The American Pregnancy Association explains that many pregnant women who take methadone do so as a treatment method for a heroin addiction. Although methadone may be prescribed to get off of an illicit drug, it has its own consequences when taken during pregnancy. Pregnant women should work closely with their doctors and take methadone only as prescribed during pregnancy.
Newborn Withdrawal
Withdrawal symptoms can occur in newborns whose mother took methadone during pregnancy. The University of Washington Academic Medical Center explains that babies born addicted to methadone do not exhibit any withdrawal symptoms for the first 24 to 48 hours, and they may not appear for five to 10 days after birth. Withdrawal can cause babies to sleep less than normal and cause tremors, muscle jerkiness and fast breathing. Fever, sweating, congestion, sneezing and a poor suck reflex can also occur. The intensity of withdrawal symptoms is not dependent on the mother's dosage of methadone.
Negative Birth Outcomes
According to the Drug Safety Society, women who take methadone during pregnancy have an increased risk of negative birth outcomes. The risk of stillbirth and death during infancy increase, and therefore it is recommended that pregnant women work with their doctors to discontinue methadone use during the pregnancy if possible.
Newborn Size
Methadone use during pregnancy can influence the size of the newborn baby. Katie Clark, a licensed drug and alcohol counselor in Maine, explains that methadone use can cause the baby to have low birth weight and a small head circumference. These babies usually catch up in size as they grow.
Increased SIDS Risk
The Drug Safety Society explains that there is a possible increased risk of SIDS, or sudden infant death syndrome, in infants born to mothers who took methadone during pregnancy. Research studies are mixed in their conclusions, although the Drug Safety Society does note that neonatal drug withdrawal seems to increase the SIDS risk.
