Teratogens refers to environmental toxins that can harm a fetus through the mother, causing birth defects. These toxins can come from many places—and no one seems to agree on exactly which chemicals are problematic.
However, drugs (some prescription and illegal), alcohol, and tobacco products are among those chemicals experts can agree are definitely not good for your baby. If it goes into your body, then it's being shared with your developing child. If you have a problem with substance abuse of any kind, talk to your OB/GYN immediately to find a program near you that can help.
Alcohol Abuse
The general rule of thumb during pregnancy is no alcohol. Some burgeoning moms feel comfortable indulging in a glass of wine on special occasions, and admittedly, one glass is highly unlikely to pose a problem. Imbibing frequently or in large quantities, though, can pose a very real threat to your unborn child.
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are a range of congenital diseases (meaning, present at birth) that develop as a result of the overindulgence of alcohol during pregnancy. Alcohol impacts the child by interfering with both physical and mental growth, as well as changing the way the skull and facial features develop. FASD present differently in different children and may be moderate to severe or cause problems with different areas of development (i.e. behavioral or developmental). There are no cures for FASD, and it is a lifelong issue. FASD are, however, 100% preventable through alcohol abstinence.
Illegal Drugs
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that not only can substance abuse seriously impair a woman’s ability to parent, but it can also cause "miscarriage, stillbirth, low birth weight, prematurity, physical malformations and neurological damage" in children. In addition to these long-term concerns, addictive drugs, like heroin or prescription painkillers, can cause withdrawal symptoms in newborn babies.
According to Standford Children’s Hospital, cocaine is largely a problem because of the toxicity of the chemicals to the infant’s system. Fifty percent of newborns with long-term opiate exposure experience withdrawal. Amphetamines, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and alcohol may also result in withdrawal symptoms.
Called neonatal abstinence syndrome, these babies may experience shaking, crankiness, yawning, sneezing, diarrhea, vomiting, seizures, birth defects, low birth weight, premature birth, sleep disturbance, excessive crying, poor feeding, fever, dehydration, and sweating. In short, they experience roughly the same symptoms as withdrawing adults, but to a much greater degree and with little bodies unprepared for the intensity.
Getting Help
The scariest part of asking for help is admitting there’s a problem. There is also fear at how your obstetrician is going to react. The sooner you get it over with, the better things are going to be—for both you and the baby. Once you give birth and go to your postnatal check up, you never have to see that doctor again if you don’t want to. Doctors and nurses in the maternity ward have a keen eye for withdrawal symptoms. While you might not necessarily be given a drug test, one can be performed on a newborn’s first stool (called meconium). This test can detect drug use for as far back as the 16th to 20th week of gestation.
Many rehabilitation centers have programs specifically for pregnant mothers. This not only gives you a safe place to get clean, but it also surrounds you with women going through the same problem, allowing you to create a network of support. Alternative clinics offer methadone or suboxone programs, which replace opiate addictions with a carefully monitored regimen. It is important to understand that these medications can both cause withdrawal in newborns (methadone in particular), but they are undoubtedly safer than heroin or someone else’s medication. In some cases, withdrawal can occur while the baby is still in the womb, which makes it important to begin treatment early in the pregnancy. Going "cold turkey" without medical supervision is not a good idea during pregnancy.
The use of illicit substances or prescription medication that isn’t yours puts you at a very real risk of facing custodial issues and a long, hard battle with Child Protective Services. Seek help for quitting now—if not for your baby, then for yourself.
