Being pregnant and struggling with alcohol or other substance use can feel overwhelming. But you’re not alone. Here are some things you should know. Substance use during pregnancy does not mean you don’t love your baby. Addiction is a chronic health condition and you have the right to non-judgmental, supportive care. The earlier you reach out for support, the better for you and your baby.
Open up to someone you trust. This might be your significant other, family and friends, a therapist or doctor, or a human service agency. Go to routine pre-natal appointments and share your challenges with your provider early on. This information helps your provider support you in developing a care plan that will work best for you and your baby.
In the state of Connecticut, we believe children and families succeed best when all people who are pregnant and using substances develop a Family Care Plan before birth.
Learn About Family Care Plans Create Your Plan
There is no singular path to recovery. All journeys come with unique challenges and strategies for healing. Because of this, it is important to know about all your available options.
First, talk to your provider.
It’s important to talk to your provider before starting any new regimen. Changes in medication or substance use can impact your pregnancy and a provider can help you to navigate the safest next steps for you and your baby.
Substance Exposure & Your Baby
Research shows that use of tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, opioids, or misuse of prescription medications while pregnant can have health consequences for your infant.
Regular use of some drugs can cause Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS), in which the baby goes through withdrawal upon birth. Most research in this area has focused on the effects of opioids (prescription pain relievers or heroin). However, data has shown that use of alcohol, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, and caffeine during pregnancy may also cause the infant to show withdrawal symptoms at birth.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Alcohol can also impact your developing child. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs) are a group of conditions that can occur in a person who was prenatally exposed to alcohol. The effects can include physical, behavioral and/or learning problems. There is no known safe time, amount, or type of alcohol. FASDs are 100% preventable if there is no prenatal exposure to alcohol.
FASD diagnoses are based on symptoms and include:
- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
- Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND)
- Alcohol-Related Birth Defects (ARBD)
- Neurobehavioral Disorder Associated with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (ND-PAE)
Explore the Resources Available to Help You:
Medication Assisted Treatment/Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MAT/MOUD)
Did you know Medication Assisted Treatment/Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MAT/MOUD) is safe for use during pregnancy? MAT/MOUD can be a helpful and beneficial treatment for you if you are struggling with an Opioid Use Disorder and/or Alcohol Use Disorder. MAT/MOUD assists in normalizing brain chemistry, blocking the euphoric effects of opioids and/or alcohol, relieving physiological cravings, and normalizing body functions. Talk to your provider about what medications may work best for you.
Mental & Behavioral Health Therapies
If you are struggling with a substance use disorder, you may also experience a negative impact to your mental health or be struggling with a mental health disorder at the same time. There are several behavioral therapies that can help treat both your substance use and mental health disorders including but not limited to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Assertive Community Treatment (ACT). Talk to your health care provider to determine what treatment may be best for you and give the treatment time to work.
Support Groups & Meetings
Joining a support group to connect with peers experiencing similar challenges as you can be helpful to your recovery. Support groups can be a safe space away from certain triggers and offer the opportunity to learn new, healthier coping skills from others. There are a variety of support groups to choose from, but just as with substance use treatment, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. You can try out different groups in order to find the best fit. Groups like AA and NA are widely available in CT and also offer virtual options.
Harm Reduction Services
Harm reduction services can also be part of your medical care and treatment plan. These services can help connect you to education, counseling, and referral for treatment for your substance use disorder. They can help you lessen your substance use and promote coping strategies that will help you and your baby. Some harm reduction methods can include: keeping Narcan/Naloxone on hand, testing your substances for fentanyl, using clean and sterile equipment, never using alone, decreasing your use, etc.
Pregnancy, Nursing, and Cannabis: Be In The Know
The Be In The Know website is Connecticut's resource for accurate cannabis information across the lifespan and has a specific page with information on pregnancy, nursing, and cannabis.