Birth-mom cocaine/alcohol user

[Sandra]

Hi everyone.We are in the process of adopting a 7 week old who tested positive for cocaine at birth. No withdrawal symptoms and they have no idea how much the birth mom drank during pregnancy..
3 previous children all seem to be developing normally. She has used herion occasionally in the past. What do we need to know and look for in this child's development. We have had some say the baby could have ADD or behavioural problems later. Does anyone know for sure what to expect?

[shawn1212]

A related discussion, Drug Intervention Idaho was started.

[sammy]

I am in the process of asopting a seven year old who's birth mother also used drugs and alchol during the pregnancy.  My little boy is extremely intellegent and athletic.  He is in therapy for some problems, but they are due to being moved around so much in the foster care system from a very young age. I have read atricles that state that recent studies have been done on "coccaine affected" babies that have shown that there doesn't seem to be a strong of a link between cocaine use during pregnancy and children with learning problems (such as ADHD and ADD).  Enjoy your little angel!!!!!

[kelli]

Sandra - I couldnt help but notice the question that you had posted. I myself was adopted, and I was raised by a wonderful set of parents. The reason I write to you is because I also was raised with a sister that was adopted. She was not as lucky as I was. We have learned after many hard years of struggling with my sister