Prenatal Flashcards
Why is it important to talk about SUD and pregnancy?
1) Increased concerns for mother and baby
2) Increased stigma
3) Chronic and relapsing nature of SUD
What are the most common substances used by pregnant women?
1) Tobacco
2) Alcohol
What is the most common psychoactive drug used by pregnant women?
Cannabis
T or F: Substances used during pregnancy vary by race and ethnicity.
True.
List some risk factors for SUD during pregnancy.
1) History of drug/alcohol related problems
2) Family history of SUD (genetic and environmental factors)
3) Frequent encounters with law enforcement
4) Having a partner who abuses substances
5) History of sexual abuse
6) Poverty and homelessness
7) Other psychiatric illnesses
Read slides 4-8.
go queenie
T or F: Teratogenic effects are mostly seen in the first trimester.
True.
T or F: Neurodevelopment occurs mainly in the first trimester.
False.
Limb formation mainly occurs in the first trimester. Neurodevelopment mainly occurs in the second and third trimesters.
What are the possible drug effects during the following time frames:
1) Within 20 days after fertilization
2) 3-8 weeks after fertilization
3) Second and third trimesters
1) All or nothing
2) Vulnerability to birth defects
3) Changes in growth and function of normally formed organs and tissue
How are drugs transferred from mother to fetus?
Via the placenta.
→ same route used to provide O2 and nutrients
What is the placenta?
The placenta is a temporary organ that develops during pregnancy that attaches to the wall of the uterus, where the umbilical cord arises from.
List the functions of the placenta.
1) Provide O2 and nutrients
2) Remove harmful waste products
3) Produce hormones
4) Pass immunity
List some placental properties that might affect drug transfer across the placenta.
1) Surface area
2) Thickness
3) pH of maternal and fetal blood
4) Metabolism
5) Uteroplacental blood flow
6) Presence of placental drug transporters
7) Concentration gradient across placenta
List some drug properties that might affect drug transfer across the placenta.
1) Molecular weight
2) Lipid solubility
3) Ionization/charge
4) Protein binding
Explain how each drug property might increase transfer across the placenta.
Increased transfer:
1) Low molecular weight (<1000 daltons)
2) High lipid solubility
3) Low ionization / uncharged
4) Low protein binding (free)
T or F: Drugs are most likely to pass into breast-milk with the same physiochemical properties that allow them to transfer across the placenta.
True.
List the direct/indirect mechanisms of fetal harm.
1) Direct: To the fetus itself (eg. teratogen)
2) Indirect: via the placenta
3) Indirect: via the mother’s physiological response
4) Indirect: poor nutritional health secondary to substance use
Tobacco: Mechanisms of fetal harm
1) Nicotine and CO2 increases, causing vasoconstriction of blood vessels and reduces oxygen levels to fetus.
2) Nicotine increases other chemicals that cause deregulation in normal fetal development (ex: catecholamines, cytotrophblast).
Tobacco: Obstetrical complications
1) Spontaneous abortion
2) Placenta abruption
3) Placenta previa
4) Premature rupture of membranes
5) Uterine infections
Tobacco: Neonatal outcomes
1) Low birth weight
2) Fetal growth restriction
3) Increased SIDS risk
4) Cleft palate/lip
5) Stillbirth
6) Premature birth
Tobacco: Childhood outcomes
1) SIDS
2) Increased asthma risk
3) Increased CHD risk
4) Increased diabetes risk
5) Declined cognition
Tobacco: Breast milk
Nicotine is readily absorbed in breast milk.
It may cause:
1) SIDS (!!)
2) Reduced appetite
3) Diarrhea
4) Vomiting
5) Sleep disturbance
6) Decreased milk supply
7) Increased heart rate
8) Respiratory problems
9) Increased risk of obesity and thyroid problems
Tobacco: Breast milk recommendation
Recommendation is to AVOID using tobacco during
pregnancy.
Tobacco: Harm reduction strategies
1) Smoke 30 min before feeding
2) Change clothing often
3) Smoke outside
4) Use vape
Alcohol: Mechanisms of fetal harm
1) Damages cells by production of reactive oxygen species and oxygen radicals, which interact with DNA, protein, and lipids.
2) Ethanol and its metabolite, acetaldehyde are responsible for the biological effects.
3) Alcohol is metabolized by the liver but often the liver is underdeveloped in a fetus and it is unable to eliminate the alcohol.
Alcohol: Obstetrical outcomes
1) Intrauterine growth restriction
2) Increased risk of stillbirth
3) Increased risk of miscarriage