Suboxone & Pregnancy

[kn0ll13]

My wife is 7 months pregnant. And is curently taking suboxone for opoid dependence. She cannot get off of them. What Risks are there for our unborn child, and also will he need to go through an opoid withdrawl when he is born? She is a wonderful mother and the suboxone saved her life.

[JadedSweetheart]

I'm really surprised the methadone clinic will not take you.  Have you told them that you're pregnant?  They are supposed to take pregnant women right away.  That is really strange.  
I'm not judging you for taking suboxone.  It is better than taking the other things in excess when you don't need them.  
Have you tried calling a doctor's office to see if they can get you in and prescribe methadone or suboxone for you?  
One thing you may want to do is post in the Substance Abuse forum.  They know a lot about methadone and suboxone and how to get help.  From what I have seen they can be a little overboard about not taking either one while you're pregnant, but if it keeps you from taking other meds, then there is nothing wrong with it.  
No matter what, you should stop cold turkey, it could hurt the baby.  
I wish you the best in finding a doctor and getting into the methadone clinic, I don't understand why on earth they would make a pregnant woman wait for treatment.

[LivsMami908]

Thanks to everyone for all opinions now see the thing is Dyfs is in my life because i was taking one of my suboxone's and it dropped and my daughter grabbed it and put it in her mouth NO she did not swallow it i screamed and she spit it out i took her to the hospital cause i was panicked and this was the beginning of my nightmare yes she was fine thank god! and no honestly i don't have a prescription for it thats why they are involved but i really don't think methadone is the answer and also called the methadone clinic and they told me they cant see me cause i am not on herion and they are still trying to get around things and trying to get me in there! what is this i know i am not right by taking suboxone while pregnant or without a prescription but its better than taking pain medication and thats why i am on suboxone cause i had a problem with oxycottin and pecocets! i dont know anymore i am honestly confused please no negative comments i know there has been nothing but nice people here but i dont know how people are going to see me now that everyone knows the full story regardless i am not a bad person i still have my daughter and they have came in my house and investigated the only problem they have are the suboxone!

[JadedSweetheart]

I'm really sorry you're going through this, Stephanie.  I know none of us want the government in our business no matter what.  It's even worse when they may have some power over your children and your unborn child.  
Please explain to them that you are doing the right thing for yourself and baby by taking the low dose of subutex.  That you're not abusing any prescription pills, and they can kindly step out of your life now, thank you.  You are also doing the right thing for yourself and your baby by reaching out to these forums for help.  An abuser wouldn't care about the difference between subutex and methadone, they would only care if it would give them euphoria.  
No matter what don't let them take you off them all together.  That would send you into withdrawls and cause you to lose the baby.
I wish you all the best, hun.  I'm with Sarajmt.  We need to keep the government out of our healthcare.  I know your baby will be born healthy as long as you stick to your doctor's orders.  It will all be ok.

[mellie4]

DCF can be a nightmare.  I actually got them involved on a voluntary basis to try to get my son counseling and in hindsight it's been a mistake.  They do think they have the right to dictate certain things.  They wanted me to sign a release so they could talk to the people at my pain clinic.  I said absolutely not.  They have also made some veiled threats which I called them on.  I think I would have handled this much differently if I was younger or uneducated.  But the fact that I'm 48, educated, and knowledgeable, made it easier for me to draw the line with them.

They can provide great services but their tactics aren't always ethical, in my opinion.  In hindsight, I wish I hadn't involved them.  But with no health insurance and all the stuff going on with my ex, I felt like some of the kids really needed some counseling and I just couldn't afford it out-of-pocket.  I will say the counselor's they've provided are excellent.

I don't have much knowledge about medications when you're pregnant. I do know, at least from what I've read, suboxone and methadone both can be very difficult to get off.  I agree with others that you should check out the substance abuse forum as they have so much information about tapering off meds and withdrawals and things you can do to ease withdrawals.

[Sarajmt]

Good God!  Get the government out of our health care!!!!  I can't scream it loud enough.

