The effects of the drug on the unborn baby cannot be underestimated. Drug use by pregnant women has the potential to cause a variety of adverse effects on the fetus, ranging from low infant weight, infant developmental disorders, to death in mother and fetus.
During pregnancy, any substance that enters the pregnant mother’s body will flow through the placenta and umbilical cord to the baby. If Bumil eats healthy food, the baby will feel the nutritional benefits of the food. However, this also means that babies can become ‘drug users’ if Bumil uses drugs.
Various Effects of Drugs on the Unborn Baby
Although the levels are small, babies can feel the negative effects of drugs if Bumil takes illicit drugs. This effect can hurt the baby from the time he is still in the womb until birth.
The following are the types of drugs and their effects on infants:
1. Heroin
Heroin is included in one of the illicit drugs that can be consumed by the fetus through the placenta. Due to its addictive nature, unborn babies can also become dependent on this drug and experience withdrawal symptoms. This condition is known as neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS).
Symptoms of NAS in newborns include excessive crying, fever, seizures, slow weight gain, diarrhea, and vomiting. This condition can also cause death in infants.
2. Cocaine
Babies from mothers who use cocaine during pregnancy are at high risk of being born prematurely and have lower birth weight , head circumference, and body length. In addition, the use of cocaine during pregnancy can also increase the risk of miscarriage that occurs suddenly.
3. Marijuana
Marijuana or marijuana is one of the most common illicit drugs. Although many people think marijuana is safe to use, there are many studies that support that the use of this drug during pregnancy causes low birth weight and premature birth.
In addition, one study also reported that some babies born to pregnant mothers who used marijuana had developmental disorders of the nervous system, which were characterized by visual impairment, high-pitched crying, and trembling bodies.
4. Methadone
Methadone is actually an opioid pain reliever, but it can still lead to addiction. Although the effects are not as great as opioids such as heroin, this drug can also cause newborns to experience withdrawal symptoms, such as diarrhea, stomach cramps, skin lesions, and incessant crying.
5. Methamphetamine
The use of methamphetamine or sabu-sabu during pregnancy also causes many adverse effects on the fetus. Among them are increasing the risk of premature birth, placental abruption, miscarriage, low birth weight, as well as heart and brain disorders.
6. PCP & LSD
Using hallucinogenic drugs such as PCP & LSD during pregnancy can increase the risk of pregnant women hurting themselves and thus hurting their babies as well. In addition, hallucinogens can also make babies born with low birth weight, congenital abnormalities, and brain damage.
How to Deal with Pregnant Women Using Drug Users
If Bumil uses drugs, consult a gynecologist and ask how to stop using drugs safely, without causing dangerous symptoms of drug withdrawal.
Keep it clear to the doctor or midwife that Bumil is a drug user so that they can provide care and attention according to the needs of Bumil and the fetus.
Meanwhile, for women who use drugs but are planning a pregnancy, it is highly recommended to get medical help and counseling before getting pregnant. This is important to prevent serious disorders during pregnancy, during childbirth, and after childbirth, as well as to prevent abnormalities in the fetus.
Pregnancy is an award that needs to be taken care of as best as possible. So, as much as possible make sure the body is healthy and free from harmful substances during pregnancy. Therefore, always cultivate a healthy lifestyle by avoiding drug abuse.