7 adverse effects of drugs during pregnancy

7 adverse effects of drugs during pregnancy -

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Are you are pregnant or planning to conceive soon? You are wary of taking any drugs during this period? If yes, then it is extremely important to avoid taking medication during pregnancy. If you take some over-the-counter medications with alcohol or caffeine, it can also lead to defects for a lifetime in your unborn baby.

Here, we talk about the harmful effects of drugs during pregnancy. For more information on these drugs, and how they can affect the health of the child not yet born, read the post carefully!

What I am Drugs?

Drugs are substances obtained from natural substances or by chemical processes. A drug transforms physical or mental of the human body. Doctors prescribe prescription drugs useful medicines for the treatment of numerous hardships to health or disease. But there are some extremely harmful psychoactive drugs during pregnancy (1)

Classification of psychotropic drugs :.

Here, we discuss the broad classification of psychoactive drugs:

1. Antidepressants:

Rather, as the name, depressants slow down the activity of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). A depression can hinder your ability to concentrate and slow your breathing and heart rate. During pregnancy, it is important for your body to maintain optimal health conditions. Taking depression can disrupt the normal functioning of the body and hinder your fetal development. So, you should definitely avoid the consumption of these depressant drugs in the delicate stage of pregnancy.

Examples of depressant drugs are heroin, alcohol, cannabis, drug group prescribed benzodiazepines and tranquilizers.

2. Stimulants:

stimulants trigger the activity of the central nervous system, making your additional notice. Stimulants are felt exhausted and tired. Examples of stimulants are caffeine, cocaine, nicotine, methamphetamine and ecstasy.

3. Hallucinogens:

Hallucinogens can lead to auditory hallucinations, visual and physical. are examples of hallucinogens cannabis and ecstasy (2)

harmful effects of drugs during pregnancy :.

If you take medications during pregnancy, go directly to your fetus through the placenta. It takes the same path through which oxygen and nutrients travel to the unborn fetus.

Drug use during pregnancy gives rise to numerous complexity it affects the health and growth of the fetus in numerous ways :.

The drugs directly reach the growing fetus and cause serious damage to the fetus including the development of abnormal body or even death

A drug actively alters functioning of the placenta. It constricts blood vessels and reduces the supply of oxygen and vital nutrients to your fetus. It causes the baby to be born as underweight or underdeveloped.

The medications contract the muscles and internal lining of the uterus. It reduces the blood supply and indirectly hurts the growth of the fetus. This condition triggers preterm birth and pregnancy complexities.

Regular medication intake lowers blood pressure. Consequently, your fetus receives less blood supply, oxygen and vital nutrients.

low birth weight places the infant at greater risk of disability, mental retardation, learning disabilities, long-term consequences, and even death.

imposes premature birth increases the chances of learning problems, lungs and eyes.

illicit drugs increase the risk of the infant to suffer from birth defects and health complex including strokes, seizures, and mental retardation (3)

Avoid illegal drug use during pregnancy :.

the use of illicit drugs during pregnancy can lead to developmental problems in the fetus growing. The research concludes that the use of both legal as well as illegal drugs during pregnancy has a direct connection to the unborn child. If you smoke, drink or ingest caffeine, the impact falls directly on the growing fetus.

The abuse of drugs during pregnancy, especially in the sensitive phase increases the risk of birth defects, underweight babies, stillbirths and premature babies. These drugs trigger cognitive problems in unborn child

The following is a list of drugs that inhibits the growth of the fetus and severely affects their conditions of birth :.

1. Amphetamines:

An intake of this drug increases his unborn child to suffer from heart defects. If you take these drugs during pregnancy, it imposes risks of placental problems, miscarriage and preterm delivery. The infant can experience symptoms of weakness, dysphoria, agitation, and fatigue (4).

2. Cocaine:

Cocaine crosses the placenta and enters the circulatory tract of your child with ease. During early pregnancy, having cocaine contracts the uterus and increase the risk of miscarriage. In the later stages of pregnancy, cocaine causes placental abruption. It gives rise to conditions of preterm birth, bleeding, growth retardation, congenital malformations in newborns and fetal death. Medical studies conclude that women who consume cocaine during pregnancy have a higher probability of 25% of premature labor.

