‘Fetal fentanyl syndrome’: How fentanyl exposure is stunting babies’ development

[KARAH RUCKER]

MORE BABIES ARE BEING BORN WITH SERIOUS BIRTH DEFECTS, AND SOME SCIENTISTS NOW BELIEVE THIS MIGHT BE BECAUSE THEIR MOTHERS USED FENTANYL WHILE PREGNANT.

HOSPITALS HAVE FOUND AT LEAST 30 BABIES WITH A NEW CONDITION THEY’RE CALLING “FETAL FENTANYL SYNDROME.” 

HERE’S AN IMAGE OF SOME OF THE BABIES THESE DOCTORS HAVE EXAMINED.

THEY’VE FOUND THAT “FETAL FENTANYL SYNDROME” CAUSES DEFECTS LIKE CLEFT PALATES.

UNUSUALLY SMALL HEADS.

DROOPING EYELIDS.

WEBBED TOES.

AND JOINTS NOT FULLY DEVELOPED.

SCIENTISTS HAD SEEN SIMILAR PROBLEMS BEFORE IN MOTHER’S WHO REPORTED DRUG USE.

BUT NOW, THIS NEW RESEARCH SHOWS WHAT THE FENTANYL IS IMPACTING IN THE BABY’S DEVELOPMENT.

IT IS ALERTING HOW A FETUS MAKES **CHOLESTEROL –

WHICH IS CRUCIAL FOR BRAIN DEVELOPMENT. 

DOCTORS SAY THIS HELPS EXPLAIN WHY SOME BABIES WITH FENTANYL EXPOSURE HAVE THESE DEFECTS.

ALTHOUGH FENTANYL USE DURING PREGNANCY IS KNOWN TO CAUSE OTHER ISSUES LIKE PRETERM BIRTH OR EVEN STILL BIRTH, NOT ALL BABIES EXPOSED TO FENTANYL HAVE THESE SPECIFIC DEFECTS. 

THE NEW FINDINGS SUGGEST THAT BABIES WITH A CERTAIN GENETIC VULNERABILITY ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED BY FENTANYL.

DOCTORS ARE HOPING FOR MORE RESEARCH AND AWARENESS TO TRY AND PROPERLY DIAGNOSE AND HELP BABIES EXPOSED TO FENTANYL.