Alcohol, Cannabis, Tobacco, and Other Drugs
Smoking in pregnancy |
When a pregnant woman smokes or breathes in second-hand smoke:
What can you do to protect yourself and your unborn baby?Make your home and car smoke-free. Ask others to go outside and not to smoke around you or your children. Babies and children who live in a smoke-free home have fewer breathing problems and ear and lung infections. What if you are pregnant and smoke?Try to quit or cut down your smoking. If you are thinking about quitting smoking, remember:
Benefits for the mother include:
Benefits for your baby include:
#QuitStories – Martha’s Quit StoryMartha, a local KFL&A area #QuitStories participant is sharing her quit smoking story with our community. She remembered moments during her quitting smoking journey, thinking about having a family in the future, and how she knew she had to quit to become healthy enough for her babies. Read Martha’s full quit story. |
Alcohol use during pregnancy |
When pregnant or planning a pregnancy there is:
When you drink alcohol during pregnancy, the alcohol quickly reaches your baby through your bloodstream. The effects of alcohol on your developing baby varies depending on:
Sometimes it is very difficult to change your drinking habits if you become pregnant, even if you really want to. It is never too late to reduce the risks for your baby.If you drank alcohol during your pregnancy, or if you are having trouble quitting, help is available. Talk to your health care provider. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)If you drink alcohol while you are pregnant, you may be at risk of giving birth to a baby with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). FASD is a term which describes a group of conditions, which are a result of a mother who drank alcohol during pregnancy, including:
How much alcohol does it take to cause FASD?No one knows how much alcohol it takes to harm a developing baby. No amount of alcohol is safe during pregnancy. What type of alcohol should I avoid?Everything! Beer, wine, cocktails, coolers, hard liquor, liqueurs, hard ciders, and non-alcoholic drinks all contain alcohol that can hurt your developing baby. There is no type of alcohol that is safe to drink when you are pregnant. Are there times during pregnancy when it is okay to have alcohol?There is no known time during pregnancy when it is safe to drink alcohol. Can FASD be cured?FASD cannot be cured. People live with FASD for their entire life. However, people with FASD can still do well with helpful supports and services. Some examples include special education, vocational programs, structured environments, and lifelong support. Alcohol and pregnancy resources:
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Cannabis use during pregnancy |
Is it safe to use cannabis during pregnancy?Not using cannabis during pregnancy and while breastfeeding is the safest option for a pregnant mother and baby. Many people believe prenatal cannabis use is harmless. In fact, research suggests that 70% of pregnant and non-pregnant women believe there is a slight or no risk of harm from using cannabis once or twice a week. The fact is, there are over 400 chemicals in cannabis some of which may be harmful to a developing fetus. THC, which is the main active ingredient in cannabis, crosses the placenta into fetal tissue and can accumulate in breast milk.Cannabis in all forms: smoked, vaped, eaten, cream or taken as a pill may impact the developing baby’s brain and may result in learning and behavioral issues. What can happen if a mother uses cannabis during pregnancy?Evidenced-based studies caution; cannabis use during pregnancy may negatively affect the growth and development of the baby and lead to long-term problems with learning and behaviour. Complications of cannabis in pregnancy may include increase risk of:
What about using cannabis to treat morning sickness?Due to the potential harm of using cannabis during pregnancy, women should not self-medicate with cannabis to treat morning sicknessbut instead talk to their health care provider about safer alternatives such as:
Cannabis during pregnancy resources:
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Drug use during pregnancy |
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Did you know that prescription and over-the-counter medications, topical creams, inhalers, high doses of vitamins, alcohol, nicotine, illicit drugs, and even herbal products can cross the placenta and pass into your baby's bloodstream? Once in your baby's bloodstream these products and substances can harm your unborn baby. The use of drugs by pregnant women can result in harms to the pregnant mother and her baby.Speak with your health care provider before taking any substance including prescription or non-prescription medication, herbal remedy and illicit drugs. Is it safe to take medication during pregnancy?Few medications have been shown to be safe during pregnancy. It is best not to take any medication during pregnancy unless you and your health care provider determine it is necessary. Always talk to your health care provider because the risk from not taking the medication may be higher than the potential risk of taking the medication. If you were taking a prescription medication for a medical condition before you became pregnant, speak to your health care provider right away about the safety of the medication. Are natural herbal products safe to take during pregnancy?It is common to think natural herbal products are safer than other options, but many of these products have not been clinically tested to evaluate their safety and effectiveness or been properly tested during pregnancy. Always check with your health care provider before taking any kind of herbal product. What about illicit drugs during pregnancy?Illicit drugs are never safe, especially during pregnancy. Growing babies are harmed when a mother uses drugs. It is never too late to quit any substance habits.Help is available, talk to your health care provider. Drug use during pregnancy resources:
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This content was adapted with permission from Ottawa Public Health.