How Does Addiction Impact Pregnancy?

Some women struggle with substance abuse when they’re pregnant. In fact, between 2006 and 2010, one out of every 13 American women who were pregnant reported that they drank alcohol. One out of every 17 reported that they engaged in binge drinking. Apart from increasing the chances of their children having fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs), there are many negative effects of combining alcohol abuse with pregnancy — and alcohol isn’t even the only addictive substance that pregnant women can abuse.

If you or someone you care about is both pregnant and struggling with an addiction, it’s important to get professional help right away. Looking for a women’s detox center in Baltimore? Call Baltimore Detox Center at [Direct] or reach out to our team online.

What Should Clients Worry About When Dealing With Both Addiction and Pregnancy?

There are many risks associated with abusing addictive substances during pregnancy. Women may experience miscarriages or have babies with:

Low birth weight
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs)
Other medical problems or developmental delays
Physical addictions, especially if they’re addicted to heroin or cocaine

However, expectant mothers with addiction issues may face barriers that keep them from seeking professional help and getting on the path to addiction recovery. Apart from biases within the medical field, some U.S. states have criminalized the use of alcohol and other drugs during pregnancy. Women who seek help in these states may face charges of “chemical endangerment of a child,” which is a Class A felony carrying a sentence of 10 years to life.

There’s also the issue of time. What if a woman needs to give birth or, at least, go to prenatal care checkups during their participation in an addiction treatment program? This is when gender-specific treatment programs come in.

What Are the Benefits of a Gender-Specific Treatment Program?

Gender-specific treatment programs are designed to treat men and women separately. On top of fundamental cultural differences between men and women regarding addiction, there are also their biological differences. For example, a man never had to worry about being pregnant while struggling with addiction or breaking free from it.

Substance abuse is typically associated with abusive relationships or other traumatic experiences for women. Women often turn to addictive substances to self-medicate and escape negative emotions caused by abuse or victimization. The majority of women who have an addiction also have a history of family substance abuse. Women also tend to enter professional addiction treatment programs sooner compared to men, but they usually have co-occurring psychological distress —particularly in the form of anxiety or mood disorders.

Gender differences that many addiction treatment programs don’t often make room for in their schedule include how the brain responds to substance abuse, the choice of addictive substances, and the reasons for developing substance abuse behaviors. Gender-specific treatment programs are sensitive to these issues and provide a comfortable and supportive environment where clients can talk about them.

What Can Clients Expect From a Women’s Detox Center?

The main reason pregnant women should consider getting admitted into a gender-specific treatment program — when it comes to detox and further addiction treatment — is that programs for women are more likely to deal with both addiction and pregnancy. A women’s detox center can provide treatment necessary for clients to feel safe and at ease — whether they’re getting care for their withdrawal symptoms or their pregnancy symptoms.

After detox, clients can transition into a comprehensive addiction treatment program for women. In a women’s program, clients can continue working on their addiction recovery while still ensuring that their pregnancy is proceeding without problems.