Why Avoiding Meth Use During Pregnancy Matters
The Tipping Point
Nancy Valencia recalls how going to jail was the tipping point that put her on the path to recovery from daily methamphetamine use. Click the button below to find substance use treatment and recovery services in Sacramento County:
What We Know
Methamphetamine, a powerful, highly addictive stimulant that affects the central nervous system, is one of the most commonly used illicit drugs during pregnancy. Methamphetamine use disorder among pregnant individuals is dramatically increasing, leading to a growing public health concern. Pregnant women who use amphetamines can experience higher rates of cardiovascular disorders and hypertension, resulting in complicated pregnancies and deliveries and adverse effects on the fetus.(4)
Additionally, often pregnant women misuse both meth and opioids at the same time. Opioids like fentanyl can seriously affect a pregnant mother and fetus, making pregnancy and newborn care difficult. This polysubstance use poses unique challenges in providing effective treatment for both the newborn baby and the mother.
Before Your Baby Is Born
Effects on the Mother
Mothers who used meth during pregnancy are more likely to experience gestational hypertension or preeclampsia, preterm delivery, and maternal morbidities – health problems related to pregnancy and giving birth. Many of these conditions can continue to affect the mother for decades after the pregnancy. Some may be severe and increase the woman’s risk of dying during or after childbirth. (2, 3)
Possible effects:
Cardiovascular problems, such as heart disease and blood vessel problems
Diabetes
High blood pressure
Infections, especially from cesarean section
Blood clots
Bleeding
Anemia (low iron in the blood)
Nausea and vomiting
Heart disease
Stroke
Depression and anxiety(6)
Effects on the fetus
Just like the food you eat or the beverages you drink, any drugs – methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, marijuana, etc. – pass through the umbilical cord into your unborn baby’s body. While you may not intend to harm your baby, drugs can cut off some or all of the food and oxygen your baby needs to grow and thrive.
Although studies on the effects of methamphetamine misuse during pregnancy are limited and do not sufficiently take into account the mothers’ use of other substances in addition to meth, the research that does exist shows an increase in the following outcomes:
Premature delivery
Smaller newborns
Placental abruption – a separation of the placental lining from the uterus
Low fetal blood sugar
Heart and brain abnormalities
Stimulant drugs like methamphetamine can interfere with the growth of the brain before the baby is born, leading to cognitive and behavioral issues that can persist into childhood. When a baby is born preterm, or too small and too early, the likelihood it will need to be cared for in the newborn intensive care unit (NICU) is greater.(5)
After Your Baby Is Born
Breast Milk
Anything you take into your body can be passed to your baby through your breast milk and may hurt the baby’s brain development and ability to thrive. Some substances can interfere with your baby’s ability to feed well and interact with you. Meth easily crosses into breast milk and is concentrated there in relatively high amounts. Infants breastfed by those who use meth can show irritability, poor sleep habits, agitation, and excessive crying. (1)
Neonatal Withdrawal Syndrome (NAS)
Babies who are experiencing withdrawal from narcotics – whether from heroin, methadone, or prescription drug form – can suffer from the following symptoms:
Irritability
High-pitched crying
Jitteriness
Sweating
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Seizures
Respiratory distress
Drugs like methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl can also cause the baby to be shaky and have a hard time responding to the mother or other caregivers. Caring for a baby experiencing withdrawal can be extremely difficult, taking a physical, mental, and emotional toll.
It’s Never Too Late!
If you’re using any kind of drugs, please talk to your healthcare provider right away. A healthcare provider can work with you to create a plan to assist, support, and guide you on a path to health for you and your baby.
Please call Sacramento County, Substance Use Prevention and Treatment Services (916)874-9754, or visit our website.
References
Bartholomew, M. L., & Lee, M.-J. (2019, September 13). Substance use in the breastfeeding woman. Contemporary OB/GYN, 64 (90). https://www.contemporaryobgyn.net/view/substance-use-breastfeeding-woman
Chatterjee, R. (2018, November 29). Another drug crisis: Methamphetamine use by pregnant women. NPR. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/11/29/668487475/another-drug-crisis-methamphetamine-use-by-pregnant-women
Hayer, S., Bharti, G., Wallace, J., Prewitt, K. C., Lo, J. O., & Caughney, A. B. (2024, May 22). Prenatal methamphetamine use increases risk of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. https://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378(24)00615-X/abstract
Li, J., Liu, J., Zhang, K., Chen, L., Xu, J., & Xie, X. (2021). The Adverse Effects of Prenatal METH Exposure on the Offspring: A Review. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 12, 715176. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2021.715176
NIDA. (2021, April 13). What are the risks of methamphetamine misuse during pregnancy? https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/methamphetamine/what-are-risks-methamphetamine-misuse-during-pregnancy on 2024, July 22
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2020, May 14). What are examples and causes of maternal morbidity and mortality?. Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/maternal-morbidity-mortality/conditioninfo/causes