HELP EMERGENCY

I am 9 months preg, I have been using vic's on and off during my pregnancy. My dr( OBGYN) prescribed me tyl#3 for sciatica pain during my preg. I am terrified that my baby is going to be born addicted. i am so ashamed and really afraid. I was told that if I stop a few days b4 I deliver that the baby should be ok, but I am afraid that social services will find out. i have no recorded history and have neverf been investigated...Please help me I am terrified. I was told that they test the marconium from the baby, but do they always or only if she seems addicted?

[dominosarah]

Were the vicodin prescribed by the doctor or just the tylenol 3?  

[vicki595]

Yes,it's standard practice in most hospitals throughout the country to test for drugs.
So,every woman who arrives in labor to the hosp. gets her blood drawn and it's tested for many things including a tox screen.  It's routine. They don't want any surprises with drug addicted babies.  

You need to get honest with your Doctor ASAP. Tell him/her what you've taken,how much,and for how long.

Vicki

[justme2262]

I understand that they will test me. My obgyn prescribed the tyl#3 there wont be any vic in my blood because I havent taken them in a week but i am afraid the baby will still be born addicted. So if I stop the tyl#3 a few days b4 i deliver will the baby still be born addicted or will it be out of there system?

[dominosarah]

I would talk to your OB about your concerns with this.  They will be able to give you more specific answers to your questions.  You said you havent taken vicodin in a week....how many were you doing a day before that?

[justme2262]

I was binge using. sometimes I would take 10 and if I didnt have any i would just take 2 hits of pot so I could sleep without the vic.I would alternate....3 days with vic, a day or 2 with nothing then the tyl#3 for 2 or 3 days than nothing for a few days

[dominosarah]

Are you wanting to get and stay off the pills after the baby is born too?

[justme2262]

I am so disgusted with what I have done, I knew better. My husband and I seperated for a little while in my preg and I thought ( like a fool) I could take a few just to get the pain out. I know better and thats why I am DISGUSTING!!! I will never use again. But i am so afraid rigt now. i need to make sure he isnt born addicted so I dont take a chance of screwing up both our lives. I will be the best mother to him, I have waited so long for him. Im just hoping that the info I was given is true that if I stoip now and a few days go bye if it is out of my system he will be ok. What do you think? thank you for not judging I know im horrible but I am trying.

[avisg]

OK first off codeine and hydro show differently on a DT and if you are already nine months It may be  too late there is a good chance both will show .You have to be upfront with you doctor this is not about you this is about you unborn baby what if it goes threw WD you don't want you baby to suffer be honest with your doctor .    somewhere i have an article on when you have to quit by or it can show let me try to find it

[dominosarah]

You are not horrible but you have to get to the bottom of why you picked up those pills in the first place.  Addiction isnt over once you quit using...it has only begun.        sara

[avisg]

If you are pregnant, know someone who is pregnant, or are thinking about becoming pregnant and have an addiction to opiates, PLEASE read the following post comes from experience, extensive research AND actual facts that I received from my peri-natal specialist, who is recognized as one of the country's best and who has been featured in New York Magazine's BEST DOCTORS starting in 2000 all the way up until now and believe me, NY Magazine is an incredibly respected and accredited magazine.

