This sheet is about exposure to e-cigarettes in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. This information should not take the place of medical care and advice from your healthcare provider. What are e-cigarettes? Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, are battery operated devices that heat a liquid solution into an aerosol (a fine spray) that you inhale (breath in), like you would inhale tobacco smoke from a traditional cigarette. E-cigarettes are known by many different names. They are …
The Baby Blog: Drugs & Substance Use
Marijuana (Cannabis)
This sheet is about exposure to marijuana in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. This information should not take the place of medical care and advice from your healthcare provider. What is marijuana? Marijuana, also called pot, weed, or cannabis, is a drug that comes from a plant called cannabis. Marijuana is typically smoked (inhaled) or eaten (edibles). The main active chemical in marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is what causes you to feel high. Another major …
Ketamine (Ketalar®)
This sheet is about exposure to ketamine in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. This information should not take the place of medical care and advice from your healthcare provider. What is ketamine? Ketamine (Ketalar®) is an anesthetic medication. An anesthetic is used with medical procedures, such as surgery, to help lower a person’s ability to feel pain and to make them less aware of what is happening. MotherToBaby has a fact sheet on general anesthesia …
Cocaine
What is cocaine? Cocaine is a powerful stimulant of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). Cocaine can be used medically as a local anesthetic (pain killer), mostly used for nasal and eye surgery. It has also been misused recreationally. Cocaine can be inhaled through the nose, rubbed onto the gums, injected or smoked. Some nicknames for cocaine are: blow, coke, crack, rock and snow. I just found out that I am pregnant. Should I stop using cocaine? If you have been taking …
Cigarette Smoke
This sheet talks about exposure to cigarette smoke in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. This information should not take the place of medical care and advice from your healthcare provider. What is in cigarette smoke? Cigarette smoke is made of gases and very tiny particles that are released when cigarettes are burned. It has over 4,000 compounds including nicotine, tar, arsenic, lead, and carbon monoxide. When you breathe the cigarette smoke into your lungs, the gases and particles get …
