Alcohol and Drug Use During Pregnancy
Perhaps you’ve heard people say you’re eating for two when you’re pregnant. But did you know that being pregnant means sharing much more than just food. Whatever you bring into your body-by eating, drinking, breathing or taking medicines-affects you and your baby.
So before you decide to smoke, drink alcohol, take illegal or prescription drugs, ask yourself if that’s what you want for your baby.
If you get high, so does your baby. But the long-term effects could be much worse for your child. Babies born to mothers who smoke, drink or do drugs during pregnancy are at risk for a variety of physical and mental conditions.
- Smoking during pregnancy passes nicotine and cancer-causing drugs to your baby and keeps the baby from getting nourishment from food. It also raises the risk of stillbirth or premature birth.
- Drinking alcohol, even a small amount, can cause life-long physical and behavioral problems in children, including fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Babies born with FAS face the risk of birth defects, mental retardation, behavioral problems, abnormal facial features, and more. There is no cure for FAS.
- Using illegal or prescription drugs may cause underweight babies, birth defects or withdrawal symptoms after birth.
If you’re pregnant and you smoke, drink alcohol or do drugs, you need to get help. For your future and your baby’s, call us to discuss programs to help you quit and guide you through.