Substance Abuse in pregnancy
According to the American Pregnancy Association substance abuse in pregnancy causes several types of birth defects. Substance abuse causes the following to the fetus: miscarriage; low birth weight; premature labor; placental absorption; fetal death; and natural death. Miscarriage, low birth weight, premature birth, developmental delays and behavioral and learning problems are the effects of Marijuana, tobacco, and alcohol abuse. Cocaine causes premature birth, fetal death, and withdrawal symptoms such as tremors, sleeplessness, muscle spasms, feeding difficulties, and defects of the genitals, kidneys and brains. Heroin causes breathing difficulties hypoglycemia, interracial hemorrhage, and infant death. PCP and LSD cause low birth weight, poor muscle control, brain damage, and withdrawal symptoms. The American Pregnancy Association believes that pregnant women should abstain from these drugs while for the sake of their babies’ health. I have to agree with The American Pregnancy Association; as a matter of fact I do not believe anyone should use these drugs.
Endangerment of fetus should be treated no different that endangerment of a child, that is, they should be charged for child abuse and neglect. A fetus with a mother who abuses substance is in no less danger than an under-aged child who is left alone. Brown University, University of Miami, University of Tennessee (Memphis), and Wayne State University conducted a randomized study of a total of 717 cocaine-exposed infants, and a total of 7442 none-exposed infants to show the difference between the two groups from birth to discharge. The medical examination of the two groups are as follow: “Cocaine-exposed infants were about 1.2 weeks younger, weighed 536 g less, measured 2.6 cm shorter, and had head circumference 1.5 cm Verter J - Arch smaller than nonexposed[sic] infants” (Bauer, Langer, Shankaran, Bada, Lester, Wight, Verter J - Arch {(2010).
The time period in which substance abuse occurs is significant; in the first and second trimesters danger to the fetus is less than in the third trimester. This does not mean that a mother can decide that she will practice substance abuse until her third trimester; if she can stop in the third she can stop in the beginning. Unfortunately this does not happen these mothers do not care enough to put the welfare of their babies above theirs; even a hint of danger is reason for a mother to exercise caution. Reported in Clinical Psychiatry News; During the third trimester development is momentous; it is like writing an essay the rough draft decides how the essay turns out, however, the editing is going to decide the grade Dr. Beth Nordstrom Bailey says; “It's a time for fine-tuning in pregnancy," Introduction to alcohol at this stage seems to affect explicit attention and social occupations in children and can be easily y evaluated as the they reach school-age years (2009).
The abuse of drugs by pregnant mothers has long term effects on children; and it affects the state also. More often than not t babies of substance abusing mother turned into troubled children who take their troubles into adulthood. Paley and Auerbach report that several problems come with children who suffer from Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
High rates of secondary disabilities have been reported in this population, including mental health problems, school failure, delinquency, plus alcohol and substance abuse problems. Long-term outcomes for adolescents and adults with FASD include increased risk for unemployment, suicidal ideation and behavior, and confinement in psychiatric facilities and correctional institutions (2010).
There ought to be laws that speak for the unfortunate children. Women who practice substance abuse while pregnant should be given mandatory sterilization; these poor children did nothing to warrant the lot that is passed on to them; more often than not, they have to live with the legacy that their uncaring mothers handed down to them.
Reference
Auerbach, Barbara E, Paley, Blair. (2009 “Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in the dependency court system: challenges and recommendations.” Journal of Psychiatry & Law, 1 December , 2010 18. 4. 507
Bauer C. R, Langer J. C, Shankaran S, Bada H. S, Lester B, Wright L. L, Verter J - Arch (2009). “Acute neonatal effects of cocaine exposure during pregnancy”. Clinical Psychiatry News. (2009). 33. 12. 52..
(2010) “Alcohol Exposure in Third Trimester May Affect Children's Higher Order Functions”
Psychiatry News, Vol. 33, No. 10,
