Question

Why is it diffcult to identify the effects of maternal cocaine use on the neonate?

Answer 1

Drug abuse by mother can cause multiple problems to fetus as these drugs cross placental barrier.This can result in serious developmental problems in newborn. However the effects of maternal cocaine use on neonates is very difficult to identify because of various reasons. Though some studies reveal negative effects of cocaine on cognitive development of baby, it is not clearly found out because mother may be exposed to multiple drugs ,not only cocaine. The best method to detect cocaine exposure is by relying on all report from mother as dosage, timing duration of exposure can be clearly identified but unfortunately, many mothers who are cocaine users failed to report it due to the fear of prosecution or fear of losing their neonates to the child care centers. As a result ,we need to depend solely on laboratory tests, which have limitations to give true results. Testing of meconium or newborn hair can determine cocaine use by mother as it gives long time exposure effects but newborns may not be having enough hair for testing and meconium is to be collected within 3 days of birth. These also have some limitations as hair growth and meconium production start only after first trimester. So exposure to cocaine in first trimester cannot be ruled out using this method. Newborn's urine and maternal urine analysis can help to identify recent cocaine use only. So only by designing some research tool to collect apt history coinciding with laboratory test can help to identify maternal cocaine use and it's effects on infant.