Residential and Outpatient Handbook - Plymouth - 76

Health Facts & Additional Info
Pregnancy & Substance Use
Smoking & pregnancy
Smoking decreases your chances for conception and
reduces sperm count. Smoking during pregnancy can
lead to developmental problems, low birth weight,
miscarriages, preterm labor, and stillbirths. While you are
pregnant, it's crucial that you stay away from things that
can harm your baby. Cigarette smoke (even if it is secondhand
smoke), is harmful to your baby.
Opioid Use & Pregnancy
It is not recommended for people to discontinue opioids
during pregnancy without the help of a healthcare
provider. People who are pregnant and using opioids
such as heroin, oxycodone or others should talk to their
doctors about being treated for opioid use disorder
with the help of medication and therapy support.
Stopping opioids " cold turkey " and experiencing opioid
withdrawal can lead to adverse outcomes for parent and
baby.
Cannabis Use & Pregnancy
It is not recommended for people to use cannabis
during pregnancy. Adverse outcomes such as babies
with low birth weight have been associated with
smoking marijuana in pregnancy. In addition, cannabis
has also been linked to problems with childhood
development and learning later on.
Methamphetamine Use &
Pregnancy
It is not recommended for people to use
methamphetamine during pregnancy. Use of this
stimulant has been associated with placental abruption
(tearing of the placenta from the uterus), which
increases health risks to parent and baby. Low birth
weight, heart and brain complications in the fetus have
also been found. Some studies suggest that children
who were exposed to methamphetamine prenatally may
develop learning disorders or behavioral issues as well.
Drinking while pregnant
Alcohol use during pregnancy is one of the top
preventable causes of birth defects and developmental
disabilities. There is no known amount of alcohol that
is safe to drink while pregnant. There is no time during
pregnancy when it is safe to drink. When a pregnant
person drinks alcohol, their baby does too.
* Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause many
different birth defects and developmental disabilities.
These are known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
(FASDs) and include fetal alcohol syndrome.
* FASDs can adversely affect how a person looks,
grows, thinks, and acts. FASDs can also cause birth
defects of the heart, brain, and other major organs.
* About one in twelve pregnant people in the United
States reports alcohol use. And about one in thirty
pregnant people in the United States reports binge
drinking (having five or more drinks at one time).
* Alcohol can harm a baby at any time during
pregnancy. It can cause problems in the early weeks
of pregnancy, before a person even knows they are
pregnant.
* The good news is that FASDs are 100 percent
preventable if a person does not drink alcohol while
they are pregnant.
* Health professionals should ask all of their patients
of childbearing age about alcohol use. They should
tell people about the risks of using alcohol during
pregnancy and advise them not to drink alcohol
during pregnancy.
The U.S. Surgeon General wants people to know they
should not drink alcohol during pregnancy.
* A pregnant person should not drink alcohol.
* A pregnant person who has already used alcohol
during their pregnancy should stop right away.
* A person who is thinking about getting pregnant
should stop using alcohol.
* Nearly half of all births in the United States are
unplanned. Therefore, any person who could become
pregnant should talk to their doctor and take steps to
lower the chance of exposing their baby to alcohol.
Promoting the health of babies, children, and adults and enhancing the potential for
full, productive living. CDC.gov/NCBDDD Department of Health and Human Services
09152005.
75
http://CDC.gov/NCBDDD
Residential and Outpatient Handbook - Plymouth

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