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Updated: May 24, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Substance use during pregnancy and postnatal outcomes
Tina Birk Irner1, Thomas William Teasdale, Tine Nielsen
1The Family Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark. tina.irner@psy.ku.dk
Maternal substance use during pregnancy negatively impacts fetal development, leading to lower gestational age and increased risk of neonatal abstinence syndrome. However, treatment can reduce substance use, improving newborn outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Neonatal Health
- Addiction Medicine
Background:
- Prenatal substance exposure is linked to adverse birth outcomes and developmental issues.
- Understanding maternal substance use patterns is crucial for targeted interventions.
- Existing research highlights the need for comprehensive data on substance-using pregnant women.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize women in treatment for substance use during pregnancy.
- To analyze the types and extent of substance use during gestation.
- To determine the impact of prenatal substance exposure on gestational age, birth weight, and neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS).
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 161 pregnant women and 163 newborns was studied.
- Data collected included maternal background, substance use patterns, and infant health outcomes.
- Statistical analyses (Chi-Square tests) were used to assess correlations between substance exposure and outcomes.
Main Results:
- Continued maternal substance use correlated with lower gestational age (P < .01).
- Poly-substance exposure in utero increased vulnerability to NAS (P < .001).
- Prenatal alcohol exposure was linked to increased risk of low birth weight (P < .05).
Conclusions:
- Maternal cessation or reduction of substance use during pregnancy positively influences newborn outcomes.
- Treatment programs demonstrate an interventional effect, with over 50% of mothers ceasing non-tobacco substance use.
- Early intervention and support for pregnant women with substance use disorders are vital for improving neonatal health.
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