Drugs and Pregnancy Don't Mix

Imagine a baby taking a sip of vodka or smoking marijuana. That's not the picture we want to imagine, but if you're pregnant and drink or use drugs that's exactly what your baby is doing. All drugs, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, cigarettes, street drugs and alcohol, are risky if you are pregnant.  They can affect your pregnancy and developing baby in many ways, including causing miscarriage, premature birth, babies with a low birth weight, or birth defects. 

Alcohol
Many women believe that just having a drink or two regularly during pregnancy is fine.  While some experts think this may be the case, no one is sure what amount of alcohol causes problems.  The risk of miscarriage almost doubles for women who drink alcohol in any form during pregnancy, especially if they drink heavily.  Therefore, if you are pregnant or think you may be, it is best not to drink any alcohol at all.

One thing is clear; if you are pregnant and have a drink—whether wine, beer or a cocktail—your baby has that same drink.  Alcohol enters your bloodstream and goes directly into the placenta.  That can affect the development of your baby's face, organs and brain. It can also cause problems with his nervous system, which can lead to learning, coordination and movement issues. To keep your baby safest, replace alcohol with other relaxation options like a warm bath, soothing music or massage.  If you are with others who are drinking, try a non-alcoholic beer or wine or a special juice drink you enjoy.

Sweet Dreams

You've heard the saying, "All babies do is eat, sleep and cry."  While newborns usually sleep between 16 and 18 hours a day they rarely sleep through the night, leaving caregivers to feel exhausted on just a few hours of sleep each night.  It is tempting to let your baby remain wherever he falls asleep, but choosing where and how your baby will sleep at night and naptime is critical. Baby's sleep safety is very important to help keep him safe and alive.

The safest way for babies to sleep is on their backs. Sleeping on their tummies puts babies at increased risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). In the U.S. the number of babies dying of SIDS has decreased almost 50% since more parents and caregivers began placing babies on their backs to sleep.

Another risk for babies is suffocation in soft bedding. Soft bedding includes pillows, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, bumper pads, stuffed animals and other soft products that may keep the baby from breathing easily. These items should be removed from the area where your baby is sleeping. Also remember to keep your baby's head uncovered during sleep.

Many parents and caregivers are unaware of hidden risks when placing babies in or on adult beds. These risks include the baby sleeping in any bed with any adult or child:

• Becoming trapped between the bed and wall, or between the bed and another object
• Becoming trapped between the bed frame and headboard or footboard
• Falling from an adult bed facedown onto piles of clothing, plastic bags or other soft materials
• Overlaying: when someone rolls on top of the baby or against the baby

Where Should My Baby Sleep?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends putting your baby to sleep in a safe crib or bassinet in your room for the first few months of life, rather than him sleeping in your bed.

If you are breastfeeding, sleeping close to your baby can make breastfeeding more convenient, however it is safest to place your baby in a crib next to your bed after your baby has finished nursing. Breastfeeding is the best nutrition for your baby and studies show it also reduces the risk of SIDS.

If you bring your baby into bed for nursing or bonding, place him back in the crib before you go to sleep. Sharing your bed with your baby can be safe only when you are wide awake. Never bring your baby into bed when you are sleepy. Never bring your baby into bed if you have been drinking alcohol or taking drugs or medicines that may make you sleepy.

Where Not to Sleep.

Newborns often fall asleep when you least expect it. However, the age-old saying "never wake a sleeping baby" is only true if the place he fell asleep does not pose sleep related risks. Some of the most dangerous places for a baby to sleep are:

• Couch/sofa/recliner
• Waterbed
• Soft mattress
• Any soft surface including pillows, sheepskins, quilts or cushions
• Any bed with another adult
• With other children who can accidentally roll over and suffocate the baby

A few other tips to remember to keep your baby's sleep space safer:

• Create a smoke-free zone around the baby. Do not smoke during pregnancy and avoid being around other smokers. Secondhand smoke more than doubles the risk of SIDS
• When traveling, check the safety of any crib you will be using
• Talk to grandparents, babysitters and other caregivers to be sure they are providing your baby with a safe place to sleep in your absence

Although babies never seem to sleep when you want them to, it's important to plan for their sleep safety. To avoid allowing your baby to sleep in a position or space that may increase the risk of SIDS or suffocation, have a plan. This will make it easier when you are overtired to ensure your baby is sleeping as soundly and safely as possible. A few things to include in your plan are:

• Can I move my baby's crib in my room for a few months?
• Do I have a safe crib to put him in when I'’m finished breastfeeding?
• Have I shared this safe sleep information with everyone who cares for him?
• Do I ever leave him sleeping on the couch or my bed? How can I change that habit?

Knowing your baby is sleeping in the safest space possible will help you rest easier too.

My Health Journal

Working Around the Barriers

Lack of health insurance, social isolation and cultural values are some of the socio-economic barriers that cause Latinos to be disproportionally affected by HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and other reproductive health issues. Yet there are many ways that services can be improved to more effectively contribute to the health of Latino individuals and families. Donna Rzewnicki, MSW from the HIV/STD Community Program at Wake County Human Services, shares how she and her team have worked around the barriers to improve reproductive health for Latinos in Wake County.

Low HIV/STI testing rates in the Latino community are often attributed to limited transportation, long work days and lack of health insurance. The Wake County Human Services' HIV/STI program has found that community-based testing can help overcome these barriers. Donna Rzewnicki, a social worker with the program, describes their successes: We partner with the Alliance of AIDS Services Carolina to provide free, door-to-door testing - visiting families on Sunday afternoons when most adults are home. Though we may be greeted at first with understandable skepticism, by returning every three weeks to provide results and conduct more tests, our services are seen as reliable, trustworthy and convenient.

Wake County has also established regular testing sites at a local flea market, day labor sites and migrant farm worker clinics. Over time, the open nature of these test sites appears to reduce the stigma associated with testing. In addition, all of our services focus on links to treatment for HIV and other STI, regardless of immigration status.

Another barrier that is often mentioned is social isolation and wariness about government programs. Friendliness and reliability go a long way with any individual or community, not just Latinos. We present HIV, syphilis, chlamydia gonorrhea testing and treatment as just one aspect of health promotion. We also provide information in Spanish about other clinic services, family planning, flu shots, car seat safety, substance abuse treatment and other relevant programs. We have also collaborated with
El Pueblo, Ipas and the North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation to train lay health promoters to provide reproductive health information to community members who might not otherwise have access to prevention education services.