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Effects of
Smoking, Alcohol and Illegal Drugs
on the Fetus
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Here is an extract from the ebook "Pregnancy from A to Z"
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Effects of Smoking, Alcohol and Illegal Drugs on the Fetus
Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can harm the growing fetus and cause ‘fetal alcohol syndrome’ (FAS).
What is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)?
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a group of birth defects caused by drinking alcohol during pregnancy.
Children with FAS have many physical, mental and behavioral problems.
Babies with FAS are small and underweight. As they get older, they often have trouble with learning,
attention, memory and problem solving. They may have poor coordination, be impulsive and have
speech and hearing problems.
FAS does not go away. Its effects last a lifetime. Adults with FAS often have trouble with work and
personal relationships. Many also have legal problems.
FAS cannot be cured. But, FAS is 100% preventable by not drinking alcohol while pregnant.
Sometimes children of women who drank alcohol during pregnancy have some, but not all of the
problems of FAS. These people are said to have a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).
The most common birth defects or problems of FAS?
Many different types of birth defects are caused by drinking alcohol during pregnancy.
Common problems in children with FAS include:
Faces that do not look normal. They often have thin upper lips, short noses, short eye openings and
flat cheeks.
Growth problems. They are often small and short for their age.
Brain damage. They may be mentally retarded.
Problems with development, learning, and behavior.
Sometimes children have some, but not all, of the alcohol-related problems of FAS. Experts may say
they have fetal alcohol effects (FAE) but not FAS. Doctors also use some other terms, including ‘Alcohol-
related birth defects’ (ARBD) and ‘Alcohol-related neurodevelopment disorder’ (ARND), for children who
have some of these alcohol-related problems.
Alcohol-related birth defects’ (ARBD): Children with ARBD do not have FAS. But, they do have one or
more physical birth defects caused by alcohol. These may be problems with the face, eyes, ears, heart,
brain or limbs.
Alcohol-related neurodevelopment disorder (ARND): Children with ARND have some brain damage
caused by alcohol, but these children have milder symptoms than kids with FAS or ARBD. This may
mean that doctors have a harder time diagnosing their problem(s). The children often have trouble in
school and other behaviorial problems.
How Does Alcohol Cause These Problems?
When a pregnant woman drinks beer, wine, hard liquor, or other alcoholic drinks, alcohol gets into her
blood. This alcohol travels to her baby through the umbilical cord. Once the alcohol is in the baby's
body, it can cause birth defects.
Drinking alcohol in the early stages of pregnancy can cause the facial and other physical defects of
FAS. Drinking alcohol at any time during pregnancy can slow down the baby's growth and harm the
baby's brain. There is no safe time during pregnancy to drink any amount of alcohol. Any time that a
pregnant woman drinks alcohol, there is a chance the baby will be harmed.
Can FAS be Cured?
No. FAS is permanent.
But children with FAS can be helped. Regular medical care, hearing aids and eyeglasses can help these
children live more normal lives. Children with FAS need special help at school. As children with FAS get
older, they often need special services and support to help them live on their own.
Is it Okay to Drink a Little Alcohol During Pregnancy?
There is no known safe amount of alcohol a woman can drink while pregnant, any amount can harm
the baby. So, it is best not to drink alcohol at all if:
- You are trying to get pregnant,
- there is a chance you could be pregnant, or
Not all pregnant women who drink alcohol have babies with FAS. But the only sure way to prevent
FAS, ARBD and ARND is to not drink alcohol during pregnancy. If you are pregnant and have been
drinking, stop now to protect your baby. If you need help to stop, talk with your doctor.
What happens when a pregnant woman decides to continue smoking through her pregnancy?
The baby suffers.
Every time a pregnant mother takes a drag from a cigarette, normal fetal breathing movements (a sign
of a healthy fetus) are reduced within five minutes. Women who smoke while pregnant are also at
increased risk for:
- Ectopic pregnancy and spontaneous abortion
- Premature rupture of membranes
- The placenta separating from the uterus
- Abnormal location of the placenta, which can cause massive hemorrhaging during delivery and
pre-term delivery.
Infants that are born to women who smoke during pregnancy have lower than average birth weight
and are more likely to be small for their age. Low birth weight is associated with increased risk for
death.
The longer that the mother smokes during pregnancy, the greater the effect on the infant's weight.
The risk for sudden infant death syndrome is also higher for offspring of women who smoke during
pregnancy.
And it doesn't stop there. Another study shows that children exposed to tobacco smoke in the womb
are more likely to get asthma and suffer from other serious diseases.
Researchers found an 80 percent increase in the prevalence of asthma among children exposed to
tobacco smoke in the womb.
Some other studies have showed a connection of smoking during pregnancy to finger and toe
deformities and developing ADHD in babies born by smokers:
“Smoking during pregnancy greatly increases the risk of having a baby with finger or toe
deformities, according to a study covering more than 6.8 million births in the United States
during 2001 and 2002.
