The effects of drug abuse are especially damaging for pregnant women and their babies. Even before a baby is conceived, if the woman or man uses drugs, in particular marijuana, it can be difficult for the woman to get pregnant. Drug use during pregnancy places added stress on the woman's body. It can also interfere with healthy habits, such as eating good food and getting enough rest. This can cause such problems as anemia, heart disease, and hepatitis. Also, some drug-addicted women do not get prenatal care, medical care during a pregnancy, because they fear that their drug use will be reported to the authorities.

Using drugs during pregnancy can also result in a difficult birth. Drug use has been linked to breech delivery, in which the baby's buttocks come out first, premature birth...