Vicodon

[Momjess]

Im 5weeks pregnant and trying to quit taking vicodon in one day , will my baby be ok from me withdrawing????

[blondegurrl]

If you really wanted to and your doctor says it's ok, you could maybe detox in your second trimester as long as you have a couple days to spend in the hospital... so they can make sure you're not dehydrating and there's no fetal distress. My OB/GYN pushed me into that I've tried that and it went well... but I couldn't stand the post accute withdrawl (hot/cold flashes, sweats, weakness etc. week after withdrawl is over) and I still couldn't eat after a month and lost a lot of weight... so I went back on morphine, then to methadone until my daughter was about 9 months old. Then I switched to Suboxone and went through another pregnancy.

Suboxone would be the better choice of the 2 while pregnant.  I was on 24mg through out my last pregnancy (was on methadone with my prior pregnancy) and everything went well. I started out on 16mg, but in my last trimester I had to up my dose. Both of my daughters were born healthy, had no withdrawl or anything like that... and now are very happy, healthy and super, super smart little girls.
The hospital will keep a close eye on the baby and grade them on the COWS scale. The only sign of withdrawl that either had (and it could have even been something else) was that around the second day, they would sneeze a couple times in a row and maybe had one poop diaper that was a little runny.. but they were fine after that and developed normally.
Not to scare you, but I would maybe call your hospital of choice and find out what their protocol is for babies born to moms on meds like this. The hospital in my county will report  you to child protective services if you take methadone or suboxone while you're pregnant or if the baby tests positive/has withdrawl. I went through 2 months of hell when I had my daughter on methadone. A social worker came an hour after she was born and made me have my husband sign her out of the hospital when we were discharged, I wasn't allowed to be alone with her until they finished their investigation. They did a weekly home visit, spoke with my methadone clinic and counselor every week, the baby's (and my other kids) pediatrician... and after 2 months they sent me a letter stating that they had no reason to open a case on me so they were closing their investigation. It was by far the worst 2 months of my life! I swear I cried the entire time ... it was just so unbelievably DEVASTATING! I'm trying to enjoy my baby, but I always had this constant fear of CPS lurking around and breathing down my neck. Obviously, my husband couldn't stay hoome from work every day... So, I was living inf ear of them showing up at the wrong time. With daughter #2 - I made sure to call around to the other county hospitals so I wouldn't have to go through this again. Most hospitals are "with it" now and won't report you if you're on a maintenance program... only if you test positive for illicit drugs, but it's better to be safe.

Good luck!

[Julia M Aharonov, DO]

Ok, you got to get control of this situation and quick. First, you must realize that you are not the only one in this predicament. We get this question on this forum over and over again from wonderful caring women who want to have healthy babies. Second, you must talk to your OB/GYN. He will not  though you in jail, everything you tell him is confidential and he is there to help you and your baby. Ob/GYNs treat many women in exactly the same situation and will be able to refer you to a physician who will be able to manage you on Suboxone or Subutex if you need it.  It sounds that your dependence is not too severe and you may be able to slowly taper it yourself.  The baby will safely "detox" with you and you should not be concerned.  As long as you are not on any narcotics soon, the baby should be born healthy and not in withdrawals. You and the doctor will need to work together to aggressively get you off the meds so by the time you are ready to deliver the baby. If you can not tolerate the 'cold turkey',  Subutex is the best and safest way to manage addiction during pregnancy.  It allows you to taper yourself safely and quickly off narcotics with minimal withdrawals. Hopefully before your third trimester you will be drug free and happily looking forward to a birth a healthy baby.  You need to quit smoking as well, (if you do) because it leads to decreased baby weight and higher incidence of early labor.
Suboxone and Subutex are both commonly used medication to help pregnant addicts stop using and have been found safe to use in pregnancy to help mom stop her addiction.  It is certainly far safer than continuing to use the narcotics.  Please see you doctor ASAP.   Good luck to you and your baby.