Substance And Drug Abuse During Pregnancy
Substance and drug abuse by anyone is a dangerous thing, and can have far reaching consequences. However, it becomes even more dangerous if the one abusing the drugs or substances is a woman who is pregnant. In most cases, women who use drugs and other substances during pregnancy are likely to have started doing so, long before they conceived. This means that drug abuse is part of their lifestyle, and when they become pregnant, they find it hard to stop the habit.
But what such women should know is that when one is pregnant, they are eating and drinking for two, meaning whatever gets inside them is shared between them, and the developing baby inside. This means that any alcohol consumed, any cocaine injected, or any smoke inhaled, goes to the mother yes, but also reaches the baby inside. This is the plain truth, and such women are likely to give birth to babies who are deformed, or who are not fully developed. Just like anyone else with problems with drug dependences, pregnant women also need help and assistance if they are to overcome the challenge.
Pregnant women, no matter for how long they have been at it, should cease from using any substance and drug abuse the moment they conceive. A pregnant woman, who smokes cigarettes, let alone marijuana, is exposing their unborn babies to nicotine, and other harmful elements contained in the cigarettes. Cigarette smoke has been found to contain elements that can cause cancer, and babies are especially prone to these elements since their immune system is still developing, and weak. Besides, smoking is known to hinder the proper nourishment of the baby, and denies them the vital ingredient they need to develop fully. Such a scenario will lead to the woman delivering a premature baby, or a stillbirth.
Alcohol is also harmful for the unborn baby, and should therefore be avoided at all costs by the pregnant woman. Suffice it to note that women consuming alcohol during pregnancy are exposing their children to effects that will last for a lifetime, and which the baby will live with for the rest of their lives. These effects could be behavioral, or physical. Furthermore, consuming alcohol during pregnancy leads to a medical condition known as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
As a matter of fact, cigarettes and alcohol are not the only substances a pregnant woman ought to avoid. Any other drug will have its effects on the baby, and may include one giving birth to an underweight bay, or with other birth defects. Using marijuana during pregnancy is dangerous too, for it is likely to increase the blood pressure of the pregnant woman, a dangerous condition for any pregnant woman. This is to say that marijuana will increase the heart rate of the woman, and the baby inside will be affected, and may get some shock, or develop other complications, since their natural environment in the womb is altered with.
In a nutshell, pregnant women who have problems doing away with substance and drug abuse should talk to their health care providers, for more advice and assistance.
