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

[kayla717]

my sister in law is pregnant not sure how far but about to deliever  we dnt know when because she has not went to an ob/gyn  this is her 2nd child and she is very badly addicted to methadone and other narcotic pills  what are the risk shes taking and how is it going to affect my niece/nephew  most importantly what can i do about it  it makes me sick to my stomach to know shes hurting that baby

[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

[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.

[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.

[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?

[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.