Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

pregnant on methadone

I am pregnant with my 4th child and I'm on Methadone this is my 2nd pregnancy on Methadone my 1st pregnancy was ok on it however when I delivered my daughter didn't have any withdrawals but the doctor insisted I breastfeed after 2 weeks of breastfeeding my baby wouldn't latch good so I went to formula and 3 days later she had withdrawals so bad she was in ICU for 2 weeks being detoxed with opium. If I wouldn't have breast fed she wouldn't have had withdrawals. I've heard of some babies on Methadone having withdrawals though after delivery without being breastfed. How often do withdrawals happen in a baby? Should I be worried? Obviously I will not breast feed this time but I'm really scared I was detoxing 2 mg a week before I got pregnant but I had to stop when I found out I was pregnant I have a really good doctor who is a Methadone doc and my OBGYN but he is so busy I can't always ask him questions when I want. Please help I'm really scared of my baby having withdrawals again it was horrible seeing my child in agony I don't want to go through it again. I was on the depo when I got pregnant because I didn't want another baby till I was off Methadone but the depo didn't work so now I'm stuck worrying myself crazy that my baby is going to withdrawal like my last one did when she shouldn't have thank you in advance.
2 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
1684282 tn?1614701284
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
If you give birth to a baby while still on methadone, baby will go into withdrawal a few days after delivery if you do not breastfeed because of methadone level falling in his or her bloodstream. Breastfeeding while on methadone has been done, but there have been reported cases of respiratory arrests and deaths in infants while breastfeeding from mothers taking pure opiate agonist such as methadone.  There are better ways of approaching your situation.
I do hope that this time around you will have good, caring thoughtful doctors and medical team to provide you with better advice. If you are not sure, please feel free to check in with us here.   You must talk to your OB/GYN. if you don't have one, find one.  A midwife group is maybe even better.  They treat many women on methadone and other opiates and will be able to refer you to a physician who will be able to manage you on Suboxone or Subutex and will over a few months taper you off. You and the doctor will need to work together to aggressively get you off the meds by the time you are ready to deliver the baby.  Subutex is the best and safest way to manage addiction during pregnancy.  It allows you to taper yourself (and the baby) safely and quickly off narcotics with minimal withdrawals.
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 the methadone. In case you are unable to wean completely off the Subutex or Suboxone, there have been numerous documented cases of babies delivered and nursed by moms on low doses of either medication without respiratory depression or deaths reported in babies. If you want to know more about these medication you can check them out on my website at http://www.mdsdrugdetox.com/rapid-suboxone-detox/  Please see you doctor or midwife ASAP.   Good luck to you. I do wish you all the best and may this new baby bring you new-found joy and health.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm also on methadone this is my third pregnancy. But first time on it I'm scared of what's gonna happen to my baby what was the withdraws like for your lil one an how long did it last.
Helpful - 0

You are reading content posted in the Addiction Forum

Popular Resources
Is treating glaucoma with marijuana all hype, or can hemp actually help?
If you think marijuana has no ill effects on your health, this article from Missouri Medicine may make you think again.
Julia Aharonov, DO, reveals the quickest way to beat drug withdrawal.
Tricks to help you quit for good.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.