Pregnancy and Substance Abuse Summary When you are pregnant, you are not just "eating for two." You also breathe and drink for two, so it is important to carefully consider what you give to your baby. If you smoke, use alcohol or take illegal drugs, so does your unborn baby. First, don’t smoke. Smoking during pregnancy passes nicotine and cancer-causing drugs to your baby. Smoke also keeps your baby from getting nourishment and raises the risk of stillbirth or premature birth. Don’t drink alcohol. There is no known safe amount of alcohol a woman can drink while pregnant. Alcohol can cause life-long physical and behavioral problems in children, including fetal alcohol syndrome. Don’t use illegal drugs. Using illegal drugs may cause underweight babies, birth defects or withdrawal symptoms after birth. If you are pregnant and you smoke, drink alcohol or do drugs, get help. Your health care provider can recommend programs to help you quit. You and your baby will be better off. Dept. of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health National Institute on Drug Abuse Statistics and Research 18 Percent of Pregnant Women Drink Alcohol during Early Pregnancy Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Alcohol Use and Binge Drinking Among Women of Childbearing Age: United States, 2011-2013 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Buprenorphine During Pregnancy Reduces Neonate Distress National Institute on Drug Abuse Dramatic Increases in Maternal Opioid Use and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome National Institute on Drug Abuse PeriStats: Perinatal Statistics March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation Prenatal Methamphetamine Exposure Linked with Problems National Institute on Drug Abuse Substance Use during Pregnancy Varies by Race and Ethnicity Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Trends in Substances of Abuse among Pregnant Women and Women of Childbearing Age in Treatment Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Women and Tobacco Use American Lung Association Array Alcohol and pregnancy Neonatal abstinence syndrome Videos and Tutorials Alcohol and Pregnancy March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation Specifics Alcohol during Pregnancy March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation CDC Vital Signs: Alcohol and Pregnancy Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Cocaine and Pregnancy Organization of Teratology Information Specialists Ecstasy, Methamphetamine and Other Club Drugs March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation Heroin and Pregnancy March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation Marijuana and Pregnancy Organization of Teratology Information Specialists Methamphetamine/Dextroamphetamine and Pregnancy Organization of Teratology Information Specialists Smoking during Pregnancy March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation Smoking During Pregnancy Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Tobacco Use and Pregnancy Department of Health and Human Services NIH MedlinePlus Magazine Alcohol Use Research Findings Women and Alcohol Find an Expert Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism National Institute on Drug Abuse National Institute on Drug Abuse Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Teenagers Characteristics of Pregnant Teen Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Pregnancy and Substance Abuse National Institutes of Health Start Here Fetal Alcohol Exposure National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Street Drugs and Pregnancy March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation Tobacco, Alcohol, Drugs, and Pregnancy American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Encyclopedia Infant of a substance-abusing mother Men Paternal Exposures and Pregnancy Organization of Teratology Information Specialists Related Issues Pregnant? Don’t Smoke! Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Journal Articles Pregnancy and Substance Abuse Patient Handouts Smoking and Pregnancy Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Health Check Tools Smoking Quiz: Do You Need Help to Quit? American Cancer Society Latest News Pot While Pregnant May Raise Premature Birth Risk HealthDay Smoking During Pregnancy Seems to Alter Fetal DNA, Study Finds HealthDay