From experience I can tell you that if you are off for at least 8 weeks, your baby will not be born addicted.  IF the baby does happen to be born addicted, they can tell right away and you could be in A LOT of trouble because the signs are ridiculously obvious to medical professionals (they are trained to look for it) but IF you are honest about your usage, you will be ok.
You don't want your baby to go through withdrawals.  Although they can easily treat the withdrawals in newborns you don't want to have to medicate your child as soon as they come into the world.  Babies who are suffering from withdrawals have trouble eating, sleeping and they have a poor sucking reflex.  It's not pretty as they cry excessively and nothing soothes them.  You NEED that precious time with your baby to bond, the baby needs it too.  It's VITAL which means necessary for life!
I was prescribed pain killers throughout my pregnancy and weaned down VERY SLOWLY with the help of my ob/gyn.  I had a beautiful, healthy, perfect little girl who continues to thrive and become smarter and smarter by the minute.
I just want to stress to all the pregnant women out there who are using for whatever reason be it legal or not, that you cannot and SHOULD NOT go cold turkey under any circumstances.  I don't care what you've been told.  I am not trying to be argumentative but frankly, if I can save just one child and mother from the heartache and physical ache of pre-term labor with complications, I will be argumentative!
Cold turkey at any stage, never mind the later stages of pregnancy, put the mother's body into shock no matter what your usage is and can cause preterm labor and/or miscarriage.
If you are early ini your pregnancy, be honest with your dr and allow him/her to wean you VERY slowly.  The drugs that normally would be prescribed to anyone coming off of opiates (valium, xanax, klonopin etc.) are EXTREMELY UNSAFE at any time during your pregnancy.  They are all a category X and can and most likely will cause defects or brain activity reduction.  So you need to make sure that when you wean that you do it slowly and carefully so that your body does not go through too much stress.  It is way better for the mother to be comfortable during this process than it is to go through it quickly.        
If you are later on in your pregnancy, again I stress to be honest with your dr.  They can and should help you and if you are honest there is less chance of you getting into trouble and having your baby taken away.
If you are so late into your pregnancy that stopping isn't an option, take as little as possible, pray and talk to your dr.  Hopefully, it won't be an issue.
I do need to say though that although the pregnancy is obviously important, you need to have some sort of a plan for after the baby is born.  Even if you're being prescribed the drugs like I was, you are still addicted physically not to mention mentally and no baby deserves to have an addicted mother.  You will need to be on the ball with all of the sleepless nights and crying ahead of you.  SO please, talk to a dr., get on suboxone, go to counseling or meetings but whatever you do, get a hold of this problem because you NEVER get those years back and you don't want to be in a fog for the best and most important months of the beautiful babies life where you should be spending your time gazing into their eyes and watching them sleep at night for hours at a time.
May God bless you all and may you all have healthy and happy babies who have a sober and clear headed mother.

Back to Health Page List

[justme2262]

Im trying to make sure he doesnt go through withdrawl (withdrawal). thats why Im stopping now. I honestly dont think that I have been taking enough to cause that much of a problem. And believe me I WILL STAY CLEAN. I already have a out pt program set up that I was referred to by a friend as soon as I have the baby. But I cant take a chance of my family finding out that I screwed up and my baby is what Im thinking of I need him to be healthy thats why im stopping now. I take sometimes at most 15 tyl#3 a day for 2-3 days like i said more bindge than anything than I will go days sometimes a week without and just one or 2 hits of pot to sleep with no pills.

[dominosarah]

Taking 15 tyl 3 a day is alot of pills whether you are binging or not, then add the vicodin in and weed.  Your not a stranger to the drug world are you?  What you take in affects the baby.....may not show up right away but it may later.  I know you are scared that your secret will come to light but our secrets keep us sick.....sara

[justme2262]

Do yyou think if it is out of my system b4 i deliver he will have withdrawl (withdrawal)? I know late he may have issues and I will hate mysel for that but I will be there for him clean and healthy and do my best to make it up to him I just need to get thru this right now. the fear I have about this is stressing me like crazy, i dont sleep worrieing. Do u think if i stop it will be ok and he shouldnt have wd?

[Danny111]

At one point you say that you are/were, "binge using", taking 10 vics and smoking pot when you didn't have the pills and in your last post you say that you dont think you've been taking enough to cause, "that much", of a problem.  How much of a problem are you willing to allow your unborn baby to deal with so that you can continue using?

Drugs are very often able to get us to rationalize behaviors that we wouldn't otherwise be ok with in a million years.

Look at your post again and think how sick it sounds that you are rationalizing the fact that you're, "binge using", opiates while pregnant and the rational you use is that it won't cause, "that much", of a problem.

[justme2262]

Sorry Danny if I didnt explaine myself. I am not at all trying to rationalize of justify at all my behavior, and if you think for one second I am not totaly sick and disgusted about what I have done you are wrong.I dont know if you have ever been 9 months pregnant, terrified and feeling like the earth was about to fall on your head at the same time knowing it was all your own doing but that is where I am so if I misspoke a little or didnt explaine myself properly SORRY/; There is no excuse for what I have done, no way to justify or rationalize what I have done... I am afraid for my baby, afraid he will have trouble, afraid I could have him taken because of my own stupidity, afraid I may lose my family. I have a long list right now Danny, and if u read my post you would see where i have no intention of using and already have an outpatient program... Thanks for the support and for not judging, maybe you would like me to just jump off a cliff....sheeesh...And as far as the pot, i literally would take 2 hits right b4 bed just to sleep.

[dominosarah]

Nobody wants you to jump off a cliff, we are just trying to help you see what is going on here.  When did you last smoke weed?

[justme2262]

I meant that as a metaphore, not literaly, but I feel as if Danny was judging and believe me I know how disgusting I am, I think the weed about a week ago and honestly I know as addicts we are all liars but I dont like POT i would take 2 hits just to fall asleep before bed

[justme2262]

And my Doctor prescribed the tyl#3 so she is aware and it has been documented.

