

When left untreated, it may be fatal for both the mother and baby. This condition, which is called placental abruption, usually causes bleeding. However, cocaine use can cause the placenta to detach from the uterus prematurely. In healthy pregnancies, it stays connected to the uterus until birth. The placenta provides oxygen and nutrients for the baby. They might forget to attend prenatal appointments or struggle to follow medical advice, which increases the risk of problems like miscarriage and difficult delivery. In addition, pregnant women who become addicted to crack cocaine may find it difficult to focus on anything besides getting and using the drug. These issues can harm not only the mother but also the developing fetus. high blood pressure that can lead to heart attack or stroke.loss of appetite, weight loss, and malnourishment.hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that aren’t there).The most common side effects of cocaine include: Prenatal exposure to crack cocaine (or powder cocaine) may cause the following problems: Poor Maternal HealthĪ pregnant woman who uses cocaine may experience dangerous side effects. whether the baby experiences child abuse, neglect, or other harmful events while growing up.whether the mother uses alcohol or other drugs.the level of prenatal care the mother receives.the amount and frequency of the mother’s cocaine use.While it poses a number of risks, its effects vary depending on individual and environmental factors such as: Researchers have since found that prenatal cocaine exposure doesn’t always have severe consequences.

They often called these children “crack babies.” In the 1980s and ‘90s, there was a crack epidemic in Los Angeles, New York City, and other major cities in the United States.ĭuring this time, many people believed that all babies who were exposed to crack cocaine in utero would experience significant problems later in life.

Like many forms of drug use, crack cocaine use can cause serious issues during pregnancy. Some people cook the powder into smokeable rocks known as crack cocaine.Īccording to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), about 750,000 pregnant women use cocaine, including crack cocaine, every year. Cocaine is a highly addictive illicit drug that comes in powder form.
