How alcohol, tobacco, and drugs affect your unborn baby—and where to get help.

During pregnancy, there are many steps you can take to keep yourself and your baby healthy—such as getting regular prenatal care, eating nutritious foods, and staying active. One of the most critical steps is avoiding harmful substances like tobacco, alcohol, and drugs, which can cause serious health issues for both mother and baby.

Smoking during pregnancy exposes your baby to nicotine, carbon monoxide, and many other harmful chemicals. Nicotine not only endangers your health, but it can also damage your baby’s developing brain and lungs. Carbon monoxide reduces the oxygen available to the fetus.

If you smoke while pregnant, you are at greater risk of:

  • Having a baby born too small or too early
  • Birth defects
  • Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) during the baby’s first year
  • Long-term health issues in your child, such as asthma and obesity

Other tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, are also unsafe. E-cigarettes contain nicotine, and some flavoring chemicals may be harmful to developing babies.

Avoiding secondhand smoke is equally important, as it carries similar risks as direct smoking.

There is no known safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy or while trying to conceive. All types of alcohol—wine, beer, and spirits—can harm a developing baby.

Risks of drinking alcohol during pregnancy include:

  • Fetal growth problems
  • Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs): lifelong conditions that can cause a mix of physical, behavioral, and learning challenges

Using illegal drugs during pregnancy—such as cocaine, methamphetamines, or club drugs—can cause:

  • Low birth weight
  • Birth defects
  • Miscarriage
  • Learning and developmental disabilities

If drugs are injected, the mother may also contract HIV, which can be transmitted to the baby during pregnancy.

Misuse of Prescription Medications

Misusing prescription drugs can also harm both mother and child. Misuse includes:

  • Taking more than the prescribed dose
  • Using medication to get high
  • Taking someone else’s prescription

The effects vary depending on the medication but may include serious pregnancy complications and developmental issues for the baby.

Opioids are a major concern during pregnancy. These include prescription painkillers like oxycodone, hydrocodone, fentanyl, and tramadol, as well as the illegal drug heroin.

Risks associated with opioid use during pregnancy:

  • Birth defects
  • Preterm labor
  • Stillbirth
  • Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) – withdrawal symptoms in newborns

If your healthcare provider recommends opioid treatment during pregnancy for pain, it’s important to discuss the risks and benefits thoroughly and explore ways to reduce harm.

Cannabis use during pregnancy is not considered safe. Some studies link cannabis to developmental delays in children and teens. Though more research is needed, the CDC recommends avoiding cannabis while pregnant.

Getting Help

If you are pregnant and using any of these substances, speak to your healthcare provider https://clinicaromero.com/. You’re not alone—and help is available. Together, you and your provider can find the right treatment to support your health and your baby’s development.

If you are using opioids or are addicted to drugs, do not stop suddenly, as it can be dangerous for you and your baby. Instead, seek professional medical guidance to quit safely and effectively.

You and your baby deserve a healthy, strong start. Reach out today—your journey to recovery can begin now.