Maternal drug abuse with legal or illegal drugs has continued to rise over time. All drugs of abuse reach the fetus during pregnancy. Once the umbilical cord is cut in the delivery room, the baby must be closely monitored for signs of withdrawal. Severe withdrawal signs can start shortly after delivery and can last as long as 4 to 6 months.
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
With drug abuse, there is a high likelihood that the baby has become passively addicted to the drugs while he was in the uterus. Abrupt withdrawal from opioids such as heroin and methadone, a synthetic opiate, cause a condition known as neonatal abstinence syndrome. Many of the symptoms are caused by the effects the drugs had on the baby's developing brain and central nervous system. When withdrawing, the baby would show signs of irritability, tremors and high pitch cry. It is also common to see a lack of good sleeping patterns. The baby would also have an exaggerated rooting reflex and attempt to suck frequently on his fist or thumbs. Even though it appears he wants to eat, he would be unable to coordinate his suck and swallow. According to the 2006 book, "Handbook of Neonatal Intensive Care", approximately 7 percent of methadone exposed babies have seizures. Seizures occur less often in heroin exposed babies. If a baby's symptoms become severe, a doctor will determine if he needs to give him some medications to manage the symptoms. Babies with this syndrome can prove difficult to console. It will be important for parents and caregivers to work with health care staff to determine what to do.
Prematurity and Low Birth Weight
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and SAMHSA's National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information, low birth weight in babies is associated with mothers who use heroin during pregnancy. The low birth weight generally results because of prematurity and overall growth retardation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that women who smoked throughout pregnancy have a 30 percent greater chance in having a premature baby.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
The risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, SIDS, should be considered when drug abuse involved, especially methadone in combination with other substances like nicotine and stimulants. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services validates this by claiming SIDS is associated with maternal opiate use; methadone having higher incidence over heroin.
Respiratory Distress
Opiate use during pregnancy may alter fetal development of the respiratory system. Infants exposed to drug abuse often exhibit respiratory distress syndrome and may need supplemental oxygen after delivery. Other respiratory complications include fast breathing, nasal flaring and possibly the lack of breathing.
Vision Impairment
Vision impairment can happen at any time, even before birth. Children born early due to drug abuse present a risk for developing retinopathy of prematurity, ROP, which refers to scarring of the retina of the eye. Advanced stages of ROP are severe and can cause low vision or even blindness in the baby.
References
- "Handbook of Neonatal Intensive Care"; Gerald Merenstein, Sandra Gardner; 2006
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and SAMSA's National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information: Improving Treatment for Drug-Exposed Infants
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Tobacco Use and Pregnancy
