While this is understandable, the adverse health effects that the baby will experience from the mother's habits are enormous. Organizations specialize in helping women kick addictions, and pregnancy is an especially important time to consider doing this. Any doctor or clinic providing prenatal care can refer people to these resources. Alcohol should be avoided, especially early in pregnancy, because it can cause fetal alcohol syndrome. The most severe symptom of this disease is mental retardation.
Cigarettes cause low birth weight and premature births, as well as miscarriages.
This is because nicotine causes blood vessels to constrict, which means that less oxygen and nourishment can reach the baby. Street drugs, like marijuana, cocaine and crack, are also very harmful for the developing fetus. They also cause babies to be born with addictions and birth defects and can even cause miscarriages. Street drugs, particularly injection drug use and crack-cocaine, are also associated with increased vertical HIV transmission rates. Your and your developing baby's bodies depend on you to provide them with sufficient calories and nutrients to grow and live healthily.