I'm a opiate addict and i found out i'm pregnant

[Dr.Death]

Hello, I just found out yesterday that i'm pregnant don't know how far along but I'm an Opiate addict only one thing I take vicodin with Ativan (anti-anxiety drug) to get a good high, I don't know what to do can this make my body abort the fetus? If so what should I do I'm scared I dont really have the finances for a baby and i'm not married but I don't want to do something bad.

[fishmeal]

I agree with anything anybody had to say about coming clean with all the dox in your life especially your baby doc!

[lashamummyof2]

Hi -
I just had a baby three weeks ago and was on narcotics the whole way through. I was monitored by my doctors as I needed to take them. Before I knew, I took more than I should have, but once I knew (three weeks in), I tried to take as little as possible (back prob, then I fell down a flight of stairs and broke my tailbone at 20 weeks). To make a long story short, do not go cold turkey - taper, but you need to tell your doctor. I took smaller amounts towards the end (like 1/2 of a tylenol 3 in the am and 1/2 at night), but I did take them all the way through. I did not drink, and I kept a very healthy lifestlye and had Ob visits regularily.
Ativan, you may need to get off, but TALK TO YOUR DOC. The chances of defects are slim even though it is an X, but you need information. my friend is giving birth on monday and has been on atvan the whole pregnancy b/c of anxiety and her asthma. Her doc prescribed a low dose...but like anything, the higher the dose, the higher the risk.  Narcotics (hydro, codeine, etc) do not cause birth defects, but there is a chance that babies can be addicted if you take high amounts.
My baby was born in perfect shape with zero withdrawals. I told the hospital about what i took and they were not concerned. My baby is totally fine and was breastfeeding moments after birth...not much crying and a relaxed disposition, not to mention extremely healthy!
I just wantd to ease your mind if you are freaked out about taking narcotics early on.
mom2archie is right about getting help if you are taking stuff just to get high - your baby most likely now will be born fine, but after the baby comes -if it's your first and you're not acustomed to the craziness of a newborn - your life will be more stressful and it can escalate.

please try to get some pre-natal care. the meds you've taken probably have not harmed the fetus, but you need to take care of yourself and at least get professional help and correct info.
best of luck with your baby!

[mom2rachie]

Maybe she is just using that name because she feels like she is harming her baby by taking those meds.  At least I hope that's why.  

[peekawho]

I'm still waiting to hear if she wants the pregnancy or not.  The username is not terribly...pleasant, is it?

[mom2rachie]

Please go to your local planned parenthood or contact the state.  There are programs for women without insurance or money to help them have a healthy and successful pregnancy!
Again, good luck and God bless...

[mom2rachie]

FIRST OFF, you need to decide if you want this pregnancy.  If you DO, then you need to tak to your ob/gyn.  Narvotic pain killers are often and sfely prescribed for pregnant woemn in a lot of situations.  I had it prescribed to me.  I weaned off 2 months before my daughter was born and she was and is extremely healthy.  That having been said, if you do not talk to your dr and you go on like this throughout the pregnancy and your baby is born addicted, although they CAN help it along, the baby will suffer a poor sucking reflex, excessive crying, vomitting, inability to sleep etc.  and they WILL know what it's from and they might intervene.
Do not go c/t, you will put too much stress on your body.  You need to be as steady and stable and healthy as possible for this child if you want to have it.
Talk to your dr.  I might be mistaken but although pain killers are considered cat C which means they aren't known to have any real side effects, ativan is cat X, which means there are known side effects.  That is the one you should concentrate on stopping first.  
You can go to safefetus.com to see what drugs are safe and not safe.
IMPO, I believe talking to your dr and tapering down is your best bet.  Also, you need to get into some sort of therapy and a program is you are taking it just for the high because your life wil only become A LOT more stressful and harder to deal with AFTER the baby is born and that baby needs a mother who can protect it and care for it drug free.  Pregnancy is the easy part.
I wish you luck!!
      

[lurker]

Fladdict is correct - cold turkey will not be good for the baby but will likely not cause  you to miscarry - you need to get help.  You can safely take narcotics during pregnancy and the baby is given a morphine taper at birth, should you chose that route.  Free advice is available at any planned parenthood, and they advocate choice so you should get in somewhere as soon as possible and let them know your situation.  Be sure to know the law in your state however.  There are a couple of states, Maryland is one, where a drug abusing pregnant woman can be locked up for the duration of a pregnancy to keep them clean and then they can take away your baby.  Find someone you can trust, someone who has no personal interest in your decision about this baby and get help for both of you.  Best wishes, I'll say a prayer for you.

[FLaddict]

YOU CANNOT quit cold turkey if you have a daily habit of taking these things... they will put stress on the baby...

On the other hand I kind of agree with the poster above... and I hate to impose but... do you want to have a baby??? You didn't seem sure.. If you are unsure then you should talk to someone about this.. I have been there myself so I know how hard it can be..  I got pregnant when I was 21 by a awful man who was abusive.. I made a choice and I am very happy with my decision.. I needed to talk about it though with professionals though first..

[peekawho]

Do you want to be pregnant?

[GA Guy]

You need to come clean to your pediatrician, and get into a detox and treatment program. Detoxing and going ct on your own is dangerous to yourself and the child. The ativan is especially dangerous to go ct from.

[crystallia]

I think that quitting ct could shock the fetus, so if you could taper first, that would be good. State Welfare could probobly cover pregnancy medical expenses, so look into that. I know it's a different addiction, but when I became pregnant with my first child, I smoked. I never thought I could quit that, but when I knew I had to do it for the life of someone else, it gave me the strength I needed. The way I saw it was that my baby was going to save my life as well. In this situation, I think you will need a lot of support from family and specialized groups-like narcotics anonymous or from mothers in the same situation. I'm sure there are lots of places that would like to help. Try the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery too.  I'm on my 7th day recovering from a vic addiction and this verse has helped me a lot:

Romans 5:3-5 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.

Stay hopeful and take care of yourself