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didnt know i was pregnant
female/teenager
hello, well im almost 'in my 6th month' of pregnancy. i didnt know i was pregnant until a month ago because my periods normally VERY irregular...
the problem is before i found out i have been smokin weed, drinkin, & smokin cigarettes. until 2 months ago, i was smokin a pack of cigs a day. 3 months ago, i was drinkin everyday. im only an occasional pot smoker ! so the past two months ive only drank wine and smoked about 4 cigarettes a day because i jus felt like doin better for myself (motherly instict i guess ?)
now my question is... is there ANYWAY that i can reverse the damage ive done ?? or improve the chances of my baby bein healthy !? the doctor says its fine but i know someone who they said that about and his mom drank and now his eyes roll around and he stutters :(
THANKS !
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Based on your previous question, you've known you were pregnant since, at the very least, August. At that point, you were actually looking for a bra to fit you more properly since you were pregnant so, chances are, you knew quite a while before that date that you were pregnant.
Now that you've made the mistakes though there isn't any way to take them back. The first couple of months of a baby's life is the most vital in development of vital bodily organs and structures. You, apparently, chose to neglect the health of your baby and continue to smoke weed, smoke cigarettes, and drink alcohol. Why you didn't just stop when you found out is beyond me. How can anyone not love and care about their unborn baby within them?
Now that the damage is done the only thing you can do is to try to do a complete 180 and turn your lifestyle around before the baby is born. You should pray that your baby does not physical or mental deformities from your own selfish acts.
I'm not trying to belittle you but I cannot grasp anyone who would do this to their own baby and honesty think someone would believe their doctor would tell them that it's all fine and dandy. I guarantee your doctor never said such things when you told him you were smoking weed and drinking alcohol! If he did, then I hope you have enough sense to find a better doctor that really cares about the health of you and your baby!
ONE time can be all it takes to hurt the fragile being inside of you. ONE drunken night! ONE hit from a joint! ONE cigarette! That is a fragile human being growing inside of you--developing eyes, lips, hair, everything! Starting from the basic unit of life--the cell! You cannot simply believe that "occasional" usage of pot isn't going to affect your baby.
For informational purposes (maybe this will knock some sense into you and you will STOP what you've been doing!):
Marijuana use during pregnant and the SERIOUS risks involved:
"Believe it or not, weed can very well hurt your unborn baby--severely, at that. Here is a little information:
"Marijuana has been shown to affect babies, too.
We know that marijuana crosses the placenta, and can be found in the newborn's body for up to a month after a single use. Just like smoking tobacco, it causes less oxygen and food to get to the baby. This factor alone affects your baby's growth and brain development. Newborns of mothers who have used marijuana throughout pregnancy cry more. Some studies suggest that children exposed to marijuana while in the womb are at increased risk for attention disorders and learning problems that might not show up until school age.
Some say that they smoked marijuana and their baby seems fine but...
They might have been lucky. There is much we don't know about how marijuana affects developing babies. Marijuana is used in different strengths, mixed with other drugs and even sprayed with weed killers when it is grown. These factors all make any pot use during pregnancy risky."
(From: [Link](Mouse over link to see full location) )
If that doesn't sound so serious yet, take a look at the BBC information that has performed some scientific research regarding marijuana inhalation during pregnancy, some of which have shown to mess with brain chemistry in fetus':
[Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
Stop smoking immediately, for the health of your baby. This can be very serious and you will be to blame if you give birth to a child that is deformed or handicapped in some form (just being serious here).
Always remember that if you are having sex--"protected" or not--you are risking pregnancy. This means that if you become pregnant and don't know it for 2 weeks but smoke within that time you are putting harmful substances in your baby before it even has a chance to grow and develop within you. The early stages of pregnancy are fragile because the fetus is still getting genetically lined out, and cells are still positioning themselves to grow limbs, genitals, and even eyes.
Don't believe the BS about weed not hurting anyone. There is evidence that THC affects female reproductive function. There is evidence that THC, and possibly other cannabinoids, are teratogens (substances that may interfere with the normal development of the fetus). The animal evidence indicates that cannabis can produce resorption, growth retardation, and malformations in mice, rats, rabbits, and hamsters
It has been speculated that teratogenesis could conceivably produce chromosomal abnormalities or genetic change in either parent which could be transmitted to their offspring. Yes, it means that weed usage MAY mess your genetics up--long-term, as in, forever. There is also speculation that marijuana inhalation may increase risks for cancer."
