Help I am Pregnant and an Addict
There are a lot of resources on the internet, in books, and fromthe medical community on the dangers of drug and alcohol useduring pregnancy. However, there is not very much qualityinformation on what you should do if you have a problem wit...
...halcohol or drugs and are pregnant. The simple answer is you needto quit. With all the treatment programs availabele; AA,treatment facilities, therapy, self-control, etc., why wouldn'ta women be able to get help. Why would anyone use drugs oralcohol while they are pregnant. Most pregnant moms know or haveread that using drugs or alcohol can cause numerous problems fortheir unborn baby. But there are many reasons women avoidtreatment.Some do not believe they are really an addict or alcoholic. Theymay convince themselves that they don't drink or use very muchor that often. The truth, if you are not capable of quittingduring a time in your life when it is most essential that you donot drink or use, you are an addict. If you were not addictedquitting during pregnancy would not be difficult.Many women falsely believe that an occasional drink or drug useis not really harmful. They may minimize their problem andrationalize what they are doing. They may say things like wellwhen my mother was pregnant she drank/smoke and I turned outfine.Sometimes a woman may convince herself that she is done and itwon't happen again. Perhaps she has used during the first monthbut she will tell herself, I will get help if I do this again.With the next time it happening repeating the same rational inher mind, each time thinking it is the last.Addiction is a shameful disease. Addicts come in all forms.People with addiction can hide their disease very well. Theirfriends and family may not even realize that they have aproblem. Talking to a health professional about this may besomething they are too afraid to do.They may be afraid to talk to a professional for fear of havingan investigation by Child Protective services.Marijuana supporters put out a lot of false information aboutthe risks to an unborn child. Minimizing the dangers, even goingas far as to say babies born to marijuana users are less fussyand more content. They may choose to believe this misinformationin order to avoid facing their addiction.Risks of using drugs and alcohol during pregnancySmoking: Babies are more likely to be born preterm and with lowbirth weight.Alcohol:Can cause Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Babies born with FAS may havesymptoms of alcohol withdrawal shortly after birth. They oftenhave a small head, small eyes, a wide flat nose, and a smalljaw. Children with FAS may have growth problems, diminishedmental capacity, and emotional problems.Marijuana: Can cause preterm birth, low birth weight and somestudies say it can cause attention problems in children.Coccaine: Babies born to cocaine users often go throughwithdrawal symptoms after birth. Fetal growth may be retarded,there is a greater risk of premature labor and abruption of theplacenta. Babies often have low birth weight, may have feedingproblems, and are at greater risk of sids. Children of cocaineaddicted mothers may have emotional problems, short attentionspan, and learning disabilities.Heroin and other narcotics: Mother is at a greater risk ofhaving preterm labor and having a baby with low birth weight.Babies of heroin addicted moms may have breathing difficulties,hypoglycemia, and intracranial hemorrhage. They also will gothrough withdrawal after birth.If you need helpIf you think that you have a problem there are places to gethelp. Please do not wait. One of the best places to get help isat Acoholic Anonymous www.aa.org Or you can look in your phonebook under alcoholic anonymous. Someone there will gladly helpyou find meeting locations and someone to talk to.Resources NIDA March of Dimes American Council for DrugEducation
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