Althougha period of 4-6 weeks is generally required for a woman's physiciologic condition to return to normal, the patient's individual circumstances should be considered when recommending resumption of full activity. Women with negative feelings about their pregnancies should receive additional support from the health care team, and may need professional advice on the alternatives to completing the pregnancy, keeping the bay, and adoption. The adolescent, her family, and her partner may have strong feelings about the pregnancy that seriously disturb family and social relationships. Late diagnosis of pregnancy may complicate considerations for counseling, education, and the use of community and social resources. It has been reported that one in four women in the USA will be physically abuse as some time during her life and that pregnancy is a risk factor for abuse.
Resources are available in most communities for helping women in abusive relationships.
These resources include emergency housing, peer group and individual counseling, and legal and social service advocacy. The two most commonly used substances are alcohol and nicotine. Use of these substances as well as cocaine, diasepam, and other prescription drugs and other substances, can lead to chemical dependency in susceptible individuals. Heavy smokers have more frequent occurences of spontaneous abortion, abruptio placentae, premature rupture of membranes, preterm delivery, and babies with lower birth weights. Opiates in large amounts can cause chemcial dependency in the fetus and withdrawal in the neonate.