What happened to Regina Mcknight? Too bad this doesn't happen often and the frequency affects too many lives, but in no case is it the mother's fault. No man-made law can ever change the sad fact that women are victims of addiction. Any mother will consciously sacrifice herself for her children, this fact is instinctive and hereditary. Therefore, no law or disciplinary action has the ability to overload a woman's instinctive nature to protect her child, the problem is the drug itself. The harm that occurs when a pregnant woman consumes a lethal drug isn't just psychological, it's physical. affecting protein receptors causing irreversible corruptions, even if taken only once (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2004). What society fails to recognize is that these actions are not intentional at all, no functional being wants to live in the constant line of disparity having stomach aches and hallucinating demonic apparitions. The effects of drugs on children are well known, as the common phrase "Crack baby" connotes, one's senses are deranged from having to live in one world when prepared for another. If cocaine were to be ingested during the first trimester, the effects would be truly fatal and usually lead to death or other serious health risks such as the inability of the baby to live without support (American Pregnancy Association 2011). As a result, if the expectant mother decides to use medications well after the first trimester, the fetus will show mild but permanent effects from the medications, while still being able to function normally but well below what is considered average. However, in the case of a mother who suddenly decides to use drugs it goes against the basic instinct... half of the document... americanpregnacy.org/pregnancyheath/illegaldrugs.html3. “Rubella (German measles).” BabyCenter. BabyCenter Medical Advisory Committee, 2014. Web. 01 February 2014.4. “Smoking and Pregnancy: Understanding the Risks.” - Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2013. Web. 02 February 2014.5. "Tobacco use and pregnancy." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 28 January 2014. Web. 04 February 2014.6. “An unhealthy diet during pregnancy could have long-term effects on offspring.” Defeat diabetes. Daniel H. Rasolt, July 4, 2008. Web. February 4. 2014.