How can Crack Cocaine or Affect an Unborn Baby?

If a pregnant woman or teen smokes crack cocaine, the cocaine comes in contact with the placenta and by default goes into the baby’s blood stream.  It takes much longer for cocaine to breakdown in a baby as opposed to an adult; therefore the cocaine stays in a baby’s circulatory system much longer than it does in an adult.
The presence of cocaine or crack cocaine in a woman’s blood stream during the preliminary months of pregnancy can make the risk of miscarriage much greater.  If crack cocaine or cocaine is used during the later months of the pregnancy, placental abruption may occur.  This can lead to a great deal of bleeding, the baby being born prematurely, or even dying in the womb.  The chance of the baby being born with birth defects increases with the amount of crack a mother while she is pregnant.  A woman who smokes crack or uses cocaine while pregnant is much more likely to give birth prematurely.  If a woman uses cocaine regularly during her pregnancy, her baby is more likely to be born with their growth stunted.  Babies can also be born addicted to the cocaine themselves and experience symptoms of withdrawal, like getting the shakes, irritability, inability to sleep, and muscle twitches.  Later in life the child may have some trouble learning.  Children who were exposed to crack or coke during pregnancy have an IQ that is 3% lower than average.

What can a Pregnant Teen do to Safeguard Her Baby from Cocaine or Crack Cocaine?

All of the difficulties that crack cocaine or cocaine causes a pregnancy can be avoided.  If you are using cocaine or addicted to it, get help before you become pregnant.  If you become pregnant and you are using or addicted to cocaine, stop and get help immediately so you can minimize the amount of cocaine to which your unborn baby has been exposed.  This will lessen the risk of giving birth prematurely or giving birth to a baby with birth defects.

If You Are a Teen Addicted to Crack Cocaine How Can You Get Help?

If you are a pregnant teen who is using crack cocaine or addicted to crack cocaine remember that you are now responsible for another life.  Not only are you putting your baby at risk by consuming the drug, which goes into the baby’s bloodstream, you are putting your baby at risk with the reckless behavior that goes along with acquiring and abusing the drug.  Know that there are people you can trust that you can turn to who will help get you the help you need.  A school counselor, a parent, or police officer would be a good place to start.  You could call one of the Registered Addiction Specialists at Narconon Vista Bay at 1-800-556-8885.  They will help you find the right drug rehab for you so that you can conquer your addiction for you and your baby.

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