pregnancy substance abuse prevention

pregnancy substance abuse prevention Pregnancy is more likely to be unplanned and unacknowledged for women
affected by substances. Women may continue to use drugs in pregnancy and
deny any risk to the infant. They may have romantic and idealised ideas about
motherhood and deny any potential problems. They may experience guilt and
shame about the drug-exposed newborn but also ambivalence and resentment as
the demands of parenting become apparent.
Use of drug and alcohol in pregnancy is associated with a range of adverse
effects on the developing infant. Negative infant outcome results from the effectsof the substance on foetal development, but also from lifestyle factors such as
poor nutrition and low rates of ante-natal care. It is often difficult to establish
the effects of a particular drug as poly-substance and alcohol abuse are common.
Overall, infants exposed to illicit drugs are more likely to have intra-uterine
growth retardation, preterm delivery, small head circumference and various
infections. These factors are linked with poorer developmental scores at two
years of age (Velleman, 2004).
Infants exposed to drugs in utero show poor regulation in the first year of life
with delay in establishing sleep patterns, uncoordinated feeding and swallowing
difficulties. This can contribute to failure to thrive, as can neglect and
inconsistent care. Longitudinal studies suggest that as a group these infants
have developmental difficulties and by the prenatal period score within the low
normal range with particular difficulties in organisation and sustained attention
(Velleman, 2004).
Various substances are abused singly or multiply during pregnancy. Some
types of drugs have well-established effects on foetal development while others
are less directly harmful.