More babies are being born with severe birth defects. Scientists believe this increase may be due to mothers using fentanyl during pregnancy.
Hospitals identified at least 30 newborns with a condition now called “fetal fentanyl syndrome.” This syndrome causes defects such as cleft palates, unusually small heads, drooping eyelids, webbed toes and underdeveloped joints.
Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.
Point phone camera here
Researchers previously observed similar defects in babies whose mothers reported drug use. New research, however, revealed that fentanyl disrupts the fetus’s ability to produce cholesterol, which is essential for brain development.
Doctors suggested this new understanding helps explain why some babies exposed to fentanyl in the womb develop these specific defects. Although fentanyl use during pregnancy is known to cause other problems like preterm birth and stillbirth, not all babies exposed to fentanyl show these particular defects.
The findings indicate that babies with certain genetic vulnerabilities may be more likely to suffer from fentanyl-related birth defects. Medical professionals called for further research and increased awareness to improve diagnosis and support for babies affected by fentanyl exposure.
[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.
Straight to your inbox.
By entering your email, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge the Privacy Policy.
