Certain substances, including caffeine, aspartame, alcohol, and tobacco, may have harmful effects on pregnant women and fetuses. Illicit drugs include amphetamines, bath salts, cocaine, hallucinogens, cannabis, and opioids (for example, heroin or misuse of prescription opioids).
Use of illicit drugs (particularly opioids) during pregnancy can cause complications during the pregnancy and serious problems in the developing fetus and the newborn. They may result in birth defects, poor fetal growth, or preterm birth. For pregnant women, injecting illicit drugs increases the risk of infections that can affect or be transmitted to the fetus. These infections include hepatitis and HIV infection (including AIDS).
Matumizi ya Kafeini Wakati wa Ujauzito
Caffeine, which is contained in coffee, tea, some sodas, or other beverages, chocolate, and some medications, is a stimulant that readily crosses the placenta to the fetus.
It is unclear whether consuming caffeine during pregnancy harms the fetus. Research seems to suggest that consuming caffeine in small amounts (for example, one cup of coffee a day) during pregnancy poses little or no risk to the fetus.
Some research suggests that drinking more than 7 cups of coffee a day may increase the risk of having a stillbirth, preterm birth, low-birth-weight baby, or miscarriage.
Some experts recommend limiting coffee consumption and drinking decaffeinated beverages when possible.
Matumizi ya Aspartame Wakati wa Ujauzito
Aspartame, an artificial sweetener, appears to be safe during pregnancy when it is consumed in small amounts, such as in amounts used in normal portions of artificially sweetened foods and beverages.
Anyone (including pregnant women) with phenylketonuria, an unusual disorder of amino acid metabolism, should not consume any aspartame.
Kuvuta Sigara (Tumbaku) Wakati wa Ujauzito
Cigarette smoking poses risks to pregnant women and fetuses. Women who are trying to get pregnant or are pregnant should try to quit smoking. Health care professionals can provide resources about smoking cessation programs.
The most consistent effect of smoking on the fetus during pregnancy is
A reduction in birth weight (growth restriction)
The more a woman smokes during pregnancy, the less the baby is likely to weigh.
Birth defects of the heart, brain, and face are more common among babies of women who smoke cigarettes.
Also, the risk of the following may be increased:
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
A mislocated placenta (placenta previa)
Premature detachment of the placenta (placental abruption)
Prelabor rupture of the membranes (containing the fetus)
In addition, children of women who smoke have slight but measurable deficiencies in physical growth and in intellectual and behavioral development. These effects are thought to be caused by carbon monoxide and nicotine. Carbon monoxide may reduce the oxygen supply to the body's tissues. Nicotine stimulates the release of hormones that constrict the vessels supplying blood to the uterus and placenta, so that less oxygen and fewer nutrients reach the fetus.
Because of the possible harmful effects of smoking during pregnancy, pregnant women should make every effort to not smoke during pregnancy, including discussing strategies with their doctor.
Pregnant women should avoid exposure to secondhand smoke because it may harm the fetus.
Matumizi ya Pombe Wakati wa Ujauzito
Drinking alcohol during pregnancy is the leading known cause of birth defects. Because the amount or pattern of drinking alcohol required to cause fetal alcohol syndrome is unknown, pregnant women are advised to abstain from drinking any alcohol.
Did You Know...
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The risk of miscarriage almost doubles for women who drink alcohol in any form during pregnancy, especially if they drink heavily. Risk is probably related to amount of alcohol consumed, but no amount is known to be risk-free.
Fetal alcohol syndrome is one of the most serious consequences of drinking during pregnancy. Binge drinking as few as 3 drinks a day can cause this syndrome. It occurs in about 2 of 1,000 live births. This syndrome includes the following:
Inadequate growth before birth or after birth
A small head (microcephaly), probably caused by inadequate growth of the brain
Abnormal behavioral development
Less commonly, joint abnormalities and heart defects
Amfetamini Wakati wa Ujauzito
Use of amphetamines during pregnancy may result in birth defects, especially of the heart, and possibly inadequate growth before birth.
Chumvi ya Kuoga (Visisimuaji vya Sintetiki) Wakati wa Ujauzito
Bath salts refers to a group of synthetic drugs made from various substances that resemble amphetamine. These drugs are being increasingly used during pregnancy.
The drugs may cause the blood vessels in the fetus to narrow, reducing the amount oxygen the fetus gets.
Also, these drugs increase the risk of the following:
Premature detachment of the placenta (placental abruption)
Possibly birth defects
Kokeini Wakati wa Ujauzito
Cocaine taken during pregnancy may cause the blood vessels that carry blood to the uterus and placenta to narrow (constrict). Then, less oxygen and fewer nutrients reach the fetus.
If pregnant women use cocaine regularly, risk of the following is increased:
Preterm detachment of the placenta (placental abruption)
Birth defects (including brain and spinal cord, urinary tract, and bone defects)
However, whether cocaine is the cause of those problems is unclear. For example, the cause may be other risk factors that are common in women who use cocaine. Such factors include cigarette smoking, use of other illicit drugs, deficient prenatal care, and poverty.
Dawa Zenye Kuleta Jonzi Wakati wa Ujauzito
Hallucinogens may, depending on the drug, increase the risk of the following:
Miscarriage
Preterm labor and delivery
Withdrawal syndrome in the fetus or newborn
Hallucinogens include methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, or Ecstasy), rohypnol, ketamine, methamphetamine, and LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide).
Bangi Wakati wa Ujauzito
The main component of marijuana (cannabis), tetrahydrocannabinol, can cross the placenta and thus may affect the fetus. No amount of marijuana is considered safe in pregnancy though birth defects are not increased in studies. However, recent studies have suggested that marijuana use in pregnancy may be linked to low birth weight and childhood concerns including attention, learning, and behavioral problems, and changes in brain development and function.
Dawa za Afyuni Wakati wa Ujauzito
Opioids are used to relieve pain, but they also cause an exaggerated sense of well-being, and if used too much, they can cause dependence and addiction.
Opioids, such as heroin, methadone, and morphine, readily cross the placenta. Consequently, the fetus may become addicted to them and may have withdrawal symptoms 6 hours to 8 days after birth. However, use of opioids rarely results in birth defects.
Use of opioids during pregnancy increases the risk of complications during pregnancy, such as
Babies of heroin users are more likely to be born small.
