Street drugs are also known as illegal or illicit drugs. It is against the law to have or use these drugs. They are bad for you and your unborn child. Street drugs include :

• cocaine
• marijuana
• heroine
• ecstasy, methamphetamine and other club drugs
• prescription drugs that are abused

What is the harmful effect of street drugs on your pregnancy ?

Street drugs can cause problems before and during pregnancy . These include :

• infertility
• placental problems
• preterm labor
• miscarriage
• stillbirth

Babies born to mothers who used street drugs may encounter these complications :

• premature birth
• low birth weight
• heart defects
• smaller than normal head circumference
• birth defects
• neonatal abstinence syndrome
• infections including hepatitis C and HIV

Later in life, these babies may  also encounter these problems

• learning and behavioral problems
• slow growth
• sudden infant death syndrome

It is difficult to tell how each drug will affect pregnancy because most drug users take more than one drug at a time. They may also have  other unhealthy habits such as drinking  alcohol.  They may also not eat a balance diet  or have sexually transmitted disease STD. All these can  cause problems during pregnancy.

How to protect your baby from the harmful effects of street drugs.

The best way to keep your baby safe from street drugs is to avoid them. Your health care provider can help get you treatment to help you quit. Talk to him.

If you use prescription opioids or heroine, dont quite suddenly without getting treatment first. Quitting suddenly can cause severe problems in your baby , including death.

A drug center or your health care provider can treat you with drugs such as methadone or buprenorphine. These drugs will gradually reduce your dependence on opioids and heroine in a way that’s safe for you and your baby.

 
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