We all know that anything a mother puts into her body during pregnancy will eventually make its way to the child in utereo. But knowing this truth is very different from knowing exactly what happens to babies born addicted to drugs.
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome & Drug Use While Pregnant
Stanford Medicine and Childrens Health says that the consequences of drug use during pregnancy include neonatal abstinence syndrome. “Neonatal abstinence syndrome is what happens when babies are exposed to drugs in the womb before birth. Babies can then go through drug withdrawal after birth. The syndrome most often applies to opioid medicines.” Any one of these substances can cause NAS:
Opioids like heroin, codeine and oxycodone
Stimulants such as amphetamines or cocaine.
Antidepressant medicines such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
Depressants such as barbiturates, or alcohol, or marijuana
Nicotine from cigarette smoking
Symptoms of Neonatal abstinence syndrome can manifest immediately, or weeks after birth, and include;
Poor growth in the uterus
Being born premature
Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
Birth defects
Trembling
Too much crying or high-pitched crying
Sleep problems
Tight muscle tone
Overactive reflexes
Seizures
Yawning, stuffy nose, and sneezing
Poor feeding and sucking
Vomiting or diarrhea
Sweating
Fever or unstable temperature
Abnormal behavior, language and cognition
Imagine all the pain of withdrawal, in your first few weeks or months of life. The discomfort of the child can draw a wedge between the infant and the parents, who can’t seem to get the baby quiet and comfortable, even if they are attentive to the babies needs.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder & Alcohol Use While Pregnant
Drinking during pregnancy can result in all the frightening symptoms above, but takes it one step farther. Fetal alcohol syndrome, or FAS, is the most severe form of FASD and causes an aray of permanent issues including;
Small head size
Abnormal facial features
Problems with vision or hearing
Low body weight
Shorter-than-average height
Poor coordination
Problems with sleep and sucking as a baby
Heart, kidney, or bone problems
Addiction Help for Pregnant Women
Did you know that there is help for pregnant women struggling from addiction? Most organizations set up for pregnant addicts have all-female facilities with all the medical support needed to get through a healthy pregnancy. Taking advantage of these programs often comes with continued support after birth. For more information on getting help for a pregnant addict in your life, reach out to Primary Purpose Behavioral Health today.
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