Addiction Treatment For Expecting Mothers In Florida

Like anyone else who misuses drugs or alcohol, an expecting mother runs the risk of developing major health problems. One of the most prominent of those problems is substance use disorder, an illness that includes both addiction and serious substance abuse. Another common concern is overdose, which occurs when your basic body function is overwhelmed by the substance(s) in your system. In addition, drug and alcohol misuse increases risks for a host of chronic physical and mental conditions. During pregnancy, women share their bloodstreams with those of their developing children. This reality creates a very real danger of fetal harm triggered by alcohol or drug exposure. Different forms of harm are connected with the use of various addictive substances. For example, use of alcohol while pregnant can lead to the onset of a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). Potential short- and long-term consequences of an FASD include:

• Premature childbirth
• Delayed or reduced growth during early childhood
• Intellectual and learning disabilities
• Childhood sleep difficulties
• Memory and concentration problems
• Hearing and vision difficulties

Women who drink during pregnancy are also more likely to miscarry or deliver a stillborn child. If you misuse opioid drugs or medications while pregnant, you may go into labor well before your expected due date. Frequent rising and falling of your blood levels of opioids can also lead to problems such as:

• Restricted fetal growth
• Seizures in your unborn child
• Separation of your placenta from your uterine wall
• Miscarriage

For more information on the risks associated with any addictive substance, talk to the specialists at Calusa Recovery.