I Am Pregnant & Using Heroin

If you are pregnant and using heroin, you need to be under a doctor's care. If you are already seeing a doctor for prenatal treatment, be honest and tell your doctor that you are using heroin. Your case needs special medical attention.

To be perfectly clear: If you are using heroin, so is your baby.

Heroin slows the growth of your child both during and after pregnancy. If you do not get medical care, it is four times more likely that your baby will die during your pregnancy or shortly after being born. The baby will simply be too small to survive.

Babies of heroin addicts weigh about one-fourth less than average infants, and many are born prematurely. Even a year after birth, most babies of mothers who used heroin while pregnant are smaller than average, and have smaller heads. And if you fail to get treatment for your addiction, there's a good chance that your baby will experience heroin withdrawal, which can cause them to suffer for months.

If you are pregnant and using heroin, you need to get help now. This is not something that you can take care of on your own.

If you try to go "cold turkey" and quit drugs too quickly, you can cause the death of your baby. Scientists believe this occurs because the baby suddenly becomes hyperactive, then oxygen-deprived. For this reason, doctors usually withdraw mothers from heroin after the baby is born, or very gradually during pregnancy, sometimes by using a replacement drug like methadone.

Your heroin use puts you at risk for some serious health conditions. For example, you have a 50 percent chance of developing heart disease, anemia, diabetes, pneumonia, and hepatitis during your pregnancy. These are much higher odds than the average mother faces.

If you cannot find a doctor in your area, please call us at 877.762.3768. Our counselors can connect you with the help you need.