Women who smoked one to ten cigarettes a day during pregnancy had a 29 percent increased
risk of having a baby with finger or toe deformities, the study found. Smoking 11 to 20 cigarettes
a day raised the risk by 38 percent, while smoking 21 or more cigarettes a day raised the risk by
78 percent.”
And, from a report about ADHD:
“Women who smoke during pregnancy are nearly twice as likely to have children with attention-
deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a new study finds.
"This study serves to underline the fact that women who are pregnant should stop smoking,"
said lead researcher Dr. Karen Markussen Linnet, a pediatrician at Aarhus University Hospital in
Denmark. "We are not able to make a certain conclusion, but this study points out that there is
an association between smoking and ADHD."
Using Illegal Drugs During Pregnancy
1)Cocaine use during pregnancy can affect a pregnant woman and her unborn baby in many ways:
- Increased risk of miscarriage in early pregnancy
- Preterm labor
- Low birth weight and poor growth of baby
- Lifelong disabilities such as mental retardation and cerebral palsy
- Babies exposed to cocaine tend to have smaller heads, which reflects smaller brains
- Increased risk of birth defects, including urinary tract defects and heart defects
2) Marijuana during pregnancy may:
- Slow fetal growth and slightly decrease the length of pregnancy (possibly increasing the risk of
premature delivery).
- Increase the chance of having a low-birth weight baby
- Cause some babies to have withdrawal-like symptoms including excessive crying and trembling after
delivery
Marijuana may reduce fertility in both men and women, making it more difficult to conceive.
The long-term outlook for babies exposed to marijuana before birth is different according to different
studies.
Some did not find any increased risk of learning or behavioral problems. However, others found that
children who are exposed to marijuana before birth are more likely to have subtle problems that affect
their ability to pay attention and to solve visual problems. Exposed children do not appear to have a
decrease in IQ.
Taking Ecstasy and Other Amphetamines During Pregnancy
The use of Ecstasy has increased dramatically in recent years. Common complications to pregnancies
may include:
- an increased risk of birth defects, including cleft palate, heart and limb defects.
- Pregnancy complications (including maternal high blood pressure which can slow fetal growth
and cause other complications for the mother and baby), premature delivery and excessive
bleeding in the mother.
- Withdrawal-like symptoms, including jitteriness, drowsiness and breathing problems in babies
exposed to amphetamines and ecstasy
The long-term outlook for these children is not known. One very small study (only 12 children) found
that 7 and 8 year-old children who were exposed to Ecstasy before birth had altered levels of a
specific brain chemical.
However, it is not known whether this has any effect on learning or behavior, as there was no
evidence of problems in these children. One recent animal study did find that rats that were exposed
to Ecstasy during the period that corresponds to the third trimester of human pregnancy suffered life-
long deficits in memory and learning. It is not yet known whether this will hold true for exposed
children.
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You like the above extract from the ebook "Pregnancy from A to Z"? Then, read on...
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Dear Mom To Be,
Whether you are trying to get pregnant or are already expecting you no doubt have dozens of
questions that you would like to have answered.
Written by a medical professional, “Pregnancy From A to Z” is just what the doctor ordered to answer
all your questions. In fact, it probably has answers to questions you haven’t even asked yet!
“Pregnancy From A to Z” not only discusses the entire aspects of pregnancy, it also sheds light on
what you should do before becoming pregnant to insure a healthy and happy child.
What’s more is a full chapter discussion about increasing the odds for having a boy or a girl! No
guarantees of course, but there are things you can do to sway the odds in your favor.
What we hope you will learn is how to be prepared for what is to come as your pregnancy
progresses. Why should you read “Pregnancy From A to Z?”
Because of the author!
Not only is the author a medical doctor specializing in women and children’s health issues, she is also a
wife and mother. And as if that weren’t enough, in addition to traditional medicine she explores the
alternative methods as well and incorporates a holistic approach to her practice.
As you can see in the following list “Pregnancy From A to Z” covers it all:
- Symptoms of early pregnancy
- Calculation of delivery date
- Development of pregnancy: what happens to your baby inside the womb on different pregnancy
stages
- What happens to your body as pregnancy progresses
- What to avoid during pregnancy
- Effect of smoking, alcohol and illegal drugs on fetus
- Bleeding during early and late pregnancy
- Morning sickness: what can be done to help
- Risk factors for baby, abnormalities; when some investigations need to be done (like US and/or
amniocentesis)
- The use of anti-D in pregnancy
- Group Streptococcus (GBS) in pregnancy
- Childbirth explanation – normal labor, Caesarean section
- Anesthetics used for childbirth
- Evaluation of newborn – Apgar score- what does it mean?
- Two to tango: father’s role during pregnancy
- Birth choices. Water birth
- What is ectopic pregnancy (risk, future chances for normal pregnancy)?
All this and more await you in “Pregnancy From A to Z” a definite must have to answer all those
burning questions about becoming pregnant.
Who better to teach you than a medical professional who is also a wife and mother?
Grab your copy now for yourself or as the ultimate gift to a friend or loved one.
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"Pregnancy A to Z" ebook normally retails for $17. However, I am offering you a very special offer: You
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Brought to you by Jacob Gan, PhD (Michigan)
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