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Listen Up - First Steps for Helping Babies |
Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs (ATOD) and Stress
"Stories - alcohol, tobacco and other drugs and stress"
3:21
Message Content:
Narrator: Alcohol, tobacco and other drugs as well as stress can impact pregnancies. Nearly half of all pregnancies come as a surprise. When a woman enters into pregnancy with an undetected or poorly managed medical condition, she puts her health and her unborn baby's health at risk.
Woman A: Work, work and work, that’s all I do, I need at least a pack of cigarettes just to make it through the day.
When I finally quit smoking I was already six months into my pregnancy.
Woman B: If I can just forget about my problems I’ll be okay. This joint will make all of my troubles go away.
I used to smoke a joint every time I felt stressed out, even during my pregnancy.
Woman C: On Girl's Night Out I have a great time! I drink a few beers, a mixed drink or sometimes just a glass of wine.
I later found out I was 5 weeks pregnant.
Narrator: Over 100,000 babies are born in North Carolina each year. Tragically, many are born with birth defects or face other health problems brought on by being born too small or too soon. Some of these babies die before their first birthday. If you or a woman you love is
pregnant or may become pregnant, here’s what you should know about drugs and pregnancy. Janice Bailiff of the North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation explains.
Janice Bailiff: A developing baby is exposed to the drugs a woman uses during her pregnancy. All drugs -- prescription drugs, drugs you can buy at the store, street drugs, alcohol and cigarettes -- have risks. Even small risks can add up, especially if you are pregnant.
Some drugs can be harmful to both mother and baby. Pregnant women can decrease the risk of an unhealthy pregnancy and an unhealthy baby in several ways: one way is to get into prenatal care as soon as possible. Another way is to avoid drugs. Because there is often a delay before a woman finds out that she is expecting, women who could become pregnant should also avoid using drugs of any kind unless recommended by a doctor.
Narrator: For some women avoiding drugs may be a matter of changing social settings, for others it may mean finding other ways to deal with stress. For those women who find it hard to stop using, there is help.
Janice Bailiff: The North Carolina Family Health Resource Line offers a range of services to families across the state. By dialing 1-800-FOR-BABY, pregnant or parenting women or even a family member can speak with a Substance Use Specialist to learn more about drugs and their impact on pregnancy and parenting. Help is just a phone call away.
Narrator: To learn more about giving babies a healthy, drug-free start; call 1-800-FOR-BABY to speak with a Substance Use Specialist. That’s 1-800-367-2229. All calls are free and confidential. This healthy baby message brought to you by WNCU 90.7 FM and the North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation.