Smoking, Drinking, & Drugs Affect You & Your Baby

Pregnant women who smoke have more chances for these problems:	Babies born to pregnant women who smoke have more chances for these problems:
Vaginal bleeding Ectopic pregnancy Miscarriage or stillbirth Preterm birth	Low birth weight Crib death Less able to fight infections, like colds, after being born Some may learn more slowly when they go to school

Pregnant women who drink alcohol have more chances for these problems:	Babies born to pregnant women who drink alcohol have more chances for these problems:
Miscarriage Stillbirth	Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) - when the mother drinks a lot. With FAS, the baby is apt to have one or more of these things: Low birth weight Intellectual disabilities and learning problems Behavior problems Health problems Body defects {Note: There is no safe level of alcohol for pregnant women. It is best not to drink at all.}

The pregnant woman who takes drugs has more chances for these problems:	Babies born to mothers who take drugs are at risk for these problems:
From cocaine (also called “crack”): Early miscarriage High blood pressure Heavy bleeding late in pregnancy Sudden death, heart attack, or stroke If the mother shares needles with other drug users, she also is at more risk for Hepatitis B and HIV/AIDS.	From cocaine (also called “crack”): Low birth weight Slow growth Tend to have smaller than normal heads and brains May have brain injury Crib death Body defects Learning problems Behavior problems
From heroin and other narcotics: Preterm birth Stillbirth If the mother shares needles with other drug users, she is at more risk for Hepatitis B and HIV/AIDS as well.	From heroin and other narcotics: Low birth weight Slow growth Addicted to the drug when born Trouble thinking and learning Behavior problems
From marijuana (also called “pot” or “grass”): Changes in mood and sense of reality Preterm birth	From marijuana (also called “pot” or “grass”): Low birth weight May have behavior problems