COCAINE EFFECTS ON PREGNANCY

Lisa Hackenmueller Caitlin McNamara

Katrina Awker

What is Cocaine? Inhalant Local and Topical anesthetic Central Nervous System Stimulant

Cocaine Statistics Adults 18 to 25 years old have the

highest rate of current cocaine use.

Each day 5,000 more people will experiment with cocaine.

Cocaine remains the drug most commonly used for recreational purposes in pregnancy.

Nearly 90% of cocaine abusing women are of childbearing age.

Let’s Meet Jen

Cocaine effects on Sperm:

Sperm acts as a transportation mechanism.

This mechanism carries the cocaine into the ovum and is involved in the abnormal development of offspring in cocaine-exposed males.

The safest approach is for a man to quit using cocaine three months prior to trying to conceive a child.

Cocaine effects on Oocyte:

Changes occur in the meiotic spindle structure and the cytoplasmic centrosome organization.

Oocytes exposed to cocaine during maturation have a doubling in their cytoplasmic centrosome number.

These effects are related to the roles of chromosomes in establishing and maintaining functional microtubule organization during meiosis in oocytes.

Cocaine’s effects on Jen’s pregnancy:

During the early stages of pregnancy cocaine exposure may increase risk of miscarriage.

Cocaine crosses the placenta and enters into the baby’s circulatory system.

Oxygen demand greater during pregnancy

Accute effects of Cocaine

Fetal Distress Premature rupture of

membranes Preterm delivery Placental abruption Fetal tachycardia Hypertension Intra-uterine fetal death

Family Characteristics Minority race Low socioeconomic status Poor prenatal care Low maternal education Greater maternal distress Less stimulating home environment The mother also tends to use

alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco

Birth Defects Low birth weight

Small Head Circumference

Shorter in length

Withdrawal symptoms

Stroke

Birth Defects Cont.

Abnormalities of the brain, skull, face, eyes, heart, limbs, intestines, genitals and urinary tract.

Cognitive Development

Emotional Development

Life long impacts: Decreased Fine motor skills Lower IQ Learning deficiencies Neglect Violence Nerve Cell development Environmental factors

Causes for Death

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Cardiopulmonary arrest Pneumonia Accidental Asphyxia Respiratory distress syndrome

What does the law say?

Minnesota- Required to report and test for prenatal drug exposure. Also MN has policies that enforce admission to an inpatient treatment program for women who use drugs.

Currently South Carolina is the only state that holds prenatal substance abuse as a criminal act of child abuse and neglect.

Discussion

Do you think that mother’s who use cocaine during pregnancy should go to jail if caught? Or lose their child?

How do you think the typical family unit that these children are born into influences the development of the child?

How do you think these children affect our society today?