Placenta Harmed By Cocaine And Heroin
For further information, contact Melissa Maimann at Essential Birth Consulting.
Cocaine and heroin … causes an increase in the passage of some chemicals into the fetus.
… As complete abstinence is impossible for many people addicted to drugs who become pregnant, maintenance treatment with methadone is often used to limit damage to the developing child. However, methadone itself can also be dangerous, too much fetal exposure leading to harmful withdrawal symptoms in the newborn. … while … narcotics didn’t increase transfer of methadone, they did allow transfer of other test substances. This suggests the barrier function of the placenta may be compromised. … substances or bacteria and viruses may cross the placenta and harm the fetus. Previous studies have reported increased prevalence of infectious diagnoses in cocaine-exposed infants”.
Melissa Maimann, Essential Birth Consulting 0400 418 448
Geez, and guess what’s in epidurals? Yep, super-duper cocaine and heroin! Injected right into your spine. No wonder so many babies develop fetal distress with all of the things being pumped into them while they’re on the way out. I’ve heard many women state that their doctor told them that epidurals were safe or very safe for their baby; only to have a c/s for fetal distress. When I ask them if they knew that the epidural contained narcotics the answer is a resounding “No”.
While the prolonged use of narcotics over the duration of a pregnancy would most likely cause more placental damage than an epidural, it is no excuse for women to be with held from giving informed consent. Every woman is entitled to know that there are narcotics in epidurals that can and do effect women and babies in labor, and what those risks are.