The Consequences of Using Drugs While Pregnant Essay

Many women, including teens, abuse drugs while they are pregnant. This rate is especially high to those who are homeless, underprivileged, or live in a broken home. In order for drug abusers to even have a chance at beating their addiction they have to have support whether it’s family, friends, or boyfriend/spouse. They must also let the abuser now all the consequences to themselves and the unborn child. There are many consequences when using drugs during pregnancy such as miscarriage, health risks to baby, and health risks to the mother. And learning disabilities and brain damage to the fetus. Cassandra has this feeling that Tiffany doesn’t know how serious and devastating it is to use heroin while she is pregnant. So she decides to†¦show more content†¦Infants of regular heavy users usually have a low birth weight, because of intrauterine growth retardation and frequent premature births. (http://www.bookrags.com/research/addicted-babies-edaa-01/) Also if you are regularly abusing the drug, the infant may be born physically dependent on heroin. Children born to addicted mothers are at greater risks of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) as well. (http://www.uatests.com/drug-information/heroin.html) Tiffany looks over at Cassandra with tears running down her face and tells her, â€Å"I don’t know what to do? I want to stop but I can’t! I need to use heroin, I can’t go a few hours without it.† Cassandra hugs her and tells Tiffany, â€Å"Yes you can stop! You just need a little help and support, but you also have to know the risks you pose to yourself.† Tiffany’s doctor then asks her after her and Cassandra finished, â€Å"Do you have any other questions?† Tiffany answers, â€Å"Yes. What health risks am I posing on myself?† The doctor know that there are many health risk factors here for the mother so he starts by say, â€Å"While these risks are reason enough to avoid using the drug, pregnant women who inject heroin also expose themselves and their babies to diseases like HIV, hepatitis, and other blood-borne illnesses.Show MoreRelatedA Brief Note On Drug Use On Infants1572 Words   |  7 PagesDrug Use on Newborns Many women abuse drugs whether they are pregnant or not. In both cases, many women are unaware of the consequences of what drugs can do to their body. However, for pregnant women, the situation is completely different. â€Å"Studies show that using drugs -- legal or illegal -- during pregnancy has a direct impact on the fetus† (Gaither 1). In simpler terms, drug use not only affects their own lives but also affects the lives of their unborn children. 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