5months pregnant and taking percocets

[Kitana]

I was in a car accident a year ago that almost took my life. Since I have been on percocets.I didnt know I was pregnant and found out I was in my 3rd month. I am now 5 months and am so frightened that my baby is harmed. I tried to get myself off,but go through god awful withdrawel symptoms. I got so sick that I evene think Im doing more harm than good to my baby,because she goes nuts when I stop and get sick. Im scared to tell my doctor and am trying to get into a methadone program,because I heard methadone dont affect your baby,but there is a waiting period and was told that whatever I do in the meantime is my business,which I thought was unprofessional of them to say. Please someone tell me if im hurting my baby,and if anyone knows if it would be better to take meth than percocet. Please help!!! I am very scared!! I dont want to lose my baby!

[IBKleen]

Sammy, this post is two and a half years old and the member you are speaking to is not currently active. You can start your own post if you have a question. Best of luck to you.

[sammy455]

Hi, i am currently 8 1/2 months pregnant and due in just 6 weeks. I was a herion user prior to fidning out i was pregnant, when i found out of my pregnancy i was also very scared to tell a doctor or health care professional because i didnt want anything to happen with the baby getting taken away, But unfortunatly i couldnt quit on my own because the withdrawal symptoms were to great. I finally at 18 weeks went to a doctor and told them of my problem, i was then put on methadone, and have been on methadone ever since. There are over 20 pregnant women in the program, methadone is much safer to be on in your situation then ANYTHING ELSE!  they know what to do with the baby and know exactly how to help the baby. there has been NO KNOWN NEGATIVE affects to the child, besides withdrawal symptoms. I used until i was 18 weeks.... as long as your up front and honest about your problem you will not get in any trouble. i guarntee you keep doing percocets behind everyones back and the baby is born, without being on methadone... you will have a problem, your baby will be affected if you dont get help now... trust me i am in your situation... doing this on your own will cause more bad things to happen, your baby can miss carry or you can loose it to the state... tell your doctor right away!

[Kitana]

No, they havent checked me for anemia yet,but I do know I am anemic. I have had that problem for years,but I didnt know it could cause vaginal bleeding,and I have been bleeding alot with severe pain on my right side. I woke up this morning with a pad of blood. I almost feel as if I got my period. I am scared about this as the doctors have no clue as to why Im bleeding so bad. It feels as if it could be my ovarie. Its down in that area and tender to the touch. I go to the doctors today and hopefully she could shed some light on whats going on.Thanks again to everyone for your help and support.Keep me and my baby in your prayers.

[nursegirl6572]

Way to go!!!!  I'm sooooo glad you are getting the care that you need, and that you can be 100% open and honest with your doctor.  And congrats on the baby girl...take it easy....you've been through a lot.

Best wishes to you and your family.

[seeksolice]

I am not a medical professional, but my source was my OB- she is an addiction specialist at the research hospital I'm going to- one of the best in country.  My doctor has been frank with me the whole time- but unless I'm missing something and she's telling bold face lies, I'm not quite sure what to say.

So, that's about it. I have firsthand information from my doctor- not an article online. I'm sorry if thats not good enough- it's good enough for me though as I trust my doctor.

I, too have a friend that was addicted to Percs during her pregnancy- and for the past 6 years- She never told the doctor. Her doctor never found out. She gave birth to a healthy boy, the baby didn't have screaming fits from withdrawal, and CPS didn't rush in and snatch her baby away either.

You say you "know someone" this happened to- was she being dishonest with her doctors that whole time?? If she was...then yeah, CPS busting in is to be expected. Your baby is addicted.  But, I don't believe it- you said it for shock value. And it proved  a point.

Things vary a bit though when you seek help during pregnancy. Like I said, I will believe my OB at my hospital that actually heads the addiction department, over people on an addictions forum. Sorry.

[wannabefree330]

Way to go telling the doc.  I know it's a huge weight off of your shoulders and a burden you don't have to carry alone anymore.  Anyone in pain should not have to suffer, so I'm happy that you and the doc have come up w/a plan that works for everyone.  I hope the bleeding subsides and everything turns out okay.  Please keep us updated on your condition.  Congrats on the baby GIRL!!!

[broknbck]

oh i am so glad for you that you will not have to worry about the drugs hurting her.

so if you are bleeding like that, you are probably becoming anemic? that will make you feel that way. does your doc check your iron?

[Kitana]

No no Methadone for me. I guess I can deal with this right now. Now the only problem I got is the bleeding,and the pain that Im going through on the bottom right side of my pelvic area. I hope they find out whats wrong with me. I feel like Im dying and Im extremly lethargic and not motivated at all.But Im glad the worse part is over with.

