It also indicates that cocaine use may have an effect on the baby's growth and development before, and even after birth. Cocaine increases the heart rate in both the mother and baby and the supply of oxygen and blood to the baby is reduced, which makes it more likely that the baby will be small and grow slowly. Several cases of bleeding in the brain have been reported in babies whose mothers were dependent on cocaine. A number of foetal abnormalities have been reported concerning the use of cocaine during pregnancy. If cocaine is used close to the birth the baby may be born excessively active and appear distressed and restless.
Withdrawal symptoms can occur in the babies of mothers who use cocaine regularly.
These symptoms appear similar to those of adults experiencing withdrawal and can include sleepiness and lack of responsiveness. Women who smoke marijuana often smoke it with tobacco and therefore there will be risks to the baby from tobacco smoke. It is stored in the amniotic fluid that the baby lives in prior to birth. It is possible that marijuana use in pregnancy is associated with premature labour and small babies , with all the associated dangers of low birth weight including infections and breathing problems. A 1980 study by FDA found that caffeine, when fed to pregnant rats, caused birth defects and delayed skeletal development in their offspring.