[sandee1818]

Livsmamie908,
Why is DCF dictating what your taking. that is none of their business as long as you take your medications as prescribed. Am I missing something?
Are you taking the Suboxone for pain control or for addiction problems?
Either way as I said as long as your taking your medicine as the Doctor prescribes them to you then DCF has no control over what your taking.
Yes I have to say in my opinion you should fight this. Now I do not not know all the facts and if this is what you need to do to keep your children then I would have to say you need to fight it but at the same time keep your children.
Please get an Attorney ASAP!
You can go to legal aide in your state and they will assist you.
I would like to know more to be able to advise you better if you do not want to put it in your post your welcome to send me a private message.
I am so sorry your going thru this, that is terrible.
I know I have seen where DCF has actually lost children! In Florida there was a little girl gone for 18 months and they only knew she was missing after she was found dead!
Outrageous! There was another family that had their child taken by DCF and the foster parents lost the child and still do not know where the child is! the parents were begging the foster family to help and they refused!
So get yourself an Attorney now and get this resolved.

Also just a note to let you know using all caps is considered yelling.
While you have every right to yell we just want to help:)

[LivsMami908]

YES DYFS IS FAMILY SERVICES AND THEY ARE HORRIBLE I FEEL LIKE I AM LIVING A NIGHTMARE THEY NEED TO GO AFTER REAL PEOPLE WHO DONT TAKE CARE OF THERE KIDS NOT ME CAUSE I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION I WAS TAKING PAIN MEDICATION AND THATS WHY I AM ON THE SUBOXONE AND  THEY ARE TRYING TO PUT ME ON METHADONE NOW I AM SCARED BECAUSE I KNOW EVEN THE LADY TOLD ME THERE GOING TO PUSH ME TO START ON A HIGH DOSE AND THATS NOT WHAT I NEED I AM ONLY TAKING LESS THEN A 4MG SUBOXONE AND THEY ARE GOING TO TRY TO PUT ME ON ALMOST 25MG OF METHADONE THAT IS CRAZY BUT THIS IS ALL FOR THE PROFIT OF THE GOVERNMENT THEY DONT CARE ABOUT ME OR MY CHILD I AM SO WORRIED THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR KNOWLEDGE WITH ME I APPRECIATE IT! STEPHANIE!

[JadedSweetheart]

I honestly don't know much about the difference between subutex and methadone.  I do know both should be relatively safe if the benefits outweigh the risks.  They are both pregnancy class "C".
I would like to understand better by what you mean DYFS?  Is that some sort of governmental agency?  Also, are you taking it for pain relief or to help you come off of another med?
I took methadone for about 6 months for pain.  I became pregnant and my PM doctor told me to wean off of it.  This time when I became pregnant my doctor was willing to treat me with the medications I was already on during the pregnancy, weaning off at the end.
Please let us know how it goes.   This is a great support group for people.  I would also recommend the Substance Abuse Forum, whether you've had an issue with it in the past or not because they are very knowlegeable about these meds and weaning off of them.

[LivsMami908]

ok so i am taking suboxone and i am pregnant and unfortanatly dyfs is involved in my life and damn these people they are trying to put me on methadone they have me scheduled for the methadone clinic tomarrow and i honestly dont think that is a good idea should i fight this???? i tried to tell them about subutex cause i have read about it being better! but no they insisting methadone what should i do i am very scared!

[sandee1818]

Pain control and pregnancies need to handled by a DR.
I too have read more studies claiming that withdrawal causes miscarriage, its my understanding as told to me by a Dr that the opioids will sometimes delay birth and in the case of withdrawal it will cause miscarriage. If you would like to talk further please PM me.

[Jelliroll]

Hi, I hope you still check in here- I saw your post from a few months ago, said you were taking suboxone and due in March. How did that turn out for you? Did you take SUBOXONE ONLY the entire time? I have been on it for 6 months- and am about to wean off soon- down to 4mg-last script, but am now 7 weeks pregnant. Worried about coming off for withdrawels. It seems I have read more about withdrawels and miscarriage than adverse effects of the suboxone. I took vicodin (heavily) my whole pregnancy with my second son (hence the suboxone now) and he turned out perfectly perfect. Mostly worried about any damage so far. I will quit today if I know there is going to be problems.

looking forward to your response!

[Jeanne181]

I am also 9 months pregnant and taking suboxone. My doctor told me the baby might go through whithdrawls but Im beeter on suboxone than taking other drugs. The withdrawls won't be as bad as methadone or any other drug, Just make sure you tell your doctors and nurses in the delivery room because they will have to have oxygen ready. I'll let you know if I have any problems. My due date is March 24. Good Luck!