Maternal intrauterine amine alterations in the pregnant drug addict

The pregnant drug addict has been a good study patient. Her neural hormonal value, as measured by urinary norepinephrine and epinephrine, is altered during pregnancy. The major difference between the antepartum state in the pregnant drug addict and that in the nonpregnant drug addict is hyperactivity of the adrenal gland. The intrauterine fetal homeostasis is altered by drug addiction in that the fetus is addicted, ted, as indicated by depressed amniotic fluid norepinephrine and epinephrine levels. If detoxification takes place, the fetus can respond in a dramatic fashion with increased levels of both norepinephrine and epinephrine. Detoxification is not recommended in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy because of the potential seriousness of these neural hormonal alterations.