Some of the other health complexities that occur in the newborn baby include tremors, muscle spasms, feeding difficulties, insomnia, kidney and brain defects (5).

3. Marijuana:

Smoking marijuana during pregnancy may cause your unborn child to suffer from impaired fetal growth conditions. Marijuana could trigger a miscarriage, low birthweight baby's birth, preterm birth and infant born with a learning disability. The key ingredient in marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, readily crosses the placenta and seriously affects the health of your growing fetus.

studies conclude that marijuana smoking raises the levels of carbon dioxide and carbon mono oxide in the blood. It reduces the oxygen supply to the growing fetus (6).

4. Heroin:

Having narcotics like heroin during pregnancy can cause premature birth, bleeding in the brain (intracranial hemorrhage), blood sugar (hypoglycemia), and difficulty breathing. In addition, they are more prone to experience the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in the sensitive phase of gestation. Your baby was born addicted to heroin and may also suffer from some of the drug withdrawal symptoms. It includes extreme irritability, high fever, sleep disturbances, diarrhea, and joints of the rigid body (7).

5. glues and solvents:

taking the drug can increase your chances of suffering from sudden miscarriage and preterm delivery. Some of the common birth defects are short stature, low weight, heart defects, joint and limb problems, and abnormal facial features.

6. Tranquilizers :.

tranquilizers such as Valium cause birth defects in the newborn

7. Ecstasy :.

Regular use of ecstasy causes conditions of learning problems and long-term memory in the child

8. Hallucinogens:

hallucinogens such as PCP and LSD triggers muscle control poor, low birth weight and brain damage of your child

Drugs to avoid during pregnancy :.

When it comes to drugs, cocaine, heroin and marijuana, also spring to mind. However, there are more dangerous drugs of these, and are called social drugs. Some of the social drugs you should consider avoiding include:

1. Alcohol:

The consumption of alcohol during pregnancy leads to birth defects. Alcohol causes fetal alcohol syndrome. Drinking alcohol multiplies the risks of miscarriage and preterm labor. The normal birth weight of a healthy child is above than seven pounds. But addiction to alcohol reduces your baby's weight from 4 pounds. Fetal alcohol syndrome is one of the most fatal and serious alcohol consumption during the delicate stage of pregnancy. The symptoms of the syndrome are facial defects, the rate of failure to thrive, before and after birth, heart problems, and behavioral problems, small head and cognitive disabilities. Greater dependence on drinking alcohol during pregnancy causes conditions of severe behavioral problems, including attention deficit disorder and anti-social behavior (8).

2. Cigarette (tobacco) smoke:

Tobacco smoking degrades the health of you and your growing fetus. The most obvious symptom of cigarette smoking during pregnancy is the low birth weight of the newborn. Some of the other complexities of health noted in children include heart problems, facial defects, and abnormal brain development. In addition, smoking during pregnancy elevates the status syndrome of sudden infant death (SIDS).

The harmful effects of tobacco smoke cause serious harmful effects in the body including dislocation of the placenta, premature rupture of membranes, uterine infection, stillbirth, premature birth, and spontaneous abortion. Tobacco contains carbon monoxide and nicotine. Carbon monoxide reduces the oxygen supply to your growing fetus. On the other hand, nicotine stimulates the hormones, which restricts the blood supply to your placenta and uterus. As the least amount of nutrients, oxygen and blood reach up to your growing fetus is suffering from growth and behavioral problems (9).

3. Caffeine:

Although a small amount of caffeine causes any harm to your growing fetus, but the excessive consumption is dangerous. Caffeine is present in most of your regular drinks, including coffee, chocolate, tea, and pastries. The stimulating directly crosses the placenta and reaches the fetus growing. It stimulates the fetus and increases the heart rate. The excessive consumption of caffeine reduces the rate of blood flow through the placenta and decreases the rate of absorption of iron. Your unborn baby gets an inadequate intake of iron and suffer from anemia.

Some of the other health complexities include premature birth, stillbirth, a low birth weight baby, or miscarriage. Medical experts recommend limiting the intake of caffeinated beverages during pregnancy (10)

[read: fetal anemia during pregnancy ].

And 'safe to have prescription drugs during pregnancy?

before taking prescription and over the counter medications during pregnancy, it is important to consult your physician first. To avoid any discrepancies, go through the labels carefully. Reading the product information, you can get comprehensive information about prescription medications

tips to consider before taking an OTC medication during pregnancy :.

