Last week was Prescription Opioid and Heroin Epidemic Awareness Week. To continue the discussion, we’re talking this week and next about the Major Effects of Using Opiates During Pregnancy.
(Content by guest author, Holly Holloway)
Opiates can cause numerous health issues for an unborn baby and the expectant mother if they are not treated properly during the pregnancy and after the delivery. Illicit opiate use, in particular, can compromise a woman’s ability to carry a healthy baby to term. In Part 1 of this two-part series, we learn about the specific risks to an unborn baby.
Opiates can penetrate the placental barrier, whether the drugs are injected, inhaled, or smoked. The placental barrier is a layer of the placenta, or membrane, which guards what passes from mom’s blood to baby’s blood. Because opiates can penetrate that layer, the baby is at high risk of developing a dependency on the drug while it’s still developing. Exposure additionally can lead to many health issues, including:
-
Placental abruption: The placenta is one of the most important parts of pregnancy as it provides the unborn baby with blood, oxygen, and nutrients from the mother through the umbilical cord. When issues with the placenta occur, like placental abruption, the placenta becomes separated from the uterus, causing serious, life-threatening problems for both the mother and baby.
-
Preterm birth: This term is used for babies that are born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Extremely preterm are born before 28 weeks; very preterm are born between 28 to 32 weeks; moderate to late preterm are born between 32 and 37 weeks. Preterm birth may cause developmental and health issues for the baby.
-
Low birth weight: A baby born weighing less than 5.5 lbs is associated with neonatal mortality (or the death of young children), inhibited cognitive development (slowed mental development), and chronic disease, according to the World Health Organization.
-
Miscarriage: Drug use while pregnant can be a reason for miscarriages. If the mother is going through withdrawal, the side effects can lead to extreme fetal distress, causing death.
-
Stillbirth: The death of a baby inside the womb after 20 weeks of pregnancy is considered a stillbirth. Women who consume opiates raise their risk of stillbirth by two to three times
Because of the opioid epidemic in the US, drug use during pregnancy is a significant public health concern! Unfortunately, the risks to baby because of opiate use during pregnancy don’t end once the baby is born.
Learn about the challenges a newborn faces (as well as ways to help a mother who is using opiates during her pregnancy) in Major Effects of Using Opiates During Pregnancy (Part 2).
Sources:
https://www.marchofdimes.org/pregnancy/heroin-and-pregnancy.aspx
http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/69529/e74558.pdf?ua=1
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007313.htm