Somatic growth effects of perinatal addiction.

Intrauterine growth retardation occurs in a large percentage of infants born to mothers addicted to heroin during pregnancy. This is seen less often in infants of mothers who faithfully attended methadone programs. Postnatally, a decline in linear growth and head circumference is seen during the first year in both heroin- and methadone-exposed infants. The basis for this postnatal growth retardation requires further investigation. The birth weights, lengths and head circumferences were appropriate for gestational age in 28 of 29 infants delivered to mothers participating in methadone-maintenance programs three months or longer during pregnancy. Absence of intrauterine growth retardation seens to reflect the addict's improved lifestyle. Postnatally, growth distrubance occurred in 35% of infants exposed to heroin and 25% of infants exposed to methadone during gestation. Several cases of chronic unsuspected infections in addicts' infants are reported, raising the question of the significance of undiagnosed infection as it affects growth.