Methamphetamine and Its Effects on Expectant Mothers

Toxic substances like meth may impair a pregnant woman's health and increase her chances of complications. Meth-addicted women, for instance, have a considerably lower body mass index than the general population (BMI). This may increase the danger to her unborn child.

A lower body mass index has been linked to a higher risk of pregnancy problems, such as the need for inpatient and prolonged stays. In addition, if a pregnant woman uses meth, the baby may not get the nutrition, which might lead to low birth weight.

An additional risk of meth use during pregnancy is decreased blood supply to the placenta. Because of this, the fetus may suffer from hypoxia or an oxygen deficiency.

Methamphetamine has surpassed all other substances for women seeking treatment at US government-sponsored health clinics since 2003. The use of meth in conjunction with other drugs, such as opioid pain relievers, cannabis, tobacco, and alcohol, only exacerbates the problem.

Fetal development may also be adversely affected by certain chemicals. Fetal alcohol syndrome is one such permanent consequence of alcohol use.

Methamphetamine's Harmful Effects on Infants

Using meth when pregnant has adverse effects on the developing baby. Methamphetamine usage during pregnancy increases the likelihood of having an unhealthy child due to the following;

• Poor prenatal nutrition leads to premature delivery.

• Being underweight during the duration of pregnancy leads to a malnourished child.

• A higher potential for neurological abnormalities.

There has been very little human research on the effects of meth on a fetus, so we cannot make definite conclusions from them. Meth use is linked to adverse health effects, according to little research on the topic.

Animal research has provided the bulk of what is known about meth's consequences on an unborn child. Meth usage during pregnancy was associated with the following effects in rats:

• Both maternal and infant mortality rates rise.

• Issues with the retina.

• Split lip and palate.

• Congenital rib malformations.

• Stunted development

• Inability to learn and use motor skills at a typical rate.

Meth usage during pregnancy has been linked to fetal malformations in specific research. For example, according to another study, prenatal meth usage has been linked to an increased incidence of cleft lip in newborns.

According to a randomized controlled trial, pregnant women who used drugs during the first three months of pregnancy were three times more likely to have a child born with gastroschisis. When a newborn experiences gastroschisis, its intestines protrude through a hole in the skin at the navel.

Babies with mothers who used meth for at least two-thirds of their pregnancies had lower-than-average sizes of several brain areas than babies with mothers who did not use meth.

Still, it's worth noting that there is no conclusive evidence linking meth use during pregnancy with an increased risk of having a child with a deformity. In addition, there is a lack of research that accounts for potential confounding factors such as mother polysubstance usage, sample size, and recollection bias.