Influence of Alcohol, Smoking and Drug Abuse by Parents on the Embryonic Development of a Child

To cope up with stress, some adults tend to smoke, drink or use drugs. Over a period of time, this becomes an addiction. This is not only harmful for their health but also the child that is growing inside of them. Whatever is consumed by the mother during pregnancy is also consumed by the unborn baby. 

Taking drugs during pregnancy can increase the risk of still born births, malnourished babies and birth defects. Excessive use of drugs can also lead to behaviour problems in children. Drugs can also affect the child’s attentiveness and memory. Babies born to women  who use cocaine, alcohol, or tobacco can change the brain structure which may persist into their adolescence. Use of cocaine can also lead to brain damage. 

Alcohol addiction during pregnancy can cause reduced growth of head and brain, facial abnormalities etc. Babies are also born smaller than average in some cases. No level of alcohol exposure is safe during pregnancy. Foetal exposure to alcohol can lead to premature birth, spontaneous abortion, low birth weight, etc. 

A higher degree of tobacco exposure is associated with lower birth weight. Smoking during pregnancy can increase the risk of stillbirth and miscarriages. It can also increase the risk of placental problems and restricted head growth.

Works Cited

Fulghum, D. (2008). Drug Use and Pregnancy. [online] WebMD. Available at: https://www.webmd.com/baby/drug-use-and-pregnancy.

Golding, M. (2023). For decades, mothers have borne the brunt of scrutiny for alcohol use during pregnancy − new research points to dad’s drinking as a significant factor in fetal alcohol syndrome. [online] The Conversation. Available at: https://theconversation.com/for-decades-mothers-have-borne-the-brunt-of-scrutiny-for-alcohol-use-during-pregnancy-new-research-points-to-dads-drinking-as-a-significant-factor-in-fetal-alcohol-syndrome-216601.

National Institute on Drug Abuse (2022). What are the risks of smoking during pregnancy? [online] National Institute on Drug Abuse. Available at: https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/tobacco-nicotine-e-cigarettes/what-are-risks-smoking-during-pregnancy.