EFFECTS OF PRENATAL-CARE ON NEONATES BORN TO DRUG-USING WOMEN

This study examined whether prenatal care ameliorates the adverse effe cts of illicit drug use during pregnancy. We reviewed medical records of 336 women who delivered at the university hospital for results of u rine drug screens, maternal history, infant outcome, and presence of p renatal care. Ninety-one women tested positive for illicit drugs, of w hom 60 obtained prenatal care. We associated use of marijuana with inc reased risk of fetal distress; cocaine use with decreased birth weight , smaller head circumference, anemia, and meconium-stained amniotic fl uid; and multiple drug use with decreased weight and meconium-stained fluid, Drug-using women who obtained prenatal care delivered infants o f greater weight and with larger head circumferences than did those wh o obtained no care (p < .05). These results confirm the adverse effect s of illicit drug use during pregnancy and demonstrate that prenatal c are can ameliorate some of these effects.