Pregnancy is a stage in a woman’s life wherein she is very vulnerable. She is not only in charge of her health, but the baby inside her as well. The most common substances that are abused during pregnancy are drugs and alcohol. Pregnant women who abuse drugs and alcohol when they are pregnant can face great harm. Engaging on these may result on lifetime unaltered effects.
Premature birth is characterized by a baby born before thirty seven weeks of gestational age. When a baby is born premature, he or she may face great harm. A premature baby is still undeveloped which may result to complications. The cause of the condition is unknown, but many studies show that there is relationship between prematurity and substance abuse during pregnancy. The shorter the duration of the pregnancy, serious problems are likely to happen.
When a mother still drinks alcohol during her pregnancy, she is not just drinking for herself but for the baby as well. If she is drunk, the baby insider is drunk as well. This results to the fetus having fetal alcohol syndrome. This can give the congenital deformities and impair their cognitive thinking. Alcohol intake can also lead to premature birth. Alcohol is considered a teratogenic or a substance that is harmful to the fetus. Research proves that the fetus can’t remove the bi-products of alcohol from their tiny bodies. The buildup can lead to neurologic damages and B vitamin deficiency.
Drugs be of any kind is harmful to the fetus unless proven safe by the health bureau. Heroin use is associated with fetal growth retardation in the uterus. Cocaine acts as a vasoconstrictor to the mother which can affect the fetal nutrient intake. When vasoconstriction happens there is lesser blood volume that is transported to the baby. When taken during pregnancy, the baby may suffer from congenital malfunctions. The drug is usually associated with premature labor and birth. Taking cocaine is highly discouraged during pregnancy.
Smoking tobacco products can also do great harm to the fetus. Nicotine inhibits blood supply to the fetus. The unborn may also be intoxicated with carbon monoxide brought about by the mother’s smoking. A baby born from a smoking mother is at risk to have growth retardation, sudden infant death syndrome, and premature birth. It is always advisable that the mother should stop her smoking habit during pregnancy. Maybe the nine months of cigarette-free practice will help her quit smoking for good.
Pregnant women should be informed on the effects of these harmful substances. Proper pre natal care and information dissemination may help these substance abusive mothers. After all who would want her child to be born with disabilities and out from the normal?
Related posts:
Leave a Reply