Answers ASAP on Addiction while pregnant!!

[ashalina]

Hey everyone If someone could PLEASE help me with the questions I have! So I am about 23 weeks pregnant now and I have an addiction to percocets, It started when I got in2 an accident and I was prescribed them, when I was done with the script, I had gotten more from friends, street etc, and took long enough to actually see how i was without it. I didnt mean to get addicted and I wish so much that I never would have =( Now I didnt find out I was pregnant till the begging of my 2nd trimester and I told my obgyn as soon as I had my 1st appt with him. At that time I had heard from friends 2 wien myself off my taking suboxene , so thats what I did, I bought those of the street and was told how 2 do it by somebody who has actually been 2 a rehap b4 so i figured it would def have helped me, but when i finally got off the suboxene and weined myself off about 2 weeks later, I still felt like wen they wore off I was feeling just miserable & body was achin n withdrawls were back , so i gave in again! My doctor in the meantime knew  everything because i was completely honest w him and he had made me an appt with a psychiatrist or therapist? one of those, well i waited 2weeks 4 the appt and waited 2 hrs in the waiting room, 2 get there to have the lady tell me she doesn't even see or treat preggo women!! All I could do is cry! I tried 2 explain to her bout the suboxen n she was just saying there was nothing she could do! So i got some numbers for the methadone clinic and other places that help ppl who r addicted but yet again noone will help a pregnant women, So I told my doctor and he was still trying 2 figure out what 2 do. In the meantime he still knows what I am going through. Not to mention I do not get a script so I have 2 constantly get the percocets and be in the fear of knowing Idk what could happen to my baby, this baby is going to be my world and all I want is to be off and have a health baby!  At this point I feel like i am lost and stuck I feel like I have no options??? Can somebody please give me any advice or any information that they know of ! I am so scared !! Thank You so much!!!

[Mom4Peace]

Hi GMcp
Thank you for sharing your experiences with addiction. Addiction definitely affects the fetus in utero and out of utero.
Have you read the laws concerning addiction and pregnancy?  
What does the law say?
Currently there is only one state, South Carolina, that holds prenatal substance abuse as a criminal act of child abuse and neglect. Other states have laws that address prenatal substance abuse:

Iowa, Minnesota, and North Dakota's health care providers are required to test for and report prenatal drug exposure. Virginia health care providers are only required to test.
Arizona, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Utah, and Rhode Island's health care providers are required to report prenatal drug exposure. Reporting and testing can be evidence used in child welfare proceedings.
Some states consider prenatal substance abuse as part of their child welfare laws. Therefore prenatal drug exposure can provide grounds for terminating parental rights because of child abuse or neglect. These states include: Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Some states have policies that enforce admission to an inpatient treatment program for pregnant women who use drugs. These states include: Minnesota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
In 2004, Texas made it a felony to smoke marijuana while pregnant, resulting in a prison sentence of 2-20 years.
How can I get help?
You can get help from counseling, support groups, and treatment programs. Popular groups include the 12 step program. Numbers that can help you locate a treatment center include:

National Drug Help Hotline [phone]
National Alcohol and Drug Dependence Hopeline 1-800-622-2255

[Mom4Peace]

Hello, and sorry to hear about your predicament. From what I have experienced working on a maternity unit, you will definitely have a situation dealing with social workers and your addiction will complicate you getting custody while still addicted. Being honest here.
What do you think the drugs are doing to your fetus? Being realistic here.
You cannot stop taking a drug abruptly. You need to start detoxing at a HOSPITAL where they can monitor the fetal heart.
Listen up....my cousin was addicted to methadone back in '76 and had to stay in the hospital and start detoxing for a month or more before the baby was born. The baby still went through withdrawal after birth, but with less drugs in her mother's system.
You need to bebopen and honest if you want to have a live birth and survive.

[GMcp]

ya your right im sorry

[vicki595]

GM--   The standard of care may be different in Canada,I don't know. But,the fact is: it's dangerous to the fetus for the mother to abruptly stop. She can taper but she needs to do it under a doctor's care,we cannot tell her how to do that.  Many times,doctors will keep
a woman on low dose opiates because it keeps her body stable. Once she begins withdrawl,even from a taper,it stresses the fetus and that fetus feels everything and may go into shock.

You have no way of knowing whether that fetus is going to be okay or not. Come on now...

[GMcp]

if you are not going to quit ct and you are not trying to taper or save your babys life that could be y no ones helping you....just a thought

here where im from if you are pregnant while addicted to this ****, they hospitalize you as long as needed !

your baby is not going to be ok

[vicki595]

I think your best bet here is to stay with your OB and have him/her support you through this. It's actually much safer to stay on a small amount than to taper or abruptly withdraw.
Talk it over with him. He's all you've got. Also,Suboxone is a very powerful opiate. That's why it helps withdrawl so much.

Be assured,if your OB knows everything,there's no way anyone is going to take your baby. It's when you don't tell the truth that the problems arise. Give the doctor a call today and talk this through.

How many are you currently taking?