For example, drinking alcohol in heavy amounts can cause malformations of the face, limbs and heart defects. In addition to physical problems, intelligence quotients can range from below average to mentally retarded (Santrock, 2004). A newborn possessing these symptoms is a victim of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Mothers who drink moderately while pregnant will probably not bring about such serious deformities, but their children will likely be less attentive and alert than children of non-drinkers. .
The negative effects of nicotine include a higher risk of miscarriage, preterm birth, low birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), respiratory problems, and decreased cognitive skills. When a gynecologist discovers a patient is smoking cigarettes, she will tell the patient to stop immediately, as opposed to caffeine which can be gradually tapered off (Spencer, 1998). Newborns of nicotine-hooked mothers often have a smaller lung capacity than healthy babies and a lack of oxygen can have an adverse effect on brain development. In addition, these neonates tend to be significant "criers-, possibly due to irritability or withdrawal.
There are no fine lines when it comes to the use of illegal drugs - all will cause some form of harm to a fetus. Mothers using marijuana will produce an infant who will not grow to be intellectually on target. It affects the neural tract, and can lead to ADD, ADHD, cognitive impairment, or consistent crying. Cocaine babies have distinct features: they may be missing an eye, ear, limb, have a rapid heart rate, low birth weight, display shakiness, or have a deformity within the head (Spencer, 1998). Heroin babies do not typically survive long after being born due to their development being obscured by its use. A defining physical trait is an absolutely flat face with a small nose and no deviation in the chin. They show symptoms of addiction and are consequently put on methadone, a medication used to wean adults off heroin.