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methadone maintenance program n pregnancy

Hello, I am looking for someone who is or has been in a methadone maintenance program while pregnant.  I've clean and sober for awhile now but I'm still on methadone and now that I'm pregnant I can't get off of it. Just looking for some positive or useful knowledge.  Thanks!
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I'm struggling to keep my methadone down  because I am having  morning sickness all day long. Please help I'm  really  scared.  I have my first doctors appointment tomorrow. Thanks!
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♡ thanks to all of you for your comments.  Congratulations and best of luck to you all!
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Hi moms. All of you are right! Breastfeeding DOES help. Our neonatologists definitely recommend breastfeeding for all babies. And yes, all the books and research do conclude that there is no correlation between dose and withdrawal. I can only speak from personal experience with these babies and families. And yes, your clinic will probably increase your dose during pregnancy to cover your increase in blood volume and weight gain. Yes, the baby does feel it when you start to feel withdrawals so don't stress about increasing your dose of you need it. You are doing the best for your kiddos by staying sober and taking good care of yourselves! I do hope that all of you have amazing pregnancies and super healthy babies!
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Don't worry about your dose. I was at 120mg with my first and she didn't withdraw at all. That's also the first time I've heard about a higher dose effecting it differently. Also while your pregnant they might increase your dose because your baby is getting some of it as well which might start your withdrawals again. I didn't want to have to increase with this one because I was also afraid that higher dose meant higher chance of withdrawals but my doctor said it wouldn't affect any differently so now I'm up to 180mg it wasn't really what I wanted but I began withdrawing pretty badly when I got pregnant. If you need anyone to talk to who's in the same boat as you I would gladly share some advice seeing as I've been through it before and I've doing it again. :)
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Oh yeah, and you might have to increase your dose in the last trimester since baby might absorb some of the medication from you. Don't feel bad about this! Remember, if you're feeling dope sick, so is the baby.
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Breastfeeding is recommended... Visit the website pregnancyandmethadone ******* or something like that... Not sure of the address exactly because I'm not in front of my computer... It has information that might be helpful.

My nurse at the clinic said she had a patient on over 100mg and baby got to go home with them. Stressing out isn't going to help with anything... You're not a bad mom... Don't beat yourself up.. You've got this:) You're clean and doing what's best for you and your baby.

Don't try to taper or stop dosing, that could be harmful to your baby. It'll be okay, i promise. I still give in to shame and guilt every now and then, but it just makes things worse. Feel free to message me if you want to.
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Omg I'm freaking out my dose is so high but it is the only does that keeps me from doing through wd. I feel like a bad Mon already and can't imagine my baby having to suffer because of me.  Does breastfeeding help or hurt?  I'm so scared!
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Jaynie, that's the first time I've heard that there it's a correlation between dose amount and withdrawals. My nurse and counselor at my clinic say there is no correlation, my OB says no correlation, and the research I've done says no correlation. I'm not doubting you based on your credentials, in fact I would love for you to be right since I'm only on a measly 7mg and the thought of my baby having to be treated makes me feel awful... I'm just surprised since this is the first time I've heard that claim from someone in the medical field. I hope you're right!
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♡ thank you all so very much. I really need to hear/read this today. I've been beating myself up for having to be on methadone and already feel like I'm a bad mom. I know it's the healthier and a safer medication for my current situation. I live in MO and yes children's services will be notified however as long as I continue to do everything I have been with my treatment and my pregnancy everything should be fine. I'm just so scared I won't be able to bring my baby home when I come home.  I know not to stress but it hard. Thanks! ♡ Congratulations to you all and rock on all you sober women!
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Avatar universal
Hi there. I'm a NICU nurse in texas. Congratulations on being clean and sober! Unfortunately, we do see a lot of babies in our hospital that need to be weaned off methadone. Some babies go home with mom just fine on day 2 or 3. Others have had to stay for 6 weeks or longer. It's very tough on those babies and the families. I definitely recommend being on the lowest dose you can handle. In my 11 years experience at the bedside, there is a definite correlation between dose and withdrawal symptoms in baby. We treat our babies with phenobarbital for seizure control and morphine for withdrawal symptoms. The morphine is the one that we wean down every 2 to 3 days depending on baby's tolerance. They then go home on phenobarbital and their private pediatrician weans them slowly off that. I'm not sure what meds other states use. You might ask your O/B what your hospital uses. But, like I said, some babies show no withdrawal symptoms and go home just fine! I certainly hope this happens for you! Just wanted to give you a little info on what CAN happen. Feel free to private message me if you want more info.
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I have no experience with methadone but wanted to say congrats to you for being sober and strong!
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Also, the dose you're on doesn't indicate if your baby will have NAS.. You could be on over 100mg and your baby will be able to go home with you, or a very low dose and your baby might have to stay to be treated. You never know until after baby is born.. Make sure you tell your doctor about your methadone. Good luck and congrats!
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Avatar universal
I'm on methadone as well, this is my first pregnancy. Depending on the state you live in and the hospitals policy where you deliver, CPS might get called because you're on methadone... But as long as you're clean and doing everything right they probably won't even follow up with a report... Just a heads up.
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Avatar universal
Hi, I am on methadone maintenance I was with my first child and now I'm pregnant again and will be with this one. They strongly recommend that you continue the program while pregnant. It will not harm the baby, in fact trying to quit can put too much stress on your body and even cause miscarriage. The only Downfall Is That When The Baby Is Born they Could Potentially Have To Wean him/Her Off The Methadone So The Baby Would Stay In The Hospital For About A Week To detox. My first however came out perfectly healthy happy and ready to go home she's the perfect child. Don't worry about it you are doing the right thing. Congratulations on neon sober I'm right there with ya. Goodluck on your pregnancy.
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