If you have conditions of a severe headache, constipation or heartburn, the doctor prescribes the intake of certain OTC drugs. But it is important to follow some OTC:

essential advice before taking such drugs

1. Try to follow a measure non-drug:

For some of the most common ailments, you can try to follow the effective non-drug measures and see if they can do it or not. For example, if you have symptoms of extreme stress and headaches you can try drugs, relaxation exercises or massages. These non-drug measures deal with stress and keep us safe from the effects of OTC drugs. To cope with cold symptoms during pregnancy, try hot chicken cups rather than using antihistamines and decongestants.

2. Consult your doctor:

never taking any OTC medication without consulting your doctor

3 .. Read labels:

Before buy OTC medications, take your time and go carefully through the label. Ingredients like alcohol or caffeine impose harmful effects on the growing fetus. For example, vapor rub Influence contain alcohol, caffeine and aspirin

[Read: side effects of aspirin during pregnancy ].

4. Natural food supplements:

herbal products or natural food supplements are safe during the pregnancy period. But before experimenting with any new supplement or herbal product, consult your doctor

OTC medications to avoid during pregnancy :.

aspirin and ibuprofen (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are no longer safe in your stage of pregnancy. Especially during the last trimester of pregnancy, you need to avoid these drugs. Some of the harmful effects of the drugs are the work late, complexity birth of your baby and has increased the working length.

aspirin and ibuprofen (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are no longer safe for you during pregnancy. Especially during the last trimester of pregnancy, you need to avoid these drugs. Some of the harmful effects of the drugs are the work late, complexity birth of your baby and has increased the working length.

The short-term use of nasal sprays containing the active ingredient of corticosteroids does not cause harm to your baby. But with the long-term recruitment of a nasal spray, it triggers deteriorating condition of growth in your baby.

Taking OTC pain relievers such as codeine and dihydrocodeine affect the baby's breathing capacity, especially when you take them during the last trimester of pregnancy.

Avoid antihistamine nasal spray and eye drops.

Avoid nasal decongestants such as phenylephrine, xylometazoline, pseudoephedrine and oxymetazoline. You can try the remedy for steam inhalation home to get fast relief from nasal congestion (11)

harmful effects of OTC drugs in pregnancy :.

using over the counter medications during pregnancy triggers numerous health complexities both you and your growing fetus. Some of the observable effects of these drugs are:

Mother complication :.

Infertility- You may experience infertility problems and not get pregnant easily

placenta dislocation- dislocates the placenta in the uterus, and your growing fetus could not get enough supply of food and oxygen through the umbilical cord.

Labor- the preterm labor occurs before 37 weeks of pregnancy, and the child takes birth as premature.

Miscarriage-The growth of the fetus is interrupted or damaged before 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Infections addiction to street drugs increases the risk of harmful disease-producing germs. Your child gets the HIV infection and hepatitis C.As a victim, you can switch these harmful infections for the growing fetus, and your child gets the disease from its birth.

Stillbirth- this is the condition when the baby dies in your lap, but the incident occurs after 20 weeks of pregnancy

[Read: measures to prevent Stillbirth during pregnancy ].

Complications in newborn baby :.

Premature birth- It gives birth to her baby too soon, before

37 weeks of pregnancy

Low birth-weight your baby's weight drops below the normal weight at birth of a healthy baby. Normally for your low-weight baby weighs less than five pounds.

Size- smaller head size of your child's head or circumference is smaller than its other body parts. The head size seems a bit 'out of place.

Heart defects- the heartbeat is too fast or slow. irregular heartbeat triggers the condition of cardiovascular disease.

defects- birth due to adverse effects of OTC drugs, the baby is born with certain birth defects. It can be either a deformity of the face or head size inappropriately. this defect causes various complexities of health and value in the newborn.

neonatal abstinence syndrome- The symptoms of this syndrome can affect your baby.

behavioral problems-Your child experiences many behavior problems. Some of the problems have learning problems, low level of concentration, difficult to make decisions or many of these behavioral aspects.

body slowed the growth OTC drugs hinder the growth processes of your fetus. Even after birth the child experiences slow growth or stunting.

syndrome of sudden infant death (SIDS also called) -The condition of unexplained death occurs in children under 12 months of age. The harmful effects of drugs induce failures of organs and the child experiences the sudden death (12)

teratogenic medications to avoid during pregnancy :.

