Approximately 45,000 women in this country used cocaine during pregnancy in 1992, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Cocaine is a dangerous drug for unborn babies.
Cocaine use during pregnancy can affect a pregnant woman and her unborn baby in many ways. During the early months of pregnancy, it may increase the risk of miscarriage. When the drug is used late in pregnancy, it may trigger premature labor. It also may cause an unborn baby to die or to have a stroke, which can result in irreversible brain damage. Studies show that women who use cocaine during pregnancy are at least twice as likely as other women to have a premature baby.