20% of pregnant women smoke, 12% drink alcohol, and 6% use illicit drugs, affecting over 120,000 babies per year with birth defects. Substance use during pregnancy can cause fetal growth restriction, brain damage, birth defects, low birth weight, decreased immunity, and heart abnormalities. It may also lead to growth delays, impaired speaking, disabilities, slower brain development, hyperactivity, and learning disabilities in early childhood. Women are advised to always talk to their healthcare provider before taking any medications, herbs or vitamins during pregnancy.

2. Cigarettes
20%
of pregnant women smoke

3. 12%
Alcohol
of pregnant women drink

4. 6%
Illicit Drugs
of pregnant women use

5. That means nearly 120,000 babies
are affected by birth defects each year.

6. Every 4.5 minutes, a baby is born
with a birth defect in the United States.

7. effects of drugs on the fetus

8. INFECTION PASSED FROM MOTHER
FETAL GROWTH RESTRICTION

9. BRAIN DAMAGE
BIRTH DEFECTS (CLUBFOOT)

10. BLOOD POISONING
LOW BIRTH WEIGHT

11. DECREASED IMMUNITY
HEART ABNORMALITIES

12. EFFECTS
OF
DRUGS
ON
EARLY CHILDHOOD

13. Growth Delays

14. Impaired Speaking
Disabilities

15. Slower Brain
Development

16. Hyperactive Disorder

17. Learning Disabilities

18. Sleep Disturbances

19. Heart Disease

20. Mental Il-lness

21. HOW TO
GET HELP
BEFORE TAKING
MEDICINES?

22. Always talk to your health care provider before you take
any medication, herbs, or vitamins. Don’t stop taking
your medication until your doctor says that it is OK.
Ask Questions

23. Contact the FDA to report any serious problems you
have after taking a specific medication.
Report Problems

24. Drug labels list the risks for women who are pregnant or
breast feeding. The labels tell consumers how each medication
might affect or have affected other pregnant women.
Read the Drug Label

25. Pregnancy Exposure Registries help women and their
doctors learn more about which medications are safe to
take during pregnancy.
Sign Up for a Pregnancy
Exposure Registry

26. Living babies who have birth defects often need special care and
interventions to survive.
Do not suddenly stop taking your medication; it may be riskier than
continuing to use the medication while under a doctor’s care.
The best way to keep your baby safe from street drugs is to avoid them!
things to remember

27. SOURCES
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Birth_defects_and_drugs
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/facts.html
http://www.marchofdimes.org/pregnancy/alcohol-during-pregnancy.aspx
http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ByAudience/ForWomen/ucm118567.htm#Ask_questions
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