The doctors advised to avoid the following to avoid teratogenic effects of drugs during pregnancy:

isotretinoin (an acne medication)

high dosage of vitamin a

ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) used for the treatment of heart failure or high pressure conditions

Some antibiotics

Some anticonvulsant drugs

Some thyroid medications

the hormone diethylstilbestrol (DES)

Warfarin (blood thinning medication)

thalidomide

Some drugs fight cancer

angiotensin II antagonists (used to treat high blood pressure)

Why is it dangerous to stop taking a prescribed medication suddenly?

If you have pre-existing medical conditions of high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma or taking thyroid medication after consulting your gynecologist. The medical consultant can also replace some medications, if necessary.

Some of the drugs prescribed to impose potential side effects to your growing fetus. However, stopping the medication impose serious health complications for you and your baby. For example,

stop taking your medications for asthma imposes risk of slow growth rate of the unborn fetus.

Stop consuming your anti epileptic drugs imposes risks of seizures and complications of pregnancy.

Diabetes imposes poorly managed health deformities for the unborn child.

Hence, it is always advisable not to stop taking the drug suddenly. Consult your doctor first. He may suggest the replacement of certain medications or continue with your previous ones. The doctor also suggests about the appropriate dosage of the prescribed drugs. Try to follow his instructions carefully and take the correct dosage of prescribed drugs. untreated illnesses or diseases impose complexity pregnancy.

How to limit the intake of drugs and OTC drugs during pregnancy?

Some of the useful tips that allow you to limit your intake of harmful drugs and medicines during pregnancy are:

Limit your intake of caffeinated beverages a day. Maintain the level of less than 0 mg. The measure is proposed to have two cups of coffee per day soluble.

Avoid intake of energy drinks.

No smoking.

Avoid taking illegal drugs including cocaine, marijuana, heroin and ecstasy.

To get rid of addiction to drugs during pregnancy should seek help from an experienced drug counselor or your doctor.

not use non-prescription and generic drugs during the pregnancy period. Some of the ingredients can cause potential side effects on the fetus growing. It 'always advisable to take any medication after consulting your doctor.

Whenever possible, try to follow some natural remedies to treat minor health problems. Natural home remedies can cure cold problems, sore throat, aches, headache, constipation and many of these problems.

Avoid heartburn conditions during pregnancy having small meals at frequent intervals.

gargle with warm salt water to cure the problems of a sore throat.

Breathe hot steam to treat nasal congestion.

Avoid consumption of fatty foods and excess spicy that trigger a feeling of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (13)

of folic acid intake during the pregnancy:.

safe during the pregnancy period only over the counter medication is folic acid. Folic acid starts proper bone development and healthy growth of the fetal body. Doctors prescribe the intake of 400 micrograms of folic acid tablets daily. Even before you get pregnant, you can take folic acid to give birth to a healthy baby. Taking folic acid regularly prevents risks of birth defects (14)

Important things to remember :.

not taking any prescribed or non-prescribed without consulting your doctor

Let your doctor know full information about your past medical history.

Inform your doctor about all the medicines you take in your daily life.

You need to take different types of herbal supplements, OTC drugs, social and illicit drugs in consultation with the pharmacist, midwife or doctor.

If you have pre-existing chronic health conditions such as asthma, diabetes or epilepsy, to take all the drugs under strict medical supervision.

To get rid of the harmful addiction, your doctor may also advise you to go through drug counseling or effective therapies.

to maintain good health, you can easily give birth to her baby healthy. The growth and development of the fetus unborn completely depend on healthy lifestyle followed during the pregnancy period. healthy habits of eating nutritious food, practicing the exercises for health and taking prenatal medications regularly increases proper development of the growing fetus. On the contrary, it is addicted to bad habits such as smoking, taking drugs or alcohol imposes harmful effects on the growing fetus.

Have you taken any legal or illegal drugs and alcohol during pregnancy phase? These drugs were harmful for your health? They require critical conditions of sudden miscarriage or bleeding?

Do not share your full opinions regarding the use of drugs during pregnancy here! Comment in the box below

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