Taking illegal drugs during pregnancy

Using drugs during pregnancy can harm your baby.

It may also be harmful to:

• smoke cigarettes
• drink alcohol
• take prescription medicines that you were not prescribed

If you use drugs and you're pregnant, it's important to make a change.

Drugs to avoid during pregnancy

The following drugs can harm you and your baby:

• cigarettes and alcohol
• sleeping tablets ('z-drugs') such as zolpidem and zopiclone
• pain relief drugs such as codeine
• cannabis
• cocaine or heroin
• sedatives such as benzodiazepines

Risks of drug use during pregnancy

All drugs pass through the placenta to your baby.

This may cause a higher risk of:

• miscarriage
• bleeding in pregnancy
• early labour
• reduced supply of oxygen to your baby through the placenta

Effects on your newborn baby

In severe cases drug use can increase the risk of:

• stillbirth
• delays in your baby’s development
• health problems such as asthma
• cot death (sudden infant death syndrome)

You and your baby may be asked to stay longer in hospital. This is to check if your baby needs treatment for withdrawal symptoms or any other complications.

Drug withdrawal in newborn babies

At birth your baby’s drug supply stops and they may go through a period of withdrawal. This is called neonatal abstinent syndrome (NAS).

Signs of NAS include:

• feeding difficulties (cannot suck or swallow properly)
• sleeping difficulties (cannot settle or sleep after feed)
• high pitch crying
• being irritable and restless
• tremors
• fever
• vomiting and diarrhoea
• a sore bottom (due to frequent dirty nappies)
• weight loss

If your baby needs treatment such as medicine they may be transferred to the special care baby unit (SCBU). You can help to calm your baby during treatment by breastfeeding them and giving them skin-to-skin care.

Your midwife and doctor are used to looking after babies with drug withdrawal symptoms. They can offer support and advice.

Before becoming pregnant

If you take drugs and are planning to get pregnant, support is available to help you give up.

Start taking folic acid.

Plan to stop drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes.

When you're pregnant

Take folic acid for the first 12 weeks of your pregnancy. This can help protect your baby from conditions such as spina bifida.

Ask your GP, pharmacist or midwife which prescription medicines and over-the-counter medicines are safe in pregnancy.

Over-the-counter medicines are medicines you buy from a pharmacy or shop without a prescription

Read advice on the effects of:

• smoking during pregnancy
• alcohol during pregnancy

If drugs are part of your life, getting help can improve the outcomes for you and your baby.

Where to get help

If you have a problem with drug use, help is available.

In some maternity hospitals there are drug liaison midwives who specialise in helping women with problem drug use. They will offer support throughout your pregnancy.