[dominosarah]

You do know that weed stays in your system for at least 30 days....You gotta get real here and tell the OB what you have been doing for the sake of this baby and he/she's safety.........

[justme2262]

I cant

[avisg]

If you smoked pot a week a ago you will test positive for POT as well .If you dont come we clean with your doctor and you test positive for these things dss will be called .POT is not a safe drug to use because you cant sleep .... plz do the right  thing ........

[Danny111]

You don't owe me any kind of an apology.  Most of us on here have done similar things when we were using.  Obviously I've never been pregnant but I did many things I wouldn't want people to know about.

I wasn't judging I was trying to get you to see how sick the rationalizing gets.

I realize pot helps you sleep, especially when you're going through opiate wd's and are having trouble sleeping without it.  The thing is you're pregnant.  So, when you smoke the pot to help you sleep through your opiate wd's while you're pregnant your baby is getting high as well.  

I guess I should have tried not to sound so judgmental.  I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings.  As I said I did a ton of bad stuff myself.  I guess the thing is it's so incredibly important not to use when you're pregnant.

[justme2262]

I am trying to do the right thing by protecting my baby. At this point my hope is if i stop by the time I deliver he wont have any withdrawl (withdrawal). my doctor documented the tyl#3 so that is expainable. the pot as far as i understand should be out of my system pretty quick because i am not a regular smoker. I think if he shows no signs of wd they wont look to far....I hope that makes sence.

[Danny111]

I have to echo what dominosarah and avisg said about coming clean with your doctor.  You have to come clean before they test you because they're gonna find out either way.  

Much better for you and your baby that they hear it from you than they find out in the delivery room.  I'm just about positive that they are required to notify social services about that kind of thing.

It will be a hard conversation but then you'll be able to go through your delivery with worrying so much about what's going to happen when they do the blood tests or whatever.

[avisg]

Danny yes they are required if she does not come clean

[justme2262]

If he doesnt show any wd why would they test, and if i test clean wont it be ok? my dr knows about the tyl#3

[dominosarah]

I guess if you dont come clean with the doctors then you will have to suffer the consequences for your actions.  New York state is very tough on drug abuse with a newborn.  I hope and pray that the baby will be born healthy and you get the help that you need....sara

[justme2262]

im not understanding. If the Dr prescribed the tyl#3 how can i get introuble for that. If there is no vic in my system how can i get introuble and if the baby shows no wd?

[avisg]

As I said codeine is one drug, pot is another ,vicodin is hyrodocodone its not codeine so thats another how many weeks are you ...

[dominosarah]

and what if this baby does show wd?

[justme2262]

36 weeks. i understand that they are different drugs and I am not trying to be difficult but there are alot of reasons that my family cant find out. I was told that if i stop now even if i deliver in a week he shouldnt have any wd. the vic would be out of our systems in 2 days and the pot in 10 (ish) as far as the codine it shouls also be out in 2 but the dr knows about it.

[vicki595]

They test everyone as a "standard of treatment/care".  It doesn't matter who or what you are...they don't discriminate,they just do it.  AND,whether the T3 is Dr. prescibed or not it doesn't matter. The lab has standards/references to go by and they'll know if you took more than the recommended dose;it'll all be there in your blood.

You're risking a bad outcome for now and in the future if you don't get honest with your OB ASAP.   I'm sorry...but you need the truth.  You need to taper off that crap really fast...not just 4 days before the baby is born.  How can you know when the 4 days are so you can stop(as you said)?   We never know when our babies are coming EXACTLY...that's the wondrous miracle of it all...

I do wish you well~~

Vicki

[justme2262]

Im off of the t3 now and have no intention of taking anymore. it will be out of my blood in 2 daysalso my OB knows I was taking " a few" more not the true amount but she knows i was going throught them faster then i should so i told her i would slow down.....So my question is if i dont take anything ANYMORE and he is born in a week or 2 we should... be ok right??

[avisg]

Did you read the article I posted even if its out of your system it take far longer to get out of your baby ,Pot will not be out of your system in ten days .

[dominosarah]

None of us know that answer.  Do you feel withdrawals when you start and stop these meds?

[vicki595]

I just don't know for sure.I wish I did...I wish I could reassure you and promise you'll be fine. But I just can't.  I CAN tell you that by being off ALL the drugs is a very good thing...and the fact that your OB knows you've taken "a little extra" along the way is good,too.  Your ofc. chart will be at the hosp. when you go in and they'll have this info.

