Com 220 Illicit Drug Use in Pregnancy
Illicit Drug Use in Pregnancy
COM 220
August 1st, 2010
Illicit Drug Use in Pregnancy
Studies in 2008 have shown that the amount of babies born to drug addicted mothers has almost doubled since 2003. Pregnant mothers have been using drugs during pregnancy for thousands of years without knowing the effects they can have on their unborn baby. Even though some people claim that illicit drugs used by pregnant mothers cause no harm to the fetus, there have been studies that show otherwise.
Cocaine has many street names such as crack, blow, snow, and coke. Cocaine is a highly addictive central nervous system stimulant. Cocaine can be injected, smoked, or snorted. It increases the user’s blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature. The risks associated with this drug are respiratory failure, seizures, stroke, nausea, heart attacks, and abdominal pain. Sudden death may occur to first time users.
When a pregnant woman uses cocaine it crosses through the placenta and circulates through the fetus’ body. Fetuses eliminate cocaine from their bodies more slowly than adults do.
If a mother uses cocaine in the early months of pregnancy it can increase her risks of a miscarriage. When used later in pregnancy, cocaine use can lead to tremors, muscle spasms, feeding difficulties, sleeplessness, and placental abruption. Other adverse effects on the fetus such as shorter length, smaller head circumference, higher rates of congenital malformations, intestinal abnormalities, and neurobehavioral malfunction can be contributed to cocaine use during pregnancy. In certain rare circumstances perinatal cerebral infraction associated with cocaine use has also been known to happen. Cocaine decreases uterine blood flow and increases maternal blood pressure. When placental abruption occurs it can lead to preterm birth, severe bleeding, and even fetal death.
The risks of birth defects increase if the mother has used cocaine frequently during pregnancy. Also the more frequent
COM 220
August 1st, 2010
Illicit Drug Use in Pregnancy
Studies in 2008 have shown that the amount of babies born to drug addicted mothers has almost doubled since 2003. Pregnant mothers have been using drugs during pregnancy for thousands of years without knowing the effects they can have on their unborn baby. Even though some people claim that illicit drugs used by pregnant mothers cause no harm to the fetus, there have been studies that show otherwise.
Cocaine has many street names such as crack, blow, snow, and coke. Cocaine is a highly addictive central nervous system stimulant. Cocaine can be injected, smoked, or snorted. It increases the user’s blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature. The risks associated with this drug are respiratory failure, seizures, stroke, nausea, heart attacks, and abdominal pain. Sudden death may occur to first time users.
When a pregnant woman uses cocaine it crosses through the placenta and circulates through the fetus’ body. Fetuses eliminate cocaine from their bodies more slowly than adults do.
If a mother uses cocaine in the early months of pregnancy it can increase her risks of a miscarriage. When used later in pregnancy, cocaine use can lead to tremors, muscle spasms, feeding difficulties, sleeplessness, and placental abruption. Other adverse effects on the fetus such as shorter length, smaller head circumference, higher rates of congenital malformations, intestinal abnormalities, and neurobehavioral malfunction can be contributed to cocaine use during pregnancy. In certain rare circumstances perinatal cerebral infraction associated with cocaine use has also been known to happen. Cocaine decreases uterine blood flow and increases maternal blood pressure. When placental abruption occurs it can lead to preterm birth, severe bleeding, and even fetal death.
The risks of birth defects increase if the mother has used cocaine frequently during pregnancy. Also the more frequent
References: Frank, Deborah A., et al. "Cocaine Use During Pregnancy: Prevalence and Correlates." Pediatrics 82, no. 6 (December 1988): 888. MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed July 15, 2010). "Marijuana During Pregnancy Cuts Child 's Birth Weight." Women 's Health Weekly 31 Jan. 2002: 5. General OneFile, EBSCOhost (assessed July 15, 2010) G K Hulse, E Milne, & D R English: C D J Holman. (1997). The relationship between maternal use of heroin and methadone and infant birth weight. Addiction, 92(11), 1571-9. Retrieved July 15, 2010, from Research Library. (Document ID: 23959225). De la Hey, Mark. (2009, June 1st). Methadone use increase babies’ risk of withdrawl. CrossCurrents- The Journal of Addiction and Mental Health. Retrieved July 15, 2010 From EBSCO Host database March Of Dimes Foundation Retrieved July 15, 2010 from http://www.marchofdimes.com Foley, Michael R Retrieved on July 15, 2010 from http://www.merck.com American Pregnancy Association