Alcohol and drugs
- Stay away from alcohol, cigarettes and drugs during pregnancy.
- These substances can seriously harm you and your baby.
- Talk to your health provider and seek help to quit.
Alcohol, cigarettes and drugs can harm you and your baby
Smoking can cause cancer, heart disease and stroke. It can also hurt your baby. When you smoke, your baby is exposed to dangerous chemicals that can damage your baby’s lungs. Secondhand smoke, or breathing in someone else’s smoke, is harmful, too. Even thirdhand smoke, the smell of cigarettes or cigars that linger on clothing or in a home, can cause harm.
Drinking alcohol is dangerous during pregnancy. There is no amount that’s proven to be safe. If you have a glass of wine, so does your baby. That’s because alcohol in your blood quickly passes to your baby. This can cause serious health conditions. The worst is fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) that can gravely harm how your baby grows. The good news is that you can avoid these health problems by not drinking.
Drugs, whether they’re off the street, bought over-the-counter, or even if they’re herbal and dietary supplements, can hurt your baby. Some can cause birth defects. Smoking marijuana can make it hard for couples to get pregnant. And when you’re pregnant, it can harm your baby’s growth. Other street drugs like ecstasy, speed, ice, crank and crystal meth are also dangerous.
Some medications that were safe before you were pregnant can actually be harmful to your baby. If you’re pregnant, talk to your provider about any medications you’re taking. If you need help quitting alcohol or drugs, seek support.