs during pregnancy?
In utero exposure to drugs puts the fetus at risk of premature delivery, physical, and cognitive developmental problems, and can increase the risk of neonatal mortality (Chasnoff, 1988; Chasnoff et al., 1992; Stover and Davis, 2015).