heroin effects during pregnancy
Symptoms
- Birth defects. These are health conditions that are present at birth. Birth defects change the shape or function of one or more parts of the body. They can cause problems in overall health, how the body develops, or in how the body works.
- Placental abruption. This is a serious condition in which the placenta separates from the wall of the uterus before birth. The placenta supplies the baby with food and oxygen through the umbilical cord. Placental abruption can cause very heavy bleeding and can be deadly for both mother and baby.
- Premature birth. This is birth that happens too early, before 37 weeks of pregnancy.
- Low birthweight. This is when a baby is born weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces.
- Neonatal abstinence syndrome (also called NAS). This is a group of conditions a newborn can have if his mother is addicted to drugs during pregnancy. NAS happens when a baby gets addicted to a drug before birth and then goes through drug withdrawal after birth.
- Stillbirth. This is when a baby dies in the womb after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
- Sudden infant death syndrome (also SIDS). This is the unexplained death of a baby younger than 1 year old.
How to quit
Talk to your health care provider. She can help you get treatment to quit. Or contact:
- National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
(800) 622-2255 - Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator
(800) 662-4357
More information