Pregnancy + Drugs = DANGER
Your actions - including how you use alcohol and illicit drugs - may affect you and your unborn child in major ways.
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- A woman's drug use may affect her unborn child in early stages of development - even before she knows that she is pregnant.
- Drug or alcohol use in the first 3 months of pregnancy carries the highest risk of damaging the baby's organs and tissues.
- Drug or alcohol used later in pregnancy can slow the baby's growth, and affect the baby's brain and nervous system development.
- The use of some drugs may also increase the risk of miscarriage, premature birth, stillbirth, or death of the mother & baby.
- After a baby is born he or she could go through withdrawal, have learning disabilities, growth problems, a decreased immune system, and behavior problems.
DO NOT take chances-don't use drugs or alcohol! Even drugs you can buy in a store (cold medicine, sleeping pills, diet pills, herbal remedies) could harm your baby if you are pregnant. DO NOT take any drug unless you talk with your health-care provider first.
REMEMBER, it is never too late to quit. It is best to quit using drugs and alcohol before you get pregnant. However, if you are using now - GET HELP to quit. The sooner you stop, the better off you and your baby will be.
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HOW TO GET HELP
- Talk with your health care provider
- Contact Washington County Health Department, Division of Addictions 240-313-3310
- Call the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment Help Line 800-662-4357
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