One big reason why is that crack is used by so many women. Statistics show that cocaine is used each year by hundreds of thousands of women of childbearing age in the United States. And while they're not all using crack, the hazards are the same. The true extent of fetal exposure to crack is harder to guess. Probably the best estimate is that between 30,000 and 50,000 babies are born each year to mothers who use crack at some stage in their pregnancies.
Problems start with the drug's stimulant effects on the mother.
Since the drug blocks hunger and fatigue, a pregnant user can place severe nutritional and stress demands on herself-and her baby. The potential for problems is increased even further when the drug's other effects get figured in, particularly its ability to raise blood pressure and constrict blood vessels throughout the body. Fetal stroke and other serious problems can result. In fact, stillbirth and spontaneous abortions are common complications of cocaine use during pregnancy. Crack-related causes of fetal death include preterm labor, premature rupture of the membranes, and early dislodging of the placenta.