Pregnancy and the Dangers of Drug Use

Dangers of Drug Use i

Pregnancy and the Dangers of Drug Use

Sarah McVicker

Psychology 201 Lifespan Development

Professor Sally Vyain

October 7, 2007

Pregnancy and the Dangers of Drug Use

It is very important for a mother to lead a healthy lifestyle when she becomes pregnant. She must eat healthy, get lots of rest, and exercise regularly. It is even more imperative that she avoids things that may harm her or potentially her baby. Amongst things she must avoid, alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs are the most vital.

For a pregnant woman, drug use and abuse is twice as dangerous as for someone who is not pregnant. First, drugs will harm her own health, interfering with her ability to support her pregnancy and make the best decisions for her baby. Second, some drugs can directly impair prenatal development.

All illegal drugs, such as cocaine and heroin, can cause dangers to a pregnant woman. Not only illegal substances, but also legal drugs such as alcohol and tobacco, are typically just as dangerous. Even medical drugs, both prescription and over-the-counter, can be harmful to both the mother and her baby. Pregnant women should avoid any and all contact with all of them as much as possible; from the time she plans to become pregnant or learns that she is pregnant.

All drugs are harmful for the entire duration of a woman's pregnancy, however certain drugs are particularly damaging at specific stages of development. Most of the body organs and systems of the baby are formed within the first ten weeks or so of pregnancy. During this stage, some drugs-alcohol in particular-can cause malformations of such parts of the developing fetus as the limbs, heart, and facial features.

After about the tenth week, the fetus should grow rapidly in weight and size. At this stage, certain drugs may damage organs that are still developing, such as the eyes, as well as the nervous system. Continuing drug use also increases the risk of miscarriage and premature delivery. The greatest danger drugs pose at this stage is their potential to interfere with normal growth. Intrauterine growth retardation, also known as IUGR, may result in low birth weight of the baby, the baby being born too early, too small, or both. Low birth weight babies require special care and run a much higher risk of severe health problems or even death.

Alcohol is one of the most dangerous drugs for a pregnant woman, especially in the early weeks. In a pregnant woman's body, alcohol becomes a cell-damaging compound that is readily absorbed by the fetus. Fetal alcohol syndrome is a cluster of birth defects that can be caused by heavy drinking during early pregnancy. This cluster includes a small skull, abnormal facial features, and heart defects, often accompanied by impeded growth and mental retardation. Heavy drinking in later pregnancy may also slow down growth.

It is not known whether light or moderate drinking can produce these effects. However, even if the risk is low, the stakes are very high. Women should avoid alcohol completely when she decides to get pregnant or when she finds out she is pregnant. Beer and wine coolers should be off limits as well, even though they are mild alcoholic beverages.

Smoking during pregnancy may raise the risk of miscarriage or premature labor, but the primary danger is stalled fetal growth. Not only will smoking during pregnancy produce short term effects, such as low birth weight in infants, but it will also produce long term effects on children's development as well. Nicotine depresses the appetite, and when pregnant a woman's appetite should not be depressed. During pregnancy a woman should be gaining weight so she needs her appetite. Also, smoking reduces the ability of the lungs to absorb oxygen. When the fetus is deprived of sufficient nourishment and oxygen, the baby may not grow as fast or as much as it should. Smoking during pregnancy can have a different effect on males as well. Research conducted in Denmark studied the differences in men who were exposed to tobacco during pregnancy and men who were not. The results were that men who were exposed to 19 cigarettes a day during pregnancy had about 19% lower semen volume and 38% lower total sperm count than those who were not exposed to smoking while in the womb. Also, children who were exposed to smoking during pregnancy may be diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder more easily than children who were not exposed to smoking during pregnancy.

Cocaine, crack, methamphetamine, and speed are very powerful stimulants. They repress the appetite and put forth other drastic forces