We often hear about the effects drugs, alcohol, and even cigarettes, can have on the baby in the womb. At birth, the child may present with birth defects, low birth weight, be stillborn, premature birth, etc.
Can you attest to the truth, or to the falsity, of these claims?
Please answer ONLY if you have been a smoker, drug or alcohol abuser, and have given birth to a child, or are the male parent of a child, or are a child who was born under these circumstances.
2007-08-22 08:35:19 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Other - Health
Skaizun, I am not a smoker, drinker or drug abuser, nor am I pregnant. Thank you.
2007-08-22 09:01:33 · update #1
An old friend of mine was addicting to crack cocaine she was pregnant twice and smoking crack until the day she gave birth and luckily, both children were fine.
I was a smoker up until my 12th week of pregnancy, then I quit, and my son was a healthy 10.5 pounder!
It is different for everyone, there is no way to guarentee that the child will be OK if you do any of these things.
2007-08-22 08:47:47 · answer #1 · answered by Andy's Mom 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
When you are pregnant any drug or alcohol that you put in your body affects a unborn child. The baby is attached to the umbilical cord where the nutrients come from.. Cigarette smoking restricts arteries therefore restricting blood flow and oxygen to the child. What the mom ingestes, goes to the unborn child. Just common sense tells you what can go wrong when you do drugs and alcohol. Just look around you. What effects do you see visually? Imagine a helpless unborn child in that enviroment. And yes they are born addicted to drugs because the moms use drugs. And it does affect their quality of life. Have you ever seen a child that was born addicted to drugs? It is terrible what it does to them. I have a friend that adopted a baby the was born addicted to drugs. She has many problems. Walking, learning, everyday living is very hard for her. All because the mom did drugs. And no i never did any of these, but as a mom I have to stand up for the unborn child and speak.
2007-08-22 16:08:08 · answer #2 · answered by Bunnie 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
My best friend's mom was as you described. I am a male parent, and to tell the truth, it is a gamble. Something might happen to the kid or it might not. My best bud--the only thing I can say truthfully was that when he got older, (when we were 13 or so several years ago) he seemed to give in to becoming addicted to the same substances his mom was addicted too. It was also a lot harder for him to give it up as well.
Other than that, he is perfectly healthy, he's intelligent, and a honorable guy. Like I said, a gamble.
With all that said, you obviously know the health problems behind it, the question is, do you realize there would be a healthy baby in an unhealthy body? Its like trying to grow a plant in bad soil. It may grow to be fine, but then again, it may not.
Think what you may, but I say stay off coffee while pregnant. --that is if you use the little sugar packets or artificial sweeteners. Aspartame is in that stuff, and it is a chemical that clings to fatty tissue, and there is a lot of fatty tissue around the brain to cushion the nerves. I think that is why there are so many people with ADD nowadays, but it is just a theory.
Anyway, there are my thoughts. Do with them what you may.
2007-08-22 16:00:15 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
My mom is a smoker and although she cut back on smoking while pregnant all 4 of us kids have ADD. It DOES affect the blood and oxygen flow to the placenta. Studies have proven that. Lack of oxygen to the placenta has been shown to cause certain learning problems. It is not worth the risk to the baby just because someone THINKS it won't hurt them. I also know someone that has SEVERE FAS (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome). He is 25 and cannot live out on his own. He has to live in an adult group home.
2007-08-22 15:44:44 · answer #4 · answered by Ryan's mom 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Both my sister and myself were born healthy and happy while my mother and father smoked throughout the pregnancies. No health defects, normal birthweight, no illness (other than colds, etc) throughout life. My sister has two children. The girl will be 7 years old in November and the boy will be 1 year old in October. She and her husband both smoked throughout the pregnancies. Both are healthy and happy, no medical problems. Also, both had no complications at birth. My sister and husband don't drink at all and don't do any drugs. My parents never did any drugs, but my mother drank socailly while pregnant with me and my sister. Again, no complications. We are also both college graduates, very intelligent, and have no emotional problems.
2007-08-22 15:45:43 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
My mother was a heavy smoker and I was 3 lbs when I was born.
2007-08-22 15:45:50 · answer #6 · answered by L 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you need people to "attest" to the "falsity" of those "claims", then nothing anybody can say or do will convince you, except, of course, for the cigarette and alcohol manufacturers. By all means, listen to them! (that was sarcasm, in case you missed it)
2007-08-22 15:55:34 · answer #7 · answered by skaizun 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