Narcotics Effects on Pregnancy

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Drugs like heroin, morphine, Vicodin and oxycodone all fall within the narcotics class of medications. Whether legal or illegal, these drugs all produce an analgesic or sedating effect on the body’s central nervous system.

According to the CDC, the number of women who had opioid-related disorders at delivery hospitals went up by over 130% from 2010 to 2017. One 2019 study found that over 31% of pregnant women used opioid medication. When taken during pregnancy, narcotics effects are life-threatening for both the mother and the fetus. Women addicted to narcotics during pregnancy also place the infant’s life and overall health at risk as well.

Narcotics Effects on the Mother

Narcotics effects on pregnancy can leave you and your baby with unwanted symptoms and problems.

Narcotics slow neural impulses in the brain and block pain signal transmissions throughout the body. These same effects also reduce a person’s appetite as well as slowing down the body’s heart rate and respiratory functions. Under these weakened conditions, narcotics effects on a pregnant woman’s body place the mother and the fetus at considerable health risk.

Narcotics effects, in general, considerably reduce a person’s judgment and decision-making abilities. This places expectant mothers at risk of engaging in high-risk sexual behavior in terms of contracting infectious diseases. The World Health Organization notes that should a woman contract HIV, there’s a 15-45% the disease will transfer over to the fetus. Though Hepatitis C transmission rates are lower, they increase considerably for women who already have an HIV infection.

Narcotics Effects on the Fetus

Pregnant women who use narcotics develop a tolerance for the drug just like any other user. The more a person uses, the more the body craves the drug. Should drug access become limited or unavailable, pregnant women also experience withdrawal until the next dose becomes available. Narcotics effects during withdrawal periods pose serious risks to an unborn fetus.

When a woman’s body is in withdrawal, this creates an unstable environment for the fetus. Possible consequences from withdrawal include:

• Miscarriage
• Fetal death
• Premature labor
• Limited fetal growth

Additional risks to the fetus develop in cases where a pregnant woman uses illegal narcotic drugs, such as heroin. Since illegal drugs are often cut with additive substances, any one of these materials can harm the fetus as well as the mother. Also at issue is the actual strength of a street narcotic, which lead the mother to experience an overdose.

Dangers of Taking Narcotics During Pregnancy

Taking drugs while pregnant is very dangerous, especially when a person is taking narcotics. It can cause problems for both mother and child.

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

Narcotics place babies at risk of being born with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Babies born with neonatal abstinence syndrome exhibit narcotics effects in the form of withdrawal symptoms. Symptoms can vary from mild to severe. Babies displaying severe symptoms require medication treatment to stabilize the withdrawal effects. While narcotics usage directly affects the likelihood of NAS in the baby, the amount of narcotics used during pregnancy doesn’t increase or decrease the likelihood of NAS.

In addition to neonatal abstinence syndrome, narcotics effects on babies can cause low birth weights, early delivery as well as other health problems. Of course, the overall health of the mother will impact the baby’s health as well as any potential health problems the baby may have.

If you or someone you love is pregnant and needs addiction help, call  800-934-1582(Sponsored) now to find treatment programs in your area. 

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