How can heroin use affect pregnancy?

I have a friend of mine who has been using heroin. She has just found out recently that she's pregnant. This makes her scared, and I'm scared for her as well. How will her heroin intake affect the baby?

The baby is at high risk for being born with low birth weight. There is also a chance for her to miscarry the baby. Methadone treatments and detoxification are also available for pregnant women. I suggest that she consult her doctor right away and start the treatments soon. The baby might suffer from withdrawal symptoms afterwards, but this can be treated. After the birth of the baby, the baby will have to be monitored as well.

heroin will have a massive affect on her unborn baby. low birth weight, brain damage and miscarriage is what she is risking right now. if however, her baby is lucky enough to reach full term, it will be born addicted to heroin itself. your friend must get off the stuff

her baby could be born addicted to heroin and could have birth defects. Her obgyn will be able to tell her more about the risks.

Please tell her to stop now and pray for the best.

the baby can turn out deformed and probably mentally not ok.... it can also make babies heroin addicts and they have to slowly ween babies off the drug so they don't get tremors and such....you never want to hear a baby crying for heroin

it will seriously screw her baby... the baby will have a high risk of having an abnormality in the brain or the body... he/she might be mentally retarded to


please help the baby

find out and see comes-Junkies don`t deserve babies

the fetus (baby) could be born hooked on heroin. very bad situation. if so, the government could take the baby away and charge the mother with child abuse among other things.

My friends daughter used heroin and other drugs right up to the time she had the baby. When he was born he cried extra loud and long. He seemed to cry like something was hurting him....really suffering. The only way to calm him was to hold him firmly to her and talk soothingly. That went on for about 3 months and he started coming out of it. He is over 2 now and I think he is developmentally slower. He still isnt talking to where you can understand him. He is very sweet though and he tries hard but I know he is going to need some therapy. Tell your friend to stop the drugs now if she can. If she cant then you as a friend need to intervene. The baby deserves that. Most rehabs will keep pregnant girls til the baby is born. Please make her understand that there is another life in her that has not chosen to do drugs like she has. Its not fair. Do the right thing. Good luck.

Well lets see if the baby lives, she/he will probable have some very hard struggles to say the least. Why isn't she on birthcontrol if shes going to be acting so stupid!!! I heart goes out for that child and I hope she/he will be alright.

Good Lord! This child will likely be born addicted to heroin and go through painful withdrawals. There is a high chance of miscarriage or premature birth if she continues on the drug. Babies often are not as well developed as other babies when they are born. They may have respiratory problems, behavioural problems, birth defects, higher risks for SIDS, brain hemorrhage, and of course, HIV transmitted by the mother.
Your friend should not suddenly stop Heroin without help from a clinic. This also could kill the baby if it is already addicted. Tell her to get help now while her baby still has a chance.

My birth mother was a heroin addict. I lost two birth siblings because she kept 'using.' One was miscarried, (Stephan) the other was still born. (Corey.) I was born addicted to it, hospitalized the first 15 days of my life, and was on Paragoric ... my parents (foster) would put some on my tongue when I'd have seizures, and I was go limp, and relaxed. I was very sick until I was 2 yrs old, and had a handful of eye surgeries in the process. Took me two yrs to get 100% better, but it could've been a lot worse. I have no physical probs/mental probs. I'm 100% better. Drugs during pregnancy is not ok, but its' not the worst thing in the world. yeah, get your friend to stop doing that ****, adn get help asap. My adoptive parenst said she'd od'ed twice while prego with me, plus I had dts' or whatever they're called its' documented. That child will grow up stronger for being born like that, but still, she NEEDS to STOP, NOW. I'll pray for her, and you. That is very hard, and I'm sorry honey. Life is so awesome I wish people wouldn't use drugs, (except for weed, but that's not RLY a 'drug') to make themselves escape, or happy. Its' a waste of time to hurt yourself like that. Just ride rollarcoasters or go ice-skaiting. Funner, and more excersize! :-D