occassional use, worried now

Hi. I am in my 37th week of pregnancy. My son is almost 7lbs., and doctors say he is healthy. I was taking oxicodone before I found out I was pregnant, then quit immediately. I did have withdrawal symptoms, but everything seemed to work out. During the end of my 7th month I began taking less than 120 mg per week. I quit them again in my 36th week. I experienced no withdrawal symptoms this time, perhaps because I wasn't taking them every day of the week. My c section is coming up in another week and a half. I am very worried that my baby may experience some form of withdrawal symptoms even though I did not. If I could turn back time and be stronger, I would. I hate myself for my lack of willpower. Nothing is more important to me than doing the right thing, right now. Since he seems healthy, what are the chances of him experiencing any withdrawal symptoms? Is there anything I can to make sure he doesn't? Since it has been a week since I have taken anything, I'm not sure if he is suffering at all. He moves a lot, and I feel pretty good. Again, I hate myself for this and just want to make it all up to him. Thank anyone for any advice they may have.

[Ashelen]

There's really no way to tell if he'll have withdrawal symptoms or not...they recommend that you stop taking any sort of medication (especially opiates) around the 34th wk so that it has time to clear out of your system before delivery. But that's for prescription meds....were the oxicodones prescribed to you with your doctor's knowledge? You may have to simply go to him and admit what you did and see what he says....he needs to know that there may be the potential for withdrawals in the baby so he can monitor him and make sure nothing happens. The baby's system breaks medicine down much more slowly than yours, so it's possible that it's still in his system right now....I don't know but I think you should probably talk to your doctor. I'm sure you know you should only take medicine prescribed by your OB during pregnancy....but part of the reason is because then the doctor will know what to look for at birth. Good luck....I wouldn't worry too much, but I also wouldn't hide it from my OB if I were you, just to be on the safe side.

[melimeli]

you need to tell your dr. so that he can be monitored after birth.. if you want to do right by him now that is what you need to do..  Also the best way you can make up what you did to your baby is to stay clean after birth.. he needs a mother who is present and not numbed by opiates... please get help for the sake of your son.. the emotional damage you could do to him is much greater than the physical damage you may have done...