ong to an infant in the motherÆs milk. The chemical is more concentrated in breast milk than it is in the bloodstream, and smoking marijuana while breastfeeding has been linked to motor development problems in newborns. THC also passes freely through the placenta.
In males, marijuana has been shown to lower the sperm count, and can also cause slow-moving or abnormally-shaped sperm, which can lead to miscarriages, low fetal birth weight, or other health problems (Marijuana). Simply smoking marijuana around a pregnant woman can endanger both the woman and the fetus if she inhales the secondhand smoke.
Only a few drugs are known to cause birth defects, but all have the potential to cause harm (Birth). Some antibiotics are known to be teratogenic: tetracycline affects bone growth and discolors teeth. Drugs used to treat tuberculosis can lead to hearing problems and cranial damage. Anticonvulsant medications given to prevent seizures can cause mental retardation and slow growth in the developing fetus. Many antipsychotic and antianxiety agents are known to cause specific defects. Antineoplastic drugs can cause major congenital abnormalities, especially central nervous system defects, and may be harmful to healthcare workers who administer them while pregnant. Male hormones may cause mascularization of a female fetus. The synthetic estrogen DES, given in the 1940s, caused an increased risk of cancer in the adult female children of women who took it. Exposure to lithium is associated with an increased risk of congenital heart defects (Teratogens). Women taking Retinoids and Vitamin A (Accutane) orally have a high risk for having a baby with major birth defects including hydrocephaly, small head size, mental retardation, malformed ears, facial abnormalities, and heart defects.
Recreational drugs can also be teratogenic. LSD has been associated with arm and leg abnormalities and central nervous system problems ...