In regards to alcohol consumption when pregnant:
"There is no known safe level of alcohol when pregnant. Recent research shows birth defects can also take the form of something other than a visual physical abnormality such as a malformed body part.
Another serious type of birth defect not usually associated with the term "birth defects" is called a neurological defect and can occur from subtle alterations in brain organization or chemistry during pregnancy. The consequences of such a defect can appear later as a behavior problem, learning disability, attention deficit disorder, hyperactivity, aggression, violent tendencies, impulsivity or even reduced personality and increased shyness. Any of these traits could then be considered a neurological birth defect from alcohol consumption by the mother during pregnancy.
Women who consume alcoholic beverages for the first three months of pregnancy have probably left it too late to benefit from giving up", claims The Independent. The newspaper says a study shows that "the damaging effect of alcohol on pregnancy occurs during the first trimester, and cannot be reversed by stopping at that point". The Daily Mail says that drinking in early pregnancy made an early birth 2.3 times more likely.
The risks of heavy drinking during pregnancy
First trimester (months 0-3):
* Damage to developing organs and nervous system, resulting in later mental and physical problems
* Major structural abnormalities
* Spontaneous miscarriage
Second trimester (months 3-6):
* Continued risk of damage to the central nervous system
* Continued risk of miscarriage
Third trimester (months 6-9):
* Disruption to general growth and development
* Dulled mental abilities
* Minor abnormalities
* Low birth-weight"
In regards to cigarette smoke during pregnancy:
"Damage to the fetus also includes injuries that are not birth defects, such as low birth weight, premature delivery, respiratory problems, developmental delays, or even death. The safest way to prevent toxin-related damage is to stop toxin exposure before pregnancy. The longer and heavier a woman smokes, drinks, takes other drugs, or is exposed to other toxins, the more the fetus is at risk of harm.
Low birthweight can result from poor growth before birth, preterm delivery or a combination of both. Smoking has long been known to slow fetal growth. Smoking also increases the risk of preterm delivery (before 37 weeks of gestation). Premature and low-birthweight babies face an increased risk of serious health problems during the newborn period, chronic lifelong disabilities (such as cerebral palsy, mental retardation and learning problems), and even death. "
There is absolutely no way to reverse the effects of your habits. The baby cannot just stop growing and "go back" a few months for your mental benefit. The growth and progress the baby has made is where it will be right now. It's up to you to provide a safe, secure, healthy environment for your baby inside of your womb until birth. Please, use your brain from now on. If you're tempted, think about the baby within you. Think about the life you would want that baby to have. Think about the dangers you are putting it in front of and how much it may damage that child for it's entire life. Stopping your drinking/smoking/drug use for only 9 MONTHS is all that baby is asking for! PLEASE! It deserves a chance at life!
Stop using the drugs and alcohol. Just stop. If you absolutely have to continue then at least wait until the baby is born and then give it to someone who will actually care about it's health. Seriously. I can't believe some of the things people do...
Oh, and seriously get a new doctor if he/she really did tell you that they weren't concerned over the health of your baby since you've been drinking, smoking, and using illegal substances.
Yeah, it's serious. It might be time to straighten up and gain some maturity at this time. The baby will be born in no time. Sometimes you have to put your own wants aside for the life of someone else, especially someone who is relying on you to keep them safe and healthy.
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Motherly instinct would include you quitting everything cold turkey, not "cutting back". If you are so worried about the harm you are doing, be healthy.
Of course what you have done is damaging. There is always a chance you're baby could have defects, and if you're doctor is a good doctor, he should have explained that to you. However you cannot blame yourself for what you've done unknowingly. Get healthy now, better late than never. Get on vitamins and folic acid if you haven't already, and get on a healthy diet. STOP SMOKING AND DRINKING! Obviously you know it's harmful or you wouldn't have asked this question. Ask your doctor if there are any kinds of tests you can take to make sure your baby is healthy. And if you are a believer, pray to God.
I truly hope your baby is healthy, and I am sorry for your misfortune. Consider getting healthy after the baby as well. Smoking, smoking marijuana, and drinking are all unheatlhy whether you are pregnant or not. You wouldn't want this to happen again would you?
Good luck.
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