Drug Use During Pregnancy

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that illicit drugs, whose content is largely unknown in some cases and may include very disruptive and variable chemicals, can seriously affect the development of the fetus or embryo. The author stresses that Fetal Alcohol Syndrome can be found in cases where even mild alcoholic consumption is present during certain gestational periods, although it is a much more likely to occur when alcohol consumption is considered excessive. The paper relates that the seriousness of cigarette smoking by a pregnant woman is similar to that of alcohol; the legality of it leads some to believe that it is much less harmful than it actually is, but cigarette smoking has been shown to greatly increase the risk of low birth weight babies and babies with intrauterine growth retardation.

From the Paper:

"It is within this process of gestation that hundreds of thousands of errors can be made by the body, the genes or other outside forces; and within those potential glitches, a multitude of manifestations can become apparent within the development of the fetus and later the child. Within this process, there are many points where there is proof of the divine plan, because so many things can go wrong but statistically they rarely do. Yet, despite the intentions of the divine plan, within this process, the actions of the mother can and often do seriously affect the outcome of the pregnancy."

More papers on Drug Use During Pregnancy:

• Term Paper # 113822 : "Drugs During Pregnancy"
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• Research Paper # 105872 : "Effects of Cocaine on Fetus"

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