The health of a developing baby is compromised when mothers smoke, consume excessive alcohol, or use drugs. These substances can have a direct impact on fetal development, leading to a range of developmental issues. It is never too late to quit using substances, and there are many resources in the community to help you decrease your intake, find safer alternatives, or completely stop. It is important to be open and honest about substance use with your care provider to ensure that you baby gets the appropriate monitoring in pregnancy and after birth. Your care team is here to help support you in a non-judgmental way.
To find out more about specific substances in pregnancy, please see the following links from Pregnancyinfo.ca: