Fetal Drug Addiction: Abuse to the Fetus by Drugs
Abusing substances and drugs during pregnancy can have serious repercussions on an unborn child. This kind of abuse isn’t limited to illegal drugs, but also includes the misuse and excessive intake of prescription medicine and alcohol.
Fetal drug addiction basically means that the fetus, still in the womb of its mother, becomes addicted to the substances that she ingests, that consequently makes its way to the baby’s system as well. In certain cases this can mean that the baby is born with physical defects because of this abuse. Some babies are fortunate to have no apparent problems.
Physical manifestations of this abuse on infants can include a low birth weight, skeletal defects, respiratory defects, stunted growth, and difficulty with vision, breathing and even sleeping. More extreme cases include missing fingers or toes, hyperactive reflexes and mental retardation.
Aside from physical defects, withdrawal symptoms are not uncommon among babies who have been exposed to these harmful substances fed to them through their mother’s womb. Just like its effects on any other human being, substance abuse has a direct effect on the central nervous system. Infants are much more vulnerable than adults to this kind of damage to their brains as they are exposed to drug abuse while their organs develop in the womb. Some infants suffering from fetal drug addiction have been observed to have poor motor skills, a much shorter attention span, psychological disorders, problems with speech, hearing and vision, and a lower mental performance than those of their age.
I have seen some crack-addicted babies from birth that are now teens and seem to have no problems, which is quite fortunate.
In some cases, fetal drug addiction are due in part of the mother’s carelessness such as her continuous ingestion of illegal drugs like heroine, marijuana, cocaine and alcohol, without prior knowledge that she is pregnant. It’s always important to consult a physician for proper pre-natal care as the first sign or hint that one is with child, to avoid such deformities.
Is it me or how can someone jeapordize their own kid just to get high on crack or some other drug? The baby should be what gives you joy. I just don’t get why someone could be able to live with themselves and endager a newborn who can be coke addicted or a heroine baby. Yuck
Thanks for the post.
I really need to be honest here. I cringe when I read posts like this because I think about the potential damage to a future generation. It isn’t always the case that addiction is passed on, or birth defects for that matter, but the chances are greater than not.
In the throws of addiction it is nearly impossible for that future mother to understand what she is potentially creating. In many ways she can’t help herself.
I am one angry Mother I believe that children are a blessing and God just doesn’t give them to us he loans them to us to take care of. And right now I am beside myself when my best-friend has been doing all the above and she wants me to coach her and throw her a baby shower and be in the delivery room and I just told her you will regret this for the rest of your life. And it so sad she has a disease but, theres no excuse. That fetus can’t speek they have rights.