Substance use during pregnancy compromises maternal and infant health by increasing risks for obstetric complications and neurodevelopmental issues, n.com.do reported.
Exposing a fetus to alcohol and illicit drugs constitutes a form of prenatal maltreatment, according to Julio Gonell, president of the Dominican Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
“The consumption of alcohol and illicit drugs during pregnancy can be considered a form of prenatal maltreatment, especially from the perspective médico-social, psicológica y de protección a los derechos de la niñez,” Gonell told n.com.do.
The first trimester represents a vulnerable developmental window because organogenesis forms primary body systems. Prenatal exposure interferes with cellular processes and organ formation through hypoxia, which reduces oxygen supply to fetal tissues, child psychologist Edison Rodríguez explained to n.com.do.
Substance Exposure Disrupts Executive Brain Functions
Substance exposure disrupts executive brain functions tied to attention, planning, impulse control, and problem-solving.
“El maltrato físico no siempre empieza con un golpe, una agresión o una palabra ofensiva. Puede tener antecedentes de un embarazo marcado por violencia intrafamiliar, el rechazo, el abandono, la falta de apoyo emocional y la vulneración de los derechos de la mujer embarazada,” Gonell told n.com.do.
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders stem from alcohol use during gestation. They cause cognitive deficits, behavioral changes, and congenital malformations, even when children lack obvious physical traits.
Illicit Drugs Trigger Premature Births and Neurological Damage
Illicit drugs like cocaine and heroin trigger premature births, low birth weight, and neurological damage requiring specialized neonatal care, Gonell stated. Combining alcohol with other drugs compounds these maternal and fetal risks.
A study from the Santo Domingo Technological Institute examined 100 vulnerable pregnant women at the Los Mina Maternity Hospital. The research revealed that 52% of the participants reported consuming alcohol during pregnancy.
Risk factors identified in the study include first-trimester consumption, maternal malnutrition, polysubstance use, binge drinking, and low socioeconomic status.
Obstetricians Must Identify Substance Use During Prenatal Visits
Unplanned pregnancies elevate early exposure risks because women may continue substance use before realizing they are pregnant. Early exposure coincides with critical weeks of embryonic and neurological development.
Gonell emphasized that obstetricians must identify substance use during early prenatal visits to connect patients with specialized care. Rodríguez added that monitoring infant development helps detect delayed cognitive and behavioral symptoms.
“La protección de la infancia comienza protegiendo a la mujer, incluso antes de que su hijo llegue al mundo,” Gonell told n.com.do.
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