Substance Exposure and Babies
During pregnancy, nearly every substance taken by a woman passes from her
blood stream through the placenta to her fetus. Substances that cause drug
dependence and addiction in the mother also cause the fetus to become
addicted.
When a mother uses illicit substances, including legal drugs such as
alcohol and cigarettes, she places her unborn baby at risk for many
problems. Many substances affect fetal growth and development, as well as
the long-term health of the baby. A mother using drugs may be less likely
to seek prenatal care, which can increase the risks for her and her baby.
In addition, women who use drugs are more likely to use more than one
drug, which can complicate the treatment. The risk of contracting HIV and
AIDS is also greater among intravenous (IV) drug users.
Babies affected by substance abuse in mothers require clinical care by
a physician or other healthcare professional. Listed in the directory
below is some additional information regarding substance abuse, for which
we have provided a brief overview.
If you cannot find the information in which you are interested, please
visit the High-Risk Newborn Online Resources page
in this Web site for an Internet/World Wide Web address that may contain
additional information on that topic.
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