[avisg]

ohhh hun I am sooo happy you told her ....I am so glad your baby is OK and a girl wooo hooo keep us informed so we know when you have her I am soooo happy. I take it you are not going to do the methadone right ?

[Kitana]

just wanted to keep everyone updated since I have not written in a few days. I ended up in the hospital this weekend. I started bleeding. They kept me in the hospital and did a bunch of tests on me,a nd still cant find out where Im bleeding from. I came clean with them about using percocets and you were right! The OBGYN was very understanding and it comes out that percs will not harm your baby at all,and they gave them to me while I was in the hospital,and yes, said,"I had a legitamite reason for taking them." They know how much pain Im in and with the bleeding,Im in even more pain,so much that in the hospital they had to give me a morphine shot! I got a great GYN now! She is very understanding and I will be doing my follow ups with her,and yes! it has been confirmed....IM HAVING A BABY GIRL,AND SHES VERY HEALTHY! She is big and chubby! I was amazed when I seen her on the sonogram.I thought for sure with the pain pills she would be tiny,but no!!! She'd very very healthy and very very active that she set the alarms off all night long when they were trying to moniter her!LOL!!! i AM SO GLAD THAT MY BABY HAS A CHANCE AND THAT ALL IS WELL. i WANTED TO POST THIS INCASE A NEW MOTHER WHO IS IN MY POSITION AND IS SCARED HAS THE SAME QUESTIONS,THAT i'D BE ABLE TO HELP. i WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT! And yes, its good to be honest with the doctor!Thank you!

[sadinmichigan]

I was on methadone for over a year. i went cold turkey off 65mg almost 2 yrs ago..there were many pregnant women there but they can only give you a certain amount while pregnant. I do not believe any medication is "safe" 100% for an unborn child but they do use methadone..my question to you would be..do you plan on staying on methadone for a long time? It is pretty much the strongest pain med out there. If you have to have other surgeries and so forth..your body is going to be tolerant of methadone but the pain levels are going to keep increasing. Methadone is absolute he11 to come off of. ..btw..congrats on your pregnancy and i am so sorry you have to go through all that you have had to..If you have any questions about methadone i will do my best to answer them...

[avisg]

kit i will send you some threads on methadone

[Kitana]

Well the reason I was choosing Methadone,is not only do they give it to addicts for addiction,but it is used for pain,and it doesnt affect the baby in your stomach. I thought hey, you cant go wrong with that,but if anyone has anymore information on methadone or know anyone who has tooken it before.Please let me know.

[broknbck]

The methadone route sounds so bad from what everyone on here has said. Even if it is better for the baby- which is hard to believe- what a mess you will be in afterwards. And then you will have even one more baby to take care of.

When we are trying to plan for quitting you have to look at the whole picture way far ahead. The success rate for methadone is terrible. And you will most likely still be needing something for pain after the baby is born.

[avisg]

Kit , you do need something for your pain .I know some doctors can be awful it would scare me too but Rremember you are doing nothing wrong you are trying to control your pain so absolutely don't worry about telling the doctor .If the doctor you choose is not understanding plz find one that is no doctor has the right to make you feel bad. From talking to you PM last night I know you want to best for your baby it will be ok.

[Kitana]

I am happy that you all are very well concerned,but some people are taking me out of context. So I am going to explain my situation. I was in a car accident a year ago. I have 3 metal screws in my hip,also screws in my knee cap that look like they are coming out and screws in my ankle.Plus,on top of that I have a metal rod in my femur bone,and the bones in my foot have shifted so I am in extreme pain constantly. Lets put it this way,even when I am taking my pain med, it still hurts,and sometimes severly. I also need a heart valve replaced so I am basically screwed. Before I left upstate,I asked my OB about the Hydrocodones,and he said it was fine if Im taking them the way Im suppose to. What made me sketchy about that,is that this is the same OB that prescribed me an anti depressant that states on paper that it can cause fetal damage and the same med was putting me in more pain. I would be screaming everynight in pain because of these meds he gave me. It felt like I was giving birth over and over again.So I stopped taking those,but to still have this damn pain pill problem.Well, I left upstate and My MD not and OB prescribed me perc because the hydros stop working,but I was afraid to tell him I was pregnant because I know what pain lied ahead of me,and how sick you get when you stop,because I did try to stop those too,and it is torture. Now, Im at the point where I want to find an OB,let him know whats going on,and try to get into a Methadone program. I even called the program up,and do you know what they told me? They were very inconsiderate and they said it takes time to get in the program,and that whatever I do to get pills is my business until they could help me. Now Im not a druggy that gets pills off the steet,I get a prescription and to say harsh words like that is completely unprofessional and it makes me second guess if I want them to help me.Im just a mom trying to do the best thing for my baby and not be in pain or get sick. Ive got other kids to think about and run after and its damn hard. Im not a bad mom,and I dont cop drugs off the street.But when the subject arrises and people like us look for help,we are frowned upon or degraded and in my case have to be on a waiting list and not get the help we need right away.Sometimes it takes forever to get the help.Then when our children are born addicted then they look down upon us again and it isnt fair!

