Can taking pills harm your unborn baby?

Answer 1

Almost any drugs have the ability to cause harm during pregnancy - depending when they are used and what their purpose.Prescription medication taken by the mother need to be discussed honestly with her doctor, some medications are more harmful than others and often can be safely substituted during pregnancy.

If a mother tests "hot" on admission to Labor and Delivery - the hospital staff may not be able to offer her pain medication - when the baby is born he is immediately taken to the NICU - mom never gets to hold him in most cases.

There is no "therapeutic" level of illegal drugs during pregnancy - it is tragic and heartbreaking to see a baby born addicted to drugs - when this is suspected the baby is tested, if he tests positive he is immediately taken into protective custody - this does not mean he is released from the hospital - depending on what the mother has taken the baby may need to be detoxed first - something that can make the strongest NICU nurses cry.

The mother will be arrested right there in the hospital bed she is lying in. When the doctor writes the discharge orders - local police or the sheriff's department will return to escort her to the city or county jail to await trial on child abuse charges.*

This does not need to happen, women who admit drug use to their OB doctor early in pregnancy have some of the most successful drug treatment programs available - babies born to mothers who kick the problem prior to their birth may not lose custody and their baby may not need to be detoxed. What better gift can a mother give her newborn than a healthy birth and a drug-free life together.

*This was the process followed by the hospital I worked for in So California, local laws may vary.