subject: Substance Abuse Of Mothers: What New Born Babies Suffer [print this page] It is important for pregnant women to be aware that whatever they drink, eat or snort is likely to directly pass through their bloodstream and go to the circulatory system of their baby through the umbilical cord. This suggests that what they may feel can also be felt by the baby. There are babies who are born with the negative effects of their mother's drug abuse.
Using medicines during pregnancy can result in negative effects that can be suffered by a baby inside a mother's womb. Because of this, it is important to recognize the signs and symptoms of addiction that are found in babies in order to get immediate help. Many rehab center specialists say that neonatal abstinence syndrome is a typical sign and symptom that is common in newborn babies who sufffered from their mother's drug addiction.
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Neonatal abstinence syndrome ais a condition that can be suffered by a baby when he withdraws from an exposure to drugs. Nearly every medication that a mother takes passes through the placenta to her baby. A mother who is addicted to illicit substances can also have a baby who is dependent on the same substances. According to drug and alcohol rehab program specialists, the addiction of the baby on the substances will continue at birth. But as the medicine is no longer available, the central nervous system of the newborn becomes over-stimulated which leads to withdrawal symptoms.
Some medicines can result in neonatal abstinence syndrome; however, almost all of them influence the baby in the same way. Many babies who have been exposed to opiates like methadone and heroin, narcotics, barbiturates as well as amphetamines may also experience withdrawal symptoms.
Learning Disabilities
A baby who has been addicted to drugs at birth is likely to experience learning gaps that include rolling over, crawling, walking and interacting in school in the future. The seriousness of this delay will rely upon the medicine that he is addicted to and the severity of his mother's drug abuse.
Cardiac Problems
A baby who has been exposed to medications before birth may have problems in his heart rhythms and rates. It is likely that the baby will have a rapid heartbeat and high blood pressure.
Pregnant women should consider that there's a life inside them. Therefore they should be careful with what they are consuming to prevent the baby in their womb from developing an addiction to to certain substances.