[LateAugust]

It is absolutely amazing to me  when people wringe their hands  and are agast when a child born to an addict is released to the mother and harm befalls that baby,  the other end of the spectrum is oh my god  the docs or state did take an addicted baby away from an addicted mother and that mother should be given another chance.  How is this the doc or state's responsibility?  Time for a reality check,  you can read any forum or postings or web-site to condone your usage, but in your heart you have to know that informing your OB/GYN is the only true beginning to give your baby the least that she deserve, and that is beginning her life not addicted or affected by drugs.

Good luck to you, and I sincerely hope you get the best help for your baby.

[LadyGryphon]

Hey girl -
You have a moral and ethical obligation to the life that is inside of you.
Please come clean -- I am not aware of any doctor taking away any woman's baby who was taking prescription drugs.
My concern would be your continuing pregnancy and that your little one is now addicted as well.
If you are worried, contact another doctor's office in your home town and see what they say.
Again, your first obligation is to your little one.

[GoingToMakeIt]

Here in Washington state, if they know a mother has been using, they will test the baby. If the baby tests positive, it doesn't go home with the mom. Now this is according to my wife who is an RN and teaches childbirth. I can not say for sure it is state wide, but it is this way at the hospital she works at. We are not talking about Dr prescribed meds, but illegal ones.

[avisg]

here are different states stances on this subject

Unborn Victims of Violence Laws:
Prenatal use of drugs by mother
10 states define substance abuse during pregnancy as “child abuse” under civil
child-welfare statutes: AR, CO, FL, IN, MD, NV, SC, SD, TX, and WI
7 states require healthcare professionals to report suspected prenatal drug use:
AL, AZ, MA, MI, MT, OK, and UT
1 state requires healthcare professionals to test newborns for prenatal drug exposure
when there is suspicion of prenatal drug abuse: KY
1 state requires healthcare professionals to report suspected prenatal drug use and
requires healthcare professionals to test newborns for prenatal drug exposure when
there is suspicion of prenatal drug abuse: ND
2 states define substance abuse during pregnancy as “child abuse” under civil childwelfare
statutes, require healthcare professionals to report suspected prenatal drug use,
and require healthcare professional to test newborns for prenatal drug exposure when
there is suspicion of prenatal drug abuse: IA and

[nursegirl6572]

This is always a tough subject, but I think it is very unfair to say that people on this forum are giving false info, that simply isn't true.  One of the regular members here has been an OB nurse for YEARS and is very knowledgeable.  She has helped many people who have come here in a similar situation.

Kitana, I completely agree that being 100% honest with your doctor is the only way to go here...both for Mom and for baby's sake.  The information given here was not meant as a scare tactic, it is simply the facts...and at a time like this...honesty is VERY VERY important.

Being addicted during pregnancy itself is not a crime...but withholding that information from the medical team, putting the baby at risk very well COULD be a crime, and is when CYS would get involved.  Depending on usage, yes, not ALL babies will suffer withdrawal, but a LOT of babies born to Mom's using opiates regularly absolutely positively WILL suffer withdrawals....and for a newborn baby, w/d's are much much more harmful and risky than for an adult.

Kitana...you have done the hardest thing...taking that first step.  Kudos to you.  Of course you want what is best for your baby, not a soul here would think any differently.  Just be honest and open with your OB, and an appropriate plan will be put in place for you during the pregnancy.  Best of luck to you and your baby.

Take Care!!!

[broknbck]

Well there has been a lot hype going on lately with perscription dependancy and i think some doctors are getting scared.

So here is an idea. If you know of another reputable obgyn office. you could call annonymously and ask them some questions. that you are scared and do not know what to do. just have to use a public phone?

oh i am so sorry that you are in this predicament. i hope that you can try your best to not get too stressed out over it. that is not a good thing either. just maybe keep things the same until you get some real answers.

[cattalina]

sent you a PM

[cattalina]

I prefer to cite the facts that I have experienced personally rather than perpetuating online propaganda and rumor mongering.

Based on the above statement, I'm assuming this is your second pregnancy while addicted to pain killers?  If not, then you are indeed involved in "perpetuating propaganda and rumor mongering".