Babys borne on methadone

[Why_my_baby]

MY girlfriend is going in to week twenty two of pregnancy and taking methadone . She has abused oxycontin since she was sixteen she is now twenty two years old and she claims to be in treatment. She is taking way more than she needs,not just from the clinic but what she can buy as well. I mean taking enough to combat withdrawl is one thing but because she goes to the clinic she thinks this will do no harm to our child. I really cant believe what she is doing. Shocked would be a better word. She really needs help but she refuses to see the potential effects of this destructive behavior.                                                                    
I have worried so much that my blood pressure is now in the danger level. I have all but given up on any hope of having my first child without many complications. Honestly I dont know how she hasnt had auto accident or a dui.                                                                                                                     How can she do this to her baby? She has got to be stopped before she kills herself or some innocent person. Please if any one can offer advice or information about what i can expect from the high doses of methadone or how to get her some help I would appreciate it very much.
                                                                                                                                Thank you very much
                                                                                                                               worried sick dad

[kim715]

I am so sorry for your situation.I was on methadone for a year and a half and I have been clean for over a year now.There were pregnant women at the clinic I went too who stayed on the methadone through out their pregnancy,but I'm not sure how it effected their babies.Does your wife's OB doctor know whats going on? If not he/she NEEDS to and they need to know the truth and the whole truth whether they hear it from her or you.The health and well being of your unborn child is at stake,and I can tell form what you wrote that you already know,thats the most important thing.

[nursegirl6572]

Awww...I feel for you....and your baby is luck to have a Dad like you who truly cares!!!!  I agree that your GF's OB needs to know....and only you would know how to handle that.  What if you gave HER the option to fess up, and if she didn't, say after a week, then YOU tell the doc yourself?  Problem with that kind of thing...it would depend on how she would react.  If she is already vulnerable and abusing meth to that extent, I would fear she would possibly get worse?  Ultimatums are sometimes a necessary evil, but you have to weigh that carefully.

Any which way, you BOTH have a responsibility to this child.  Sadly, YOU could also be held accountable if you say nothing and allow this baby to possibly be in distress after birth.  If the doc thinks she is on a much lower dose, then the baby will not get the proper dose of medication to help him/her thru w/d's.  

You need to proceed in the way you think is best.  YOU have to be the advocate for your child, as your GF is not.  If you want to put the ball in her court, fine...if not, then just go and meet with the doctor.  It is still fairly early in the pregnancy, she could turn this around, but also...if there isn't some kind of intervention, it could get much worse, I fear.  :0(

Lastly...take care of YOURSELF.  Please see your own doctor if your BP remains a concern.  You are going thru a lot of stress...you can't ignore that.  YOU need to be in tip top shape for baby day (CONGRATS btw!).  The way it's going....most likely you will play the primary caregiving role for this baby until your GF can prove that she's clean.

The very best of luck to you, hon.

[TrayCee]

TELL. HER. DOCTOR.!!!

[dominosarah]

You need to tell her doctor what is going on.  You are this babies father and you have every right to protect this little baby.  Thank god you are thinking clearly.  Please take care of yourself so you will be around to take care of your new little baby......keep us posted please...........sara

[nick30]

i agree with sara, you are the baby's father and have equal rights to protect your baby. You have the right to tell her doctor about any behaviour that is potentially harmful to your child.
good luck

Nick.

[Dawn583]

Im an a 28 year old female who was on oxycontin for years I found out I was pregnant.. i wanted to do what was safest for my child so I went so see a doctor about my pills and being pregnant.... they put me on methadone right away ... I was on it the whole course of my pregnancy, Ive done research, ive read books and it is 100% safe for the baby... its the safest thing for her to be doing... the baby would go through withdrawl from her pills.... it keep the baby safe... I am still on the methadone.. (im weening off now....) But I have a beautiful healthy baby boy, (no complications) He needed to be weened off ... but trust me.... it is the best thing,... her doctor probably percribed it to her... it will not hurt her child, if she buying more on the side it might be because she need a higher dose.... when youre pregnant the baby takes in the methadone more quickly than her so they ( the doctors)  move your dose up quite high.. so that you wont experiance any withdrawls, aswell as the baby... you should get in contact with  a methadone clinic to get some information,she really is not harming herself or your child... you should , like I said check with the doctors and rest easy..... i hope this has helped a lttle, I know its not an ideal situation but really its the best way for both if she struggles with an oxy, addiction.......

