Drug and Alcohol Use During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Research on drug and alcohol use during pregnancy and breastfeeding is constantly changing. And although the reality changes, the basic message remains the same. We don’t know if it is safe to take drugs or alcohol.

Current information is clear for pregnant and lactating women to avoid alcohol or (non-prescription) drugs.

During pregnancy and breastfeeding

What we know to be true about drugs and alcohol:

1. All of these can affect a mother and her growing child.
2. Drinking alcohol and/or drugs during the first trimester (three months) of pregnancy can affect the development of the baby.
3. A growing child is not as susceptible to alcohol or drug addiction as an adult. Their organs are young and are especially sensitive to chemical substances.
4. A baby’s liver cannot metabolize drugs or alcohol. Their blood alcohol level is the same as women if they drink.
5. Pregnancy changes the way a woman’s body responds to drugs and alcohol. This means that some drugs are more harmful during pregnancy.

What drugs and what types of alcohol are harmful?

Alcohol, cigarettes and drugs such as marijuana, opiates, benzodiazepines and other antidepressants, cocaine, heroin and amphetamines are all known to have harmful effects on the developing child. Any drink that contains alcohol can harm a developing baby, whether you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Beer, wine and spirits are all dangerous.

Even some prescription drugs can be dangerous if taken during pregnancy. In the first trimester when the baby’s organs are forming, alcohol and other drugs can be Teratogenic for example causing defects.

What are the risks of using drugs and/or alcohol while pregnant or breastfeeding?

The risks change depending on the amount of alcohol or drugs being used. Some women already have complications during pregnancy such as high blood pressure (high blood pressure) or diabetes. This also changes how his body responds to alcohol and/or drugs.

There is also an increased risk:

1. Miscarriage – miscarriage and stillbirth.

2. The baby is underweight for their gestational age.
3. A child has problems after birth. Breathing, temperature control, maintaining healthy blood sugar and dietary issues are very common.
4. Premature birth. Babies who are born prematurely are at risk for a variety of complications.
5. Congenital disorders such as seizures, learning disabilities and epilepsy.
6. Child becoming drug dependent. This means that when they are born, they will pass out and require sedation.

Pregnancy and alcoholism – what happens to mother and child

Addiction is a serious problem and like most problems, there is no easy solution. In many cases, addiction is a symptom of serious problems in a person’s life. Their use of alcohol or drugs may be a coping mechanism for emotional trauma or trauma.

Finding the root cause of addiction and dealing with it can take a lot of motivation and energy. Some women say that being pregnant and having their baby ‘saved them’.

Women who use substances during pregnancy

They are at increased risk of:

1. Danger
2. Excessive alcohol consumption
3. Eating junk food
4. Having inadequate or unsafe housing
5. Mental problems
6. Disease is disease
7. Diseases
8. Death

Putting their child’s needs first gave them the strength to ask for help.

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS)

Some medications, including opioids, can cause the baby to become ill after birth. This disease is called Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). Caring for these children is difficult because they are at high risk of fainting and breathing difficulties.

Depending on the severity of their withdrawal, children may need morphine to help their body stop the withdrawal and/or drug addiction. If the drug is taken regularly, especially in the third trimester, the baby may have withdrawal symptoms after birth. Special scoring tool – Finnegan Score – tests the baby’s withdrawal symptoms.

Babies with NAS also have difficulty breathing and feeding and other problems, which last for a long time.

As the child grows

The complications of drug and alcohol use during pregnancy are not limited to the first few years. Women who drink alcohol during pregnancy are at risk of having a baby The cost of FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder). This is a disability that affects the brain and body of the child.

Babies who use drugs and alcohol are at higher risk for growth, development and learning problems. This is due to the brain changes caused by exposure during the most stressful time in their brains.

If alcohol and drugs have become too much, it can be dangerous to stop suddenly. The main recommendation is for pregnant women to be carefully monitored and for treatment plans to be tailored to their needs.

Detoxification programs are run by specialized drug and alcohol agencies. Similarly, larger maternity hospitals have better options for postnatal care.

As well as physical control in drug and alcohol withdrawal, psychological support is essential.

Treatment options include:

1. Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and ‘Talking’ Therapies
2. Counseling and support
3. Group therapy
4. “Step” Programs

Where to Get Help

Major maternity hospitals have special units designed to care for pregnant women who use drugs and/or alcohol. The first step in getting help is talking to an antenatal care provider. Rest assured that you are not the first to ask for help and you will not be the last.

If you have trouble talking about drug or alcohol use:

Write your concerns down on a piece of paper and bring them to your prenatal care provider during your appointment.

1. Take a trusted friend or family member. Ask them to speak for you if you cannot do this yourself.
2. Ask your loved one to go with you to the arrangement and be an advocate. If you have difficulty speaking, give your representative permission to speak for you.
3. Give your maternal health care provider printed information about drug and alcohol use during pregnancy. Sometimes you don’t need to say much to get the message across.
4. Show your mother’s health care provider evidence of drug use. Marks, scratches, scratches – all this gives information to the experienced person.
5. Check the websites of the hospitals and contact them directly for medical and alcohol support. They will respect your privacy and keep it confidential until you give permission to share the information with your healthcare provider.
6. Ask your drug and alcohol counselor (if you have one) to go with you to the meeting place. Bring your medical plan (if you have one) so everyone has a clear understanding of your administration.
7. Ask your doctor or nurse to contact the maternity hospital where you will have your baby.

About the Author:

Written by Nourish Baby and Jane Barry. Jane is fully qualified in paediatrics, immunisation, midwifery and pediatric nursing. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Science (Nursing) and has approximately 35 years of pediatric health nursing experience. She is a member of a number of professional associations including AHPRA, The Australasian Medical Writer’s Association and the Australian College of Children and Young People’s Nurses.

For more information:

Good Health – Medicines, drugs and birth defects

COPE – Alcohol and Drugs in Pregnancy

References

Alcohol during pregnancy and breastfeeding Australian Government Department of Health

Australian Breastfeeding Association |

Breastfeeding and Drugs (health.qld.gov.au)

Smoking, alcohol and drug use during pregnancy and breastfeeding – Patient Information – Mater Group

The use of drugs during pregnancy – care of the mother and the baby | Safer Care Victoria (bettersafercare.vic.gov.au)