What Risks Do Babies Exposed to Drugs in the Womb Face?

Booze and Drug Exposure

• Drug Exposure
• Fetal Booze Syndrome

Drug Exposure

Drug exposure to a developing fetus has been associated with potential side effects and even long-term issues for the child. It is ofttimes difficult, however, to estimate the long-term consequences to a child, as much depends on the extent of prenatal care, nutrition, and quality of early on parenting and whether information technology involves neglect or abuse. Information technology is estimated that up to ten% of women in the United States use illegal drugs during their pregnancies. These include central nervous system depressants, such as sedatives and narcotics; stimulants, including cocaine and amphetamines; and hallucinogens, including LSD and PCP. The furnishings of drug exposure on a baby depend on the item substance existence abused, only they can include birth defects, low birthweight, and neurological changes. Effects may be subtle and may include developmental deficits affecting beliefs and learning abilities.

Some of the drugs which take been studied as to their effects on newborns include:

• Cocaine: Information technology is estimated that ane to 5% of babies in the U.S. have been exposed to cocaine during pregnancy. It is associated with decreased blood catamenia in the uterus, which can cause poor oxygen to the fetus and an increase in the baby'south blood force per unit area and middle rate. Babies may take depression birth weight, intrauterine growth retardation, microcephaly, neurological delay, and concrete defects, especially involving the digestive system and kidneys.
• Methamphetamines: Women who use meth during pregnancy can have babies with bug like to those seen with the use of cocaine in pregnancy. Meth causes the baby to get less oxygen, which may pb to low birth weight. Babies can be born addicted to methamphetamine and suffer withdrawal symptoms that include tremors, involuntary muscle spasms, irritability, and feeding difficulties. Some experts believe that learning difficulties may result as the kid ages.
• Sedatives and Hypnotics: The use of sedatives and hypnotics during pregnancy often leads to physical dependency in the baby. Newborns may go through withdrawal symptoms following birth. Children exposed to these drugs during pregnancy may have behavioral and nervous system disorders, plus digestive and respiratory issues.
• Narcotics: Narcotic abuse during pregnancy is associated with a higher-than-normal incidence of a baby being born prematurely. Infants exposed to heroin during pregnancy are at a higher risk of having low birth weight, congenital birth defects, and respiratory issues. Up to 75% of babies who are built-in to heroin addicts show signs of addiction themselves, going through oft difficult withdrawal symptoms the starting time few days of life. Symptoms may include tremors, poor feeding ability, breathing issues, irritability, diarrhea, fever, and weight loss.

Prognosis:
Picayune is documented about the long-term consequence of children exposed to drugs during pregnancy. Attempts to assess the furnishings of drug exposure on newborns are difficult due to the many medical and environmental variables present. Even so the enquiry which has been washed shows that the majority of children do well when placed in loving and nurturing families.

Resources:

• Prenatal Substance Abuse: Short- and Long-term Effects on the Exposed Fetus
• Princeton Academy: Drug-Exposed Infants

Fetal Booze Syndrome

Fetal Booze Syndrome (FAS) is a condition which results from booze exposure during the nativity mother'south pregnancy. The severity of FAS varies from child to child, but the defects presenting with this syndrome are non reversible. Children with FAS often accept distinct facial features, including smaller eye openings, flattened cheekbones, and an underdeveloped groove betwixt the olfactory organ and the upper lip. They also may have the following weather:

• Low nativity weight
• Pocket-sized head circumference
• Failure to thrive
• Developmental delays
• Poor coordination and fine motor skills
• Poor socialization skills, such equally difficulty making friends
• Poor coordination and fine motor skills
• Learning difficulties, including poor retentivity, poor language comprehension, and poor trouble-solving skills
• Behavioral problems, including hyperactivity, inability to concentrate, social withdrawal, impulsiveness, disobedience, and feet

Causes:
When a pregnant woman drinks booze, some of that booze passes across the placenta to the fetus, which does not process alcohol the same fashion as an developed. Impairment tin can exist done in the first few weeks of pregnancy when a adult female might not all the same know that she is pregnant. The adventure increases if the mother is a heavy drinker, although there is no known amount of alcohol that is safe to drink while pregnant.

Treatment:
There is no cure for FAS. The physical defects and mental deficiencies typically persist for a lifetime. However therapy and early intervention services can help reduce some of the effects of FAS and help a child make developmental progress. Medications may exist prescribed to help with behavioral issues.

Resources:

• Centers for Disease Control
• Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
• Fetal Booze Exposure

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Source: https://www.adoptspecialneeds.org/special-needs/alcohol-and-drug-exposure/

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