Dawn

[TrayCee]

how can you say a baby being born addicted to methadone is safe????

[Dawn583]

all I ment was I had a healthy baby that was born addicted to methadone..... its what most likely saved his life...doctors wouldnt put mothers who were pregnant if it wasnt safe for the fetus.... there is hope.... not an ideal situation....but thank god there was an answer that was safe.....

[nursegirl6572]

The biggest thing here, dawn, is that she is abusing the Methadone, she isn't taking it as prescribed.  Yes, pregnant women are Rx'ed it all the time, but to abuse it only increases the chance of complications.

The actual med itself isn't "harmful" per se to the fetus, but if withdrawals are bad enough, it can cause serious issues for the newborn.

Glad things worked out for you though...and you 100% did the right thing by confiding in your doctor.  Good for you.

[Why_my_baby]

First i would like to thank each of you for taking the time to answer my post.
Let me make it clear that the amount of methadone she is taking is far beyond what is needed to combat withdrawl.
She is to the point of complete intoxication most of the time.
Passing out for hours at a time only to take off driving as soon as she can get her eyes open enough to find the road.
She lies to everyone her mom ,me, her dr. Im afraid to ride across town with her but i cant watch her twenty four hours a day.
I cant sit back and watch her continue . God gave us this baby as a gift and for a reason.  Its killing me to watch her continue to endanger herself and our unborne child.
I want this baby very much but im afraid of what is going to happen if she isnt stopped. Please remember me in your prayers. thanks to you all.  worried sick dad

[nick30]

can you have her committed to a hospital psych ward for the babys sake? if she's really taking huge doses she's a danger to everyone.
good luck finding a way to deal with this.

nick

[kim715]

WOW you have to do something ASAP.Shes endangering your babies life,her life,and a lot of other people's too everytime she gets behind the wheel of that vehicle.Normally we suggest to the family of an addict that nothing you say or do will work until they are ready to get clean and that ultimatums aren't a good idea.However at this point I think you need to do whatever it takes.Set her down and have a heart to heart with her let her know that you love her and you love your baby and it's because of that love that you can't sit back and allow her behavior to continue any longer.Tell her that she HAS to come clean with her doctor.Don't be judgemental,let her know that you will go with her and support her,but I'd give her a REAL short time line and be firm and tell her if she doesn't tell him/her YOU WILL.At this point,because she is pregnant,it's NOT a good idea that she lower her dose in ANY WAY,without medical intervention.Eventhough she is going to the clinic and buying it off the street,lowering her dose any sufficient amount could be extremely dangerous to the pregnancy,without the help of her doctor.See how she responds and DON"T just take her word that she will tell her doctor.I'm an addict,and when we are active in our addiction we are liars and manipulators.INSIST that you be at that appointment.As far as her driving tell her that too STOPS now.Let her know that you will enlist the help of family and friends to help you to make sure that she doesn't get behind the wheel in that condition and that if she does and you find out about it you will call the police yourself the next time she does it.Reinforce to her throughout this conversation that you are only doing this because you love her and the baby and the thought of losing either of them is literally making you physically ill.What it all comes down to my friend is this is YOUR baby and she is in the grips of addiction right now and not able to think clearly.Your baby NEEDS you to protect him/her and they need you to do WHATEVER is in your power to help save their mother as well.You HAVE to do something today my friend.Tomorrow may be too late.Please keep posting and keep us updated.My thoughts and prayers are with you all......Peace...Kim

[Chappy1214]

My niece was born 13 day ago addicted to methadone.  She was born full term and a healthy 8 lbs 11 oz.  She was put on morphine and clonidine the day after she was born.  She is currently on .22 mg.  How much longer will she have to spend in the hospital?  Should her mother breast feed?

[Tallullah73]

Hi Dawn, I am 33 weeks pregnant and on methadone as prescribed.  I would love to hear how you & your baby did after birth.  I am concerned about breastfeeding, but the doctors are encouraging me to do so.  Surely if I wean the baby off the methadone after birth, then breastfeeding with simply re-addict him.  I need to discuss this with my mid-wife, I realise, but I thought you might have some input.  If you do have any advice I would love to hear from you.

[windowsca]

Wow!  I'm so glad you want to get through this for the sake of the baby, her and you.  You need a crash course about holistic everything.  Now!  Google   ________for detox, filling in the blank with hypnosis, acupuncture, meditation, sauna, herbs, supplements, yoga.  Honestly, any non-drug thing you can think of!  Acupuncture works wonders for detox and so does meditation.  Hypnosis is basically mind over matter therapy and will make her not want to use, the other stuff will help with the discomfort of w/d.  God knows a psych ward will do nothing for her addiction - they'll keep her for a few days and just give her more drugs for other symptoms,  Those who think having to detox their newborns . . .  WHAT??  This "give me a different drug" **** MUST STOP!!  Certainly when you have a baby coming, if not for yourself.  Sorry to be so crazy about this, but the reason we're all here is to get OFF drugs, right?

[mo2000]

First off, I want to say CONGRATS on your new baby, and know that you are a wonderful father for caring as much as you do before you have even met him or her.

Ok, I have never been in this situation, nor have I had someone in my life in this situation.. but I do have some suggestions that could possibly work for you... as much as they may seem harsh or like something you wouldn't want to do.

Maybe you could speak to the dr in private, and have him drug test her.  This way, she will get "caught" without knowing you were the one who told the dr.  You know, that way she won't do anything for "revenge" towards YOU that could end up hurting the baby.  Does the dr know that she is going to the methadone clinic??? If so maybe he can make the drug test seem like a "routine" testing of levels??? Again, this is just an idea, I'm not sure of the rules of dr/client relationships.

Another thing, here in PA, you can 302 someone who has a terrible problem. They will take them to either a pyschiatric hospital or to a drug rehab (whichever is needed)  I believe that they hold them up to a week, wean them off the drugs, and help them to find a recovery plan.  Of course, after, it would be up to HER to continue on with the recovery plan.  It's a start, and at least they would explain to her what she is doing to your beautiful baby.

Lastly... pray to GOD!!!!!!  God has given some children the gift of an unaffected life regardless of what their mother was pumping into her system during gestation.  This is the biggest hope for everyone, that God will just spare that innocent life.  This can be done along with either other idea, and remember God works wonders.  (I am not an OVERLY religious person either, but have found that God has been my best friend through what I have personally been going through!)

All ideas, none guaranteed, but when it comes down the love for your child, I understand you would do ANYTHING.  Good luck and I keep you and your baby in my prayers.

[purgatory]

wow that totally creeps me out that mothers are having babies on methodone, only to have the poor child suffer for your; our own errors. I would be so outraged as a father. If I were you I would get some legal documents in order protect yourself. I think your wife is long gone and could take you down with her in the future if she wants out and HALF of everything. I would film her abuse as evidence and do what ever you can to get her to stop, or baker acted w-e you can do I suppose.

[mtgoat911]

people who have mental illness cannot snap out of it once they become pregnant, so put the guns away people
sounds like this situation calls for an involuntary commitment order, call your local mental health, or voc rehab and ask for the forums for an involuntary commitment, you will go infront of a judge, she does not have to be there, the judge can order treatment and manditory drug screening after birth
my best friend in active addiction got pregnant with twins, the clinics addictionoligist advised her to move up her daily doses because the babies would end up with alot of it, whats probably happening to this mother is that the baby is stealing her dope and she needs to take more just to feel normal, try to view her as a sick person, if she was having an asthma attack you would rush her to the hospital, find anyway you can to force her in treatment, tell her she can use as soon as she gets out of rehab but you are going to protect your babies.......most doctors will advise her to stay on a safe dose of this drug and then detox the baby in the hospital with morphine, it is uncommon to take a patient through methadone wd during pregnancy, hopefully mental health or voc can tell you more about that
good luck, go for custody as soon as you can, thaat is assuming you are not on drugs