Do illegal drugs cause birth defects?
Women who use illegal drugs, or “street drugs,” can have babies who are small, premature, or have other health problems, such as birth defects. Women who use cocaine while pregnant are more likely to have babies with birth defects of the limbs, gut, kidneys, urinary system, and heart. Other drugs, such as marijuana and ecstasy, may also cause birth defects in babies. Women should not use street drugs while they are pregnant. It is also important that women not use street drugs after they give birth because drugs can be passed through breast milk and can affect a baby’s growth and development. Talk with your health care provider about ways to help you quit using street drugs before you get pregnant.
YES! Anything you do while your pregnant can potentially harm the developping fetus. When you get drunk or high your baby will have the same effects. It could cause birth defects, brain damage, learning disabilities, all sorts of problems. If you want to see some images of thalidomide victims, researche it on google. Thalidomide was a drug used in the 60’s by pregnant women to help them cope with morning sickness. Millions of these women gave birth to mutated babies. These babies had no arms or legs, so basically at their shoulder you would see hands and near their pelvis’ you would see feet. Not a pretty sight. The drug was taken of the maket only a year later.
Does exposure to the MMR vaccine cause birth defects? Other vaccines? When in pregnancy do birth defects happen? What can I do to keep germs from harming my baby and me? What kind of health care provider can help find out what caused my babys birth defect? Who coordinates the health care of my child who has a birth defect? What does a genetic counselor do? Where can I find a clinical geneticist or genetic counselor? Where can I get information about my baby’s birth defect? How can I get in touch with parents of a child with the same birth defect as my child? What should I do to have a healthy pregnancy? What is CDC doing to prevent and help find the causes for birth defects? Birth Defects Birth Defects Home > Basic Facts > FAQs Birth Defects: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
