pregnancy

[chelly263]

I was wondering if pregnancey and methadone is dangerous? I want to get pregnant and my doctor said it was ok, but i watch dr phil and he showed new born babies that were withdrawling and suffering. what do you think?

[nervouswreck07]

hi, I actually had my son on the methadone clinic. My son is now almost 4 years old and perfect. My experience with pregnancy and the clinic was great but only if you follow everything you are suppost to do. that ,means getting dosed everyday and if you are sick and starting to withdraw to let your doctor know. You will increase your dose as your pregnancy progresses. I went all the way to 215mg. you cant be in withdrawal because that is worse for the baby. Now when your baby is born he or she will need to stay in the hospital and they will go thru withdrawals. my son actually was sent home 3 days later because he had to withdrawals but a week later was admitted cause the withdrawals showed up late. they will medicate your child with a medication that they will be on for a few months and slowly wean them off. i got pregnant and that was my reason for starting the clinic. today i want another baby in the worst way and although my experience was ok and my son has no problems and is a healthy boy who you would never know he was a methadone baby i will not get pregnant again on methadone. that is just a choice of mine. it was tough having him in the hospital. that choice is up to you. if you do everything you are suppost to chance are our baby will be fine, but they still dont know years down the road if there could be any problems from the methadone. it is the safest way if you are pregnant and an addict the methadone is obviously your number 1 thing to do. but think about it, because it can be tough on you and the baby. you will increase your dose and like i said mine was increased over 100mg which now i am paying for trying to wean off such a high dose and getting off and then hacing to see your baby in the nicu. its a safe alternative and my son is a beautiful healthy child. I wish you the best of luck and if you have any questions i have been thru it i will help in any way i can! good luck!

[Marebear74]

Hello chelly263. I am so sorry it took me a couple days to get back to you. I had my computer crash and had to get it fixed. I am very sorry! Ok, for starters i had my youngest daughter right after i started methadone. It can be dangerous if not done under a doctors care who understands methadone. Most clinics you go to that get you started on methadone understand what to do when you are preg. Please understand that methadone is better than any street drug or narcotic drug(even if perscribed by a doctor. You really should not try to detox off anything while preg. Your body will go into withdraws which in turn will put alot of stress on the baby. Some times so much, you may go into pre-term labor or the baby can go thru such severe withdraws in side of you that they could also have heart distress, along with a number of other things! Usually most doctors can better handle the babies withdraws after they are born. There is two ways that they will deal with the babies withdraws. First they will put you on a strict regimen of methadone. They will normally start you out on 30mg. then take you up 5mg. each week till you are comfortable.(no issues with withdrawing). You will stay at that dose till you give birth. Once the baby is born they will do one of two things for the babies withdraws. This first one is the one that i do not care for and the more dangerous of the two i believe. They will give the baby methadone drops till the baby is tapered down completely but they still go thru some yuckie feeling at the end. Plus the baby will need to stay in the hospital through this also. YEP! The baby does not go home with you till they are done. Then the second choice involves you breast feeding the baby. The baby will get a very small amount of methadone thru your milk, that keeps them well off. The baby does go home with you. The first two weeks i breast fed every feeding. Then the next week i only breast fed every 3rd feeding. Then the 4th week i only breast fed 2 times a day. The next week only once a day. Then the next week, only every other day, then every 3 days for the next 6 days. Then no more. Babies seem to do better that way and they get the important vitamins they need from you.If breast feeding weirds you out, then you can pump your milk. Or i have even heard people cut their milk with formula(if not producing enough breast milk) then weening them down pretty much the same way. This is the route i took with my child. If you choose to go into a methadone clinic,YOU MUST STAY CLEAN OF EVERYTHING BUT METHADONE, ok? That will cause the baby problems and if your urine comes back dirty, you could end up with a children's services case. Believe me you do not want that sweetie!!!!! The methadone program is a federally funded program, so you don't need to worry about them messing with you about drugs because you are seeking help by going to a clinic in the 1st place. I hope i helped you. if you have any more question or just want to talk get back to me ok? Keep me informed about what you choose to do. If i can help in any way, i would love to help you. Good luck to you girl and be safe! -Marebear74