Pregnant women who take methadone to help overcome drug addiction may worry about the effect on pregnancy. Because quitting methadone can lead to withdrawal symptoms that cause miscarriages and pregnancy complications, the National Institute on Drug Abuse International recommends continuing treatment for the health of the mother and to protect the unborn child. Mothers should still study the effects of methadone in pregnancy to be ready when the baby is born, however.
Lowered Risk of Miscarriage
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse International report on the safety of methadone for pregnant women, expectant mothers on a methadone plan have a lower risk of miscarriage than regular addicts not being treated. Miscarriage is avoided since the methadone prevents swings in opioid levels in the mother's system and promotes healthy prenatal behavior.
Lower Birth Weight
The website Methadone and Pregnancy reports that babies born to mothers on methadone are generally smaller than normal. This is a side effect of the methadone, and it can manifest itself in the form of lower overall birth weight and smaller head size. These smaller than normal babies, however, catch up to normal sizes with time. The National Institute on Drug Abuse International reports that there are no negative neuro-behaviorial effects on babies who have low birth weights because of methadone.
Addiction to Methadone
Since the 1970s, doctors have known that methadone crosses the placenta barrier into children, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse International. This results in developing children who are dependent on methadone, so any change in dosage needs to be monitored for its effect on both mothers and unborn children. This is especially important in the last trimester, when increased blood volume levels in the mother can dilute the overall level of methadone in the blood.
Damage to Eyesight
According to a 2010 study published in the "British Journal of Opthamology," methadone in pregnancy can reduce eyesight quality in children. The methadone has been linked to blurry vision, near-sightedness, and an inability to control eye muscles to stabilize visual focus. There were 20 infants in the study who had been referred after birth when it was noticed that their eyesight quality was poor.
References
- "British Journal of Opthamology": Opthalmic, Clinical, and Visual Effects of Methadone in Pregnancy
- Methadone and Pregnancy: Methadone & Pregnancy
- National Institute on Drug Abuse International: Is Methadone Safe for Pregnant Women and Their Infants?
- National Institute on Drug Abuse International: Question 11: Is It Necessary to Reduce Methadone Dose or Detoxify Women from Methadone During Pregnancy?
