Prenatal drug and alcohol exposure
Prenatal drug and or alcohol exposure can cause permanent damage to a your unborn child.
What does prenatal drug and alcohol exposure mean?
When a woman takes drugs or drinks alcohol during pregnancy, changes can occur in the body and brain of her baby causing long-term effects.
Drugs that may affect a fetus during development can be illegal or prescription medications, including:
- Alcohol
- Cocaine
- Heroin
- Inhalants
- Nicotine (cigarettes)
What are the signs and symptoms of prenatal drug and alcohol exposure?
Babies born after prenatal drug exposure may have a variety of symptoms, including:
- Brain damage
- Balance problems
- Behavioral problems
- Cognitive delays
- Congenital syndromes
- Difficulty sleeping
- Feeding problems
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
- Irritability
- Language delays
- Learning disabilities
- Low birth weight
- Premature birth
- Tremors from withdrawal
