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 …
The Baby Blog: Drugs & Substance Use
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 …
Alcohol
This sheet talks about exposure to alcohol in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. This information should not take the place of medical care and advice from your healthcare provider. What is alcohol? Alcohol, ethanol and ethyl alcohol are all names for the ingredient in beer, wine, or hard liquor that gives an intoxicating effect to the drinker. The same amount of alcohol is found in a standard serving of beer (12 ounces), wine (4-5 ounces), or hard liquor (1.5 ounces). I drink alcohol. …
Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD)
This sheet talks about exposure to Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. This information should not take the place of medical care and advice from your healthcare provider. What is LSD? Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is a drug that causes an altered state of mind (hallucinations/delusions). Some physical effects of LSD on the body can include increased blood pressure, fast heart rate, and dilated pupils. This drug is usually taken by mouth, but can also be …
