| There are a lot of resources on the internet, in | | | | investigation by Child Protective services.Marijuana |
| books, and from the medical community on the | | | | supporters put out a lot of false information about |
| dangers of drug and alcohol use during pregnancy. | | | | the risks to an unborn child. Minimizing the dangers, |
| However, there is not very much quality information | | | | even going as far as to say babies born to marijuana |
| on what you should do if you have a problem with | | | | users are less fussy and more content. They may |
| alcohol or drugs and are pregnant. The simple answer | | | | choose to believe this misinformation in order to |
| is you need to quit. With all the treatment programs | | | | avoid facing their addiction.Risks of using drugs and |
| availabele; AA, treatment facilities, therapy, | | | | alcohol during pregnancySmoking:Babies are more |
| self-control, etc., why wouldn't a women be able to | | | | likely to be born preterm and with low birth |
| get help. Why would anyone use drugs or alcohol | | | | weight.Alcohol:Can cause Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. |
| while they are pregnant. Most pregnant moms know | | | | Babies born with FAS may have symptoms of alcohol |
| or have read that using drugs or alcohol can cause | | | | withdrawal shortly after birth. They often have a |
| numerous problems for their unborn baby. But there | | | | small head, small eyes, a wide flat nose, and a small |
| are many reasons women avoid treatment.Some do | | | | jaw. Children with FAS may have growth problems, |
| not believe they are really an addict or alcoholic. They | | | | diminished mental capacity, and emotional |
| may convince themselves that they don't drink or | | | | problems.Marijuana:Can cause preterm birth, low birth |
| use very much or that often. The truth, if you are | | | | weight and some studies say it can cause attention |
| not capable of quitting during a time in your life when | | | | problems in children.Coccaine:Babies born to cocaine |
| it is most essential that you do not drink or use, you | | | | users often go through withdrawal symptoms after |
| are an addict. If you were not addicted quitting | | | | birth. Fetal growth may be retarded, there is a |
| during pregnancy would not be difficult.Many women | | | | greater risk of premature labor and abruption of the |
| falsely believe that an occasional drink or drug use is | | | | placenta. Babies often have low birth weight, may |
| not really harmful. They may minimize their problem | | | | have feeding problems, and are at greater risk of |
| and rationalize what they are doing. They may say | | | | sids. Children of cocaine addicted mothers may have |
| things like well when my mother was pregnant she | | | | emotional problems, short attention span, and learning |
| drank/smoke and I turned out fine.Sometimes a | | | | disabilities.Heroin and other narcotics:Mother is at a |
| woman may convince herself that she is done and it | | | | greater risk of having preterm labor and having a |
| won't happen again. Perhaps she has used during the | | | | baby with low birth weight. Babies of heroin addicted |
| first month but she will tell herself, I will get help if I | | | | moms may have breathing difficulties, hypoglycemia, |
| do this again. With the next time it happening | | | | and intracranial hemorrhage. They also will go through |
| repeating the same rational in her mind, each time | | | | withdrawal after birth.If you need helpIf you think |
| thinking it is the last.Addiction is a shameful disease. | | | | that you have a problem there are places to get |
| Addicts come in all forms. People with addiction can | | | | help. Please do not wait.One of the best places to |
| hide their disease very well. Their friends and family | | | | get help is atAcoholic Anonymous |
| may not even realize that they have a problem. | | | | you can look in your phone book under alcoholic |
| Talking to a health professional about this may be | | | | anonymous. Someone there will gladly help you find |
| something they are too afraid to do.They may be | | | | meeting locations and someone to talk to. |
| afraid to talk to a professional for fear of having an | | | | |