Dangers of Taking Narcotics During Pregnancy

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When you are pregnant, no matter how far along you may be, you must watch everything that goes into your body. Using narcotics, regardless of which kind, is not safe for the mother or the unborn baby.

Many studies over the years have shown that taking illegal drugs while pregnant can lead to low birth weight, premature birth, miscarriage, placental abruption, and even death (both the mother and baby).

Every type of illegal drug has a different effect on the mother as well as her unborn child. Let’s take a close look at three of the most commonly abused narcotics and how they impact a pregnancy:

Marijuana

There have been many studies regarding marijuana use during pregnancy, showing that abusing this drug can increase the chance of:

• Miscarriage
• Low birth weight
• Premature births
• Behavioral problems
• Learning problems
• Developmental delays

Cocaine

Anybody who takes cocaine early in her pregnancy has an increased risk of miscarriage. When this drug is used later in pregnancy, the chance of placental abruption is much greater. This can lead to preterm birth, severe bleeding, and, in the most severe cases, the baby’s death.

The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) notes that women who use cocaine while pregnant have a far higher chance of premature labor than people who don’t use cocaine. Premature labor increases the risk of respiratory distress, underdeveloped organs, and an immature immune system.

How is Narcotic Addiction Treated in Pregnant Patients?

Narcotic addiction, that is addiction to opioid drugs both prescription and illicit, in pregnant patients must be treated carefully so as not to harm either the patient or the fetus. There are several methods used to treat this issue in patients of this type, and while it can involve a considerable amount of time and effort, results are beneficial as well as much safer than the continued abuse of narcotics or sudden abstinence from these drugs. The Use of Medications as Narcotic Addiction Treatment in Pregnant Patients Medications are extremely important during this time, as it is often more dangerous …

Heroin

Narcotics can do great harm to an unborn baby.

Heroin is one of the most addictive narcotics in the world, and for this reason, it can cross the placenta and reach the unborn baby. With this in mind, your baby can become dependent on heroin.

Any use of heroin during pregnancy will increase the chance of low birth weight, premature birth, low blood sugar, breathing difficulties, bleeding in the brain, and infant death.

Note: if a baby is addicted to heroin, they face withdrawal symptoms that include fever, diarrhea, irritability, and sleep-related issues. This is called neonatal abstinence syndrome.

As you can see, there are many dangers of taking narcotics during pregnancy. No matter which type of drug you take, there is an increased chance of it negatively impacting you and/or your unborn child.

Specialized rehab programs address the needs of pregnant women to overcome their addiction and avoid narcotics. These specialized treatment programs are scheduled to achieve success, since pregnant women need special care.

There are dangers of taking narcotics during pregnancy, which is why most realize this is something they should never experiment with.

If you’re pregnant and need help stopping narcotics, call 800-934-1582(Sponsored) now to find a treatment program that works for you.

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