Light One Up For Baby

Should women who use drugs during pregnancy be prosecuted and sent to prison? It is undisputed that drugs do harm to unborn children. One drug in particular has been shown to be responsible for many problems. This drug causes miscarriage, placental abruption, and low birth weight babies. It's use can also cause spasm of the arteries, including those that send blood to the placenta. This reduces the baby's oxygen and nutrient supplies, which can result in smaller and underweight babies.

This drug is not crack cocaine, heroin, or even meth. The drug is nicotine. Smoking nearly doubles a woman's risk of having a low-birth weight baby. In 2004, 11.9 percent of babies born to smokers in the United States were of low birth weight (less than 5½ pounds), compared to 7.2 percent of babies of nonsmokers. This information is from the March of Dimes. Underweight babies face an increased risk of serious health problems and chronic lifelong disabilities. These babies can suffer from cerebral palsy, mental retardation and learning problems, and even death. Babies whose mothers smoked during pregnancy are up to three times as likely to die from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) as babies of nonsmokers.

Smokers are more likely to have a baby with birth defects, particularly congenital heart defects. A 2003 study suggests that babies of mothers who smoke during pregnancy undergo withdrawal-like symptoms similar to those seen in babies of mothers who use some illicit drugs. For example, babies of smokers appear to be more jittery and difficult to soothe than babies of nonsmokers. Among the effects of smoking on a fetus are symptoms of going through nicotine withdrawal and chemical detoxification during the first few hours of life.

There have not been studies of pregnant women and their babies who have used heroin, crack or meth but did not smoke. The researchers are having trouble finding a statistical sample. It seems that almost every meth, crack, or heroin user also smokes. The studies that have been done on drug using pregnant women and their babies cannot determine if the negative effects are from the illegal drug or from the nicotine.

In some Alabama counties women are being prosecuted for chemical endangerment of a child because they consumed a drug during their pregnancy. This is a law that was intended to prevent children from being exposed to meth labs. The legislature did not intend this law to be applied to addicts who are pregnant. Everyone should know that drug use during pregnancy is bad for the mother and the child. A woman should not use any drug, consume alcohol, or smoke during their pregnancy. However there are only four overcrowded rehab centers that will accept women who are with child in Alabama.

Women who have a drug problem can have an abortion and not be charged under this law. The wrongful enforcement of this law means that women will not seek obstetric care. This places their babies at additional risk.