PRENATAL EXPOSURE

TO DRUGS AND
ALCOHOL
By Sonia Gutierrez

Drug use during pregnancy

Very like to:
Use more than one drug
Not receive prenatal care
Be exposed to violence
Have bad nutrition
Live in poverty

Pregnancy
Drugs easily pass through the
placenta
Drug use early in pregnancy causes
most physical damage
Increased risk for spontaneous abortion

Drug use later on causes more

psychological and cognitive problems

Drugs in the system

Infants dont have the ability to
break down drugs
Builds up when mother uses
Adult dose + tiny body

Withdrawal Symptoms
Opioids like morphine and heroin, and alcohol
Shaking
Diarrhea
Excessive crying
Fever

Amphetamine Exposure
38% of meth addicts abused during
pregnancy
Usually mixed with other drugs or
alcohol
Makes more problems
Not a lot of research

Meth, Ritalin & Adderall

Physical:
Low birth weight
Heart defects
Cleft lip
Small head circumference
Bleeding in the brain

Meth, Ritalin & Adderall

Behavioral:
Irritability
Decreased ability to deal with stress
Irregular sleep

Other
Complications during pregnancy

Ecstasy Exposure
Increases Cortisol stress hormone
Increases mothers levels by 800%
Increases babys levels by 80%

Increased Cortisol Levels

Linked with:
Low birth weight
Small head circumference
Decreased attention
Irritability
Problems sleeping & eating

Cocaine Exposure
AKA crack babies
Multiple drug use common
Withdrawal symptoms at birth

Cocaine Exposure
Effects:
Attention
Language
Stress management
Decreases IQ
Decision making skills

Opioid Exposure
Effects similar to cocaine and meth
Also affects memory and learning
Increased chances to be stillborn

Increases opioid receptors

More likely to become an addict as an adult

Methadone treatment
Similar effects as other opioids

Smoking while pregnant

More women smoke tobacco than use other drugs
Effects:
Increased risk of complications during pregnancy
Increased risk for ADHD
Increases problems in the lungs
Asthma
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Second Hand Smoke

Can also affect the baby even if the
mother doesnt smoke
Causes similar effects as smoking

Alcohol Exposure
Used to think small amount wouldnt hurt
infant
Now, any amount harms baby
The earlier and more consumed= more
harm

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Effects:
Decreased birth weight
Abnormal brain development
Learning difficulties
Physical deformities to face and skull

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Fetal Alcohol Effects

Only if some of the effects are
observed
Not as severe as FAS
Timing is important

References:
Levinthal, Charles F. Drugs, Behavior, And Modern Society. 8th ed. Pearson, 2014. Print.
Jones, Hendree E. "Drug Addiction During Pregnancy". Current Directions in Psychological Science 15.3
(2006): 126-130. Web. 26 Oct. 2016.
Lee, Kimberly G. "Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome". Medlineplus.gov. N.p., 2016. Web. 30 Nov. 2016.
Marwick, Charles. "NIDA Seeking Data On Effect Of Fetal Exposure To Methamphetamine". JAMA 283.17
(2000): 2225-2226. Web. 22 Nov. 2016.
Moore, Shelley C. "Adderall And Ritalin: Potential Influence On Perinatal Health." International
Journal Of Childbirth Education 29.4 (2014): 72-78. CINAHL Complete. Web. 23 Nov. 2016.
Parrott, Andrew C. et al. "MDMA And Heightened Cortisol: A Neurohormonal Perspective On The Pregnancy
Outcomes Of Mothers Used Ecstasy During Pregnancy". Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and
Experimental 29.1 (2014): 1-7. Web. 23 Nov. 2016.
Singer, Lynn T. et al. "Developmental Outcomes Of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine(Ecstasy)Exposed Infants In The UK". Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental 30.4 (2015): 290-294.
Web. 23 Nov. 2016.
Tiesler, Carla M. T. and Joachim Heinrich. "Prenatal Nicotine Exposure And Child Behavioural Problems".
European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 23.10 (2014): 913-929. Web. 30 Nov. 2016.