What are the risks of cocaine use during pregnancy?
Cocaine use during pregnancy poses significant risks to both the mother and the fetus. It can lead to placental abruption, a condition where the placenta detaches from the uterine wall prematurely, causing severe bleeding and jeopardizing the life of both mother and baby. Additionally, cocaine use is associated with an increased risk of preterm labor, low birth weight, and congenital anomalies. Cocaine can also cross the placenta, leading to neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) in newborns, characterized by withdrawal symptoms after birth.
