Addiction and Pregnancy
Wednesday, February 08, 2012
Drug addiction or alcohol addiction are a serious risk to pregnancy. They are dangerous to both the mother and the baby. If a woman who has a problem with drug abuse or alcohol abuse does become pregnant, it is ideal for the mother to get treatment in the form of alcohol rehab or drug rehab right away to ensure that their pregnancy is minimally affected by exposure to substance abuse.
Risks to the mother who abuses drugs or alcohol while pregnant are different from that of a non-pregnant woman due to the physiological and hormonal changes of pregnancy. These risks include anemia, infections to skin or internal organs including hepatitis, increased risk of STDs, premature labour, sudden bleeding and even death due to an inability to recognize when a pregnancy related problem may be arising.
Risks to the fetus or unborn baby vary depending on the type of substance being abused but can include premature birth, low birth weight, birth defects, conditions such as fetal alcohol syndrome, mental retardation, drug addiction and withdrawals at birth that can lead to seizures and all the other common withdrawals symptoms associated with that specific drug, and very often death due to defects or early preterm birth.
If a mother uses drugs after the baby is born it can also be passed through the breast milk, thus further exposing the baby to addictive and altering substances.
The effects of drug or alcohol abuse during pregnancy will stay with the child for the rest of their life. They may suffer learning problems that affect their ability to succeed in life and they are at much greater risk for developing a drug addiction or alcohol addiction as a result of their early exposure and family history.
If you or someone you know is pregnant and suffering from an addiction, A Center for Recovery can help you with answers and advice on the best drug rehab or alcohol approach. We can provide information on drug addiction, alcohol addiction and drug treatment centers and alcohol treatment centers, by state: Call us on 877-403 3381.
Risks for the Fetus
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