Heroin is a street drug made from the opioid morphine, and can be used by snorting, smoking, or injecting it in to the skin (March of Dimes: Heroin and Pregnancy). Like cocaine, heroin usage in pregnant women may cause premature birth, low birth weight, miscarriage, and neonatal abstinence syndrome. Heroin usage can also cause sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and birth defects. SIDS, is the sudden and unexplainable death of a baby less than a year old (KidsHealth from Nemours: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Birth defects are also common in babies whose mothers used heroin. Birth defects change the shape or function of one or more parts of the body, and can affect the overall health of the child (March of Dimes: Heroin and Pregnancy). Pregnant women who discontinue heroin suddenly may cause harm to her and her unborn child. Pregnant women seeking treatment may receive a prescription for an alternative drug as to slowly ween them from their dependency (March of Dimes: Heroin and
Heroin is a street drug made from the opioid morphine, and can be used by snorting, smoking, or injecting it in to the skin (March of Dimes: Heroin and Pregnancy). Like cocaine, heroin usage in pregnant women may cause premature birth, low birth weight, miscarriage, and neonatal abstinence syndrome. Heroin usage can also cause sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and birth defects. SIDS, is the sudden and unexplainable death of a baby less than a year old (KidsHealth from Nemours: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Birth defects are also common in babies whose mothers used heroin. Birth defects change the shape or function of one or more parts of the body, and can affect the overall health of the child (March of Dimes: Heroin and Pregnancy). Pregnant women who discontinue heroin suddenly may cause harm to her and her unborn child. Pregnant women seeking treatment may receive a prescription for an alternative drug as to slowly ween them from their dependency (March of Dimes: Heroin and