Monday, April 16, 2012

Substance Abuse during Pregnancy

When you are pregnant, it is important to understand that you are not only eating, drinking or consimung other substances for yourself, you are doing it for one person, which is your unborn baby. All the bad decisions you make, and all the bad substances you put in your body will automatically go to the fetus, as well. However, some mothers still choose to keep going with their unhealhy and dangerous habits, despite being warned that they could severely hurt their baby. When the mother smokes, the nicotine, as well as other cancer-causing substances pass through the baby's blood stream. This could result in premature birth, which ultimately puts the baby at a very low chance of survival. The nicotine can also keep the fetus from getting the vitamins, protens and other nourishment that is essential for their development.
When the mother exposes hers, and the baby's body to alcohol, the consequences can be catastrophic. When large quantities of alcohol constantly pass through the baby's bloodstream, through the umbilical cord, the baby has a very high risk of developing what is called the fetal alcohol syndrome. With this syndrome, the fetus wil usually encounter poor development, as well as many other negative effects, even years after it has been born. The baby may have poor coordination, and various heart defects. The symptoms of the fetal alcohol syndrome can also be seen on the fetus's face, as all the babies who have this syndrome usually tend to have a small head, small upper jaw, and narrow eyes. Studies also show that babies whose mothers consistently drink alcohol during their pregnancy almost never have normal brain development.
Some mothers also have an addiction from illegal drugs, that they cannot break, even during their pregnancy. When the mother takes illegal drugs during the pregnancy, her baby is taking the drug too. This means that the fetus can be born with an addiction. Even though the baby is very young and small, it can still experience the symptoms of withdrawal, in which case the doctors will have to keep giving it the drug, cutting back on the amount each time, until they completely cleanse the baby. However, the baby is severely affected by the drugs while it is sill in the uterus. The substances can severely damage many of its vital organs, including the heart and the brain.