Try not to worry~
V.

[dominosarah]

Good point vicki.....

[justme2262]

I went through WD a few years back. the only thing i have now is I have a hard time sleeping and a bit of restless leg, thats all....My thinking is as long as I am clean and he shows no wd even if they do find something it is eaier to explaine if i test clean...And although i know i should have not been taking anything i dont think i have taken enough to do harm Im just not sure.

[vicki595]

I think I can speak for all of us when I say:"We're not sure either".

V.

[dominosarah]

What do you consider too much for a developing fetus?

[justme2262]

Sarah I know that anything is too much for a fetus Im going to go because im not good at wording things and things i say keep getting taken out of text....I screwed up and I will have to live with that for the rest of my life, i hope and pray he will be ok and will do everything I can to protect him from the mistakes I have made.....God I came to the forum to make sence of this and get some advice instead I feel like Im on trial with my every word being analyzed.....God bless all...

[dominosarah]

Your not on trial at all.  We are all very concerned for you and the baby.  Sometimes our words seem harsh and you dont see the feelings we have behind them.  We want nothing but the best for you and the baby.....sara

[Danny111]

We know you're going through a hard time and that you're feeling down and scared, but noone on here is just going to comfort you when you're taking the kind of drugs you are while you're pregnant.  I know it's hard to hear it but there are some hard things you need to hear and deal with.

You posted looking for advice and we've tried to give you our best.  Dominosarah and Avisg both have a very long time sober and a lot of experience talking to people on here.  They know what they're talking about probably better than most of the folks on here and have given you some very good advice.

It sounds as though what you may have really wanted was someone to tell you not to worry about getting caught and/or causing permanent damage to your baby...and maybe some advice on how to avoid detection or how to talk your way out of things if your baby comes up positive.

Those two won't help you with that and neither will most of the folks on here.

[Brokenbutglued]

I'm not being judgemental when I say this, I'm on your side and I'm on your baby's side.But in reality it's not you against them, they are on your side too including everyone that has posted here. They are on your babies side. What side are you on? Do you care more about the health of your baby or wether or not YOU get into trouble for something? It's time to woMAN up sister, be honest, be upfront. You owe it to your baby to have the best start in life possible. You can't undo any damage that might already be done but you CAN do things to help him NOW that can make his life better. Obviously you already know that and that's good but you really seem to be more concerned about getting into trouble than doing everything possible to help your baby.

[jennt104]

I know your scared, and I know you're an addict. I think you're just misunderstanding peoples messages. They are telling you the facts and whats going to happen, they are not judging you. The facts they are telling just happen to be exactly what you don't want to happen. Would you rather they lie and say, "Oh, no worries. Everything will be fine!" They are supporting you by being honest, and I don't think you're being honest with yourself.

I work at a Children's Hospital and we got all the newborns that have complications or are on CPS holds. Which means, they will not release the baby to the mother. Even if the baby is not going through w/d, they drug test the baby and parent regardless, it's standard procedure. Drugs stay in a babies system far longer than a normal person since their organs aren't fully developed or used as much as an adult. Drugs stay about double the amount of time in a baby. Marijuana stays up to 30 days in an adult even if you rarely use. The only one you can avoid all this is be up front with your doctor. I'm only telling you this because you said yourself you want to make it right, you want to do what's best for your baby. I don't think you're a bad person, at all.  I think you do honestly love your baby, and you want to change your ways but you're just scared. I believe you, you messed up, it happens, but you have a chance to make this right. Please, for your sake, for your babies sake, tell your doctor. You won't get in trouble, but you will if you remain silent. I've seen it happen so often, and it's so tragic. We're just trying to tell you whats best for you, we're not trying to judge or hurt you.

Please keep let me know how it goes.

[torig]

Ok, Just Me.....

I am in the exact SAME predicament. I am 36 weeks pregnant, & have been on/off opiates (oxycodone) for most of this pregnancy. I tried staying on suboxone to detox, but i'm not perscribed them and the cost was killing me. I am now scared to death because i could go into labor at anytime.......... I had the same mindset as you... "oh i'll just quit 3 weeks before my due date and i'll be ok as far as withdrawls go"

well, now i'm coming to REALITY and know that it just isn't that simple. Today is my 2nd day without anything at all. And this is just my choice of how to get off them. I hope & pray my baby continues to stay healthy throughout these next few days, i know they will be hard on him and me, but what's a girl to do with so little time left???

just know i can relate... completely. these people aren't trying to judge us, just being practical & opening our eyes to reality.