28 weeks pregnant & doing hydrocodone

[1scaredmommasfriend]

My best friend has been pregnant for 28 weeks and has been taking hydrocodone illegally for the entire pregnancy. Shes been struggling to stop and she's cut down to a half a day because she's trying to quit. I keep urging her to stop and I just recently found outthey drug test newborns in arkansas. Is this all newborns? Will it be in the babies system of she stops now? will they take her baby from her? I would hate to see that happen to her. Please answer ASAP. We are both stressing out and I know she doesn't need to be. (Oh and her baby is completly healthy and everything has been fine the entire time)

[Julia M Aharonov, DO]

Every state has different regulation and it may vary from hospital to hospital. It can also depend on your OB/midwife. What they do can very much depend on the mother, if she got regular and early prenatal care, was cooperative and followed all  instructions;  presented  as a caring and cared for mother to be, then there may not be any reason for them to test her. However if she or those around her send out warning signals with their presentation, dress or behavior, her health provider can very well test your baby's meconium (poop) without her consent. They can not test the woman without her express consent and knowledge.
You should be aware that baby's meconium will show every drug the pregnant woman has used from the 20th week of pregnancy.
But you  should relax they do not just take babies away from their mothers unless there are major indicators for doing so. If she behaves in a measured, reasonable manner, dresses appropriately, shows that you are taking care of herself, thus of the baby, I'm sure everything will be fine.
Please read read my blog on pregnancy and addiction by clicking on my name in blue and than "blogs". I do hope this pregnancy will have a very happy ending. Good luck and my best wishes.

[1scaredmommasfriend]

I couldn't find the pregnancy blog. Do you know about arkansas? She takes care of herself and looks like a regular person. She has a good home for the baby. I just wasn't sure if they drug test all babies or not? And her doctor hasn't told her she has failed drug tests so I'm assuming they haven't drug tested her?