By: Benjamin Cooper

Drugs can damage the development of a baby, and can cause complications during pregnancy. Certain drugs can cause nutritional deficiencies, anemia, and fetal growth retardation. The use of drugs while pregnant can also increase the chance of developing toxemia or pre-eclampsia. Marijuana use during pregnancy can cause attention deficit, memory problems and impaired decision making skills. These problems usually don’t appear until age 3. The use of amphetamines is associated with an increase in cardiovascular defects in babies. Barbiturate use during pregnancy may be linked to birth defects, withdrawals, poor feeding, and seizures. Opiods are associated with abnormalities and complications during pregnancy. There is a high risk for premature labor, intrauterine growth retardation and pre-eclampsia, in women who use opiods while pregnant. Cocaine use by the mother-to-be can increase the risk of miscarriage. Babies born to mothers who used cocaine during pregnancy can have lower IQ scores and mental deficiencies. Sudden infant death syndrome is more common in babies born to mothers who used cocaine. The use of PCP during pregnancy is believed to cause abnormal development in babies. It can cause the mother to have mental illness and loose contact with reality.

By: Geraldo Bowers

Pregnancy is a wondrous moment. It is the time when women are excited to be called "moms." It is a great opportunity to learn about child's growth and development. But sometimes it can be the other way around. Pregnancy is not always such a happy experience for some. Pregnancy can also be a time for worry. It can also be a moment of confusion.

By: Faith Morgan

Women who are drug addicts only put their affect their own lives they also affect the life of their unborn child. The innocent child runs the risk of developing a series of complications before and after birth. This is a very serious situation to be in and mothers who are pregnant and drug addict should get admitted into a drug rehab as soon as possible. She will also have to be accompanied by a doctor to ensure that her body has the necessary nutrients during the pregnancy. Many drugs rob the body of vital nutrients and with prolonged use can cause serious complications on skin, face, heart, lungs, etc,

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome is the most serious and well-documented side-effect of in vitro fertilisation. This is almost common knowledge nowadays. It is painful and can be very dangerous, having resulted in several deaths, including one recorded in Britain. The condition occurs when the woman's ovaries produce a large number of follicles - the exact number varies from woman to woman. After the eggs are collected, the fluid from the follicles collects and causes severe swelling in the abdomen.