Alcohol, Tobacco, and Street Drugs

• Alcohol(Unsafe)-I have had several people tell me it's OK to have an occasional glass of wine while pregnant. However, I did not find any research that suggests it's safe to drink during pregnancy. Contrary to popular belief, Alcohol, even in small amounts, may be harmful to your baby. No level of alcohol during pregnancy has been proven safe, therefore, it is best to avoid it altogether. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause mental retardation; learning, emotional, and behavioral problems; and defects of the face, heart and other organs. Drinking during pregnancy can cause fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), which is a combination of physical and mental birth defects. If you feel you have a drinking problem, discuss ways to quit with your doctor or contact The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD), (800) 622-2255, www.ncaddoc.org.
• Alcohol and Breastfeeding(Use Caution)-Some health care providers feel it is necessary to completely avoid alcohol while breastfeeding. Some feel occasional moderate (no more than two drinks) drinking is OK, while others feel if any alcohol is consumed you should pump and dump for 24 hours. All agree, however, that if you drink at all while breastfeeding it should only be done in moderation (no more than two drinks per day). Heavy drinkers and alcoholics should abstain from drinking until their babies are weaned.
  
• Alcohol in Cooking(Safe)-It is probably OK to eat food cooked with alcohol as long as it has been baked or simmered for at least one hour.
  
• Tobacco(Unsafe)-Smoking is unsafe for you and your baby. You should also avoid second-hand smoke. Smoking can cause premature delivery, low birth weight, and decreased intelligence in babies. Babies of smokers can also undergo withdrawal-like symptoms at birth. Babies of smokers are 3 times as likely to die from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) as those born from nonsmokers. Smoking can also cause placental problems like placenta previa (a low-lying placenta that covers all or some of the opening of the uterus) and placental abruption (when the placenta peels away either partially or completely from the wall of the uterus).If you do smoke discuss ways you can quit with your doctor or contact The American Cancer Society, (800) ACS-2345, www.cancer.org.
• Tobacco and Breastfeeding-For this category I did not want to rate it based on safety because it is not "safe", but breastfeeding is still recommended for mothers who do smoke. La Leche League International recommends that if you can't stop smoking, you breastfeed anyway because breastfeeding is better for your baby in general. They advise that if you do smoke: smoke away from the baby (either outside or in a separate room), smoke right after nursing, smoke as few cigarettes as possible, and never smoke while nursing. You should never use nicotine replacement therapy products and smoke cigarettes which can produce very high levels of nicotine in your breast milk and be very dangerous to your baby.If you do smoke discuss ways you can quit with your doctor or contact The American Cancer Society, (800) ACS-2345, www.cancer.org.
• Nicotrol(Unsafe)-Sold under the brands Nicoderm, Nicorette, and generically, Nicotrol contains nicotine and is not recommended for pregnant women.
• Nicotrol and Breastfeeding-Once again I did not want to rate Nicotrol as completely safe. If you do use Nicotrol, do not use any of the products right before or during feedings. Use them afterwards instead. Also, if you use the patch, take it off before bedtime to reduce the amount of nicotine in your breast milk during night feedings.
  
• Zyban(Unsafe)-Also marketed as Wellbutrin and Wellbutrin SR, Zyban (bupropion hydrochloride) is not recommended for use during pregnancy.
• Zyban and Breastfeeding(Undetermined)-Zyban appears in breast milk and can be harmful to your baby. Discuss your options with your doctor.
  
• Street Drugs(Unsafe)-Do not use marijuana, speed, cocaine, or other street drugs during pregnancy. Babies born to mothers who use street drugs can suffer from low birth weight, premature delivery, withdrawal symptoms, birth defects, learning and behavioral problems, congenital heart defects, club foot, cleft lip/palate, stillbirth, and birth defects. If you feel you have a substance abuse problem discuss this with your doctor or contact The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD), (800) 622-2255, www.ncaddoc.org.
• Street Drugs and Breastfeeding(Unsafe)-Do not use marijuana, speed, cocaine, or other street drugs and breast feed. Illegal drug use is dangerous for you and your baby. If you feel you have a substance abuse problem discuss this with your doctor or contact The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD), (800) 622-2255, www.ncaddoc.org.

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