Is methamphetamine safe during pregnancy?
Answered by MotherToBaby’s teratology specialists, quoted in full — including the questions most pages skip, like whether a father’s exposure matters.
The questions people actually ask about methamphetamine in pregnancy
Answered by MotherToBaby, the fact sheets written by the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists and published through the NIH. Quoted in full — we do not condense them.
I take methamphetamine. Can it make it harder for me to get pregnant?
It is not known if taking methamphetamine can make it harder to get pregnant.
Does taking methamphetamine increase the chance of miscarriage?
Miscarriage is common and can occur in any pregnancy for many different reasons. Using methamphetamine might increase the chance of miscarriage.
Does taking methamphetamine increase the chance of birth defects?
Every pregnancy starts out with a 3-5% chance of having a birth defect. This is called the background risk. It is not known if methamphetamine increases the chance for birth defects above the background risk. Information on whether methamphetamine increases the chance of birth defects is mixed. This makes it hard to know the actual risks for each person who uses methamphetamine.
Does taking methamphetamine in pregnancy increase the chance of other pregnancy-related problems?
Methamphetamine use has been linked to a higher chance for preterm delivery (delivery before 37 weeks of pregnancy), poor growth (babies born too small and/or with a small head size), and low birth weight (weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces [2500 grams] at birth). Some studies have suggested that methamphetamine use in pregnancy can increase the chance for high blood pressure, placental abruption (the placenta pulls away from the uterus) and for fetal or infant death. Pregnancy complications are more likely to happen when methamphetamine is used throughout the whole pregnancy or when taken at high doses.
If I take methamphetamine during pregnancy. will it cause withdrawal symptoms in my baby after birth?
Using methamphetamines near the end of pregnancy can increase the chance of symptoms in newborns (sometimes referred to as withdrawal). Symptoms can include trouble eating, sleeping too little or too much, having floppy (poor) muscle control or tight muscles, being jittery, and / or having a hard time breathing. Symptoms usually go away within a few weeks but can last for a few months. The baby might need to be admitted to the special care nursery (NICU). It is important that your healthcare providers know you are taking methamphetamine so that if symptoms occur your baby can get the care that is best for them.
Does taking methamphetamine in pregnancy affect future behavior or learning for the child?
Studies have suggested that children who were exposed to methamphetamine during pregnancy could have a higher chance for changes in their brain development, as well as learning and behavior problems later in life.
What can I do to find out if the baby has issues related to methamphetamine use?
It is important to talk with your healthcare provider about any exposures you have during pregnancy. They can help you find treatment or support and can go over any screening options that are available. Prenatal ultrasounds can screen for some birth defects. Ultrasound can also be used to monitor the growth of the fetus. There are no tests available during pregnancy that can tell how much effect there could be on future behavior or learning.
If a male takes methamphetamine, could it affect fertility or increase the chance of birth defects?
Methamphetamine use might affect the sperm, which could affect male fertility (ability to get partner pregnant). Studies have not been done to see if a male’s use of methamphetamine could increase the chance of birth defects above the background risk. In general, exposures that fathers or sperm donors have are unlikely to increase risks to a pregnancy. For more information, please see the MotherToBaby fact sheet Paternal Exposures at https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/paternal-exposures-pregnancy/ ,
Quoted from MotherToBaby Fact Sheets — Methamphetamine, published January 2024. MotherToBaby states its fact sheets should not take the place of medical care and advice from your healthcare providers.
Breastfeeding is a separate question — what LactMed says about methamphetamine
This is general reference information, not medical advice. Whether to take any medication in pregnancy is a decision for you and your prescriber; do not start or stop a drug on your own, because an untreated condition can also carry risk.