Addicted to Drugs or Alcohol At Birth

There is no denying that neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is a great concern. If a mother utilise illicit substances, then her baby is going to be at risk of many different health problems. Moreover, a mother who is addicted to any type of substance is going to be less likely to get the prenatal care required, which only heightens the risks for her and her baby too. Not only this, but a lot of women use more than one drug when they are addicted, and this can also lead to complications when it comes to treatment. 

There are a number of different problems that a baby can experience if it has been exposed to substances that it should have been. The most common are birth defects, seizures, premature birth, and poor intrauterine growth.

Of course, there are some drugs that have very specific effects. For example, we have already spoken about how alcohol can have a negative impact on the growth of the fetus. This is because it has a slowing effect on the baby’s growth. This not only relates to during pregnancy but it can refer to after birth too. Specific deformities for the heart, face and head can be seen with FASDs, as well as intellectual disabilities. 

In terms of marijuana use, this has been linked to babies with lower birth weights. If a mother uses cocaine, this can lead to a lower IQ in her child, as well as learning disabilities, developmental delay, and poor fetal growth. When it comes to amphetamines, this has been linked with premature birth and low birthweight. Finally, we have heroin and other opiates, for example, methadone. These drugs are known to cause considerable withdrawal within a baby. Some babies will experience these symptoms for as long as six months, which can be incredibly uncomfortable and painful for them. Moreover, for mothers addicted to methadone, their babies can suffer seizures.