Cocaine Cocaine use in first trimester results in higher rates of spontaneous abortion, and in surviving foetuses it has been associated with kidney defects and placental abruption. Marijuana Marijuana reduces sperm counts, and results in disturbed sleep patterns in children through to 3 years old. Petrol sniffing Petrol sniffing causes neurodevelopment impairments, including spastic quadriplegia. Smoking in Pregnancy Smoking is the single most important preventable cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality in our community. Rates of smoking are higher in women of low socioeconomic class, but are approx.
Smoking also reduces sperm counts, and increases the incidence of resp.
Maternal Conditions A number of maternal conditions affect foetal development, but perhaps the most significant of these is diabetes. Even with specialist care the perinatal mortality of a pregnancy complicated by diabetes is 2-3 times that of a normal pregnancy. If HbA1c is above 6 at 6 weeks, the risk of abnormality is high. Ideally HbA1c should be below 6 for 3 consecutive months prior to ceasing contraception. The Australian Diabetes in Pregnancy Study Group recommends screening of all gravidae at 26-28 weeks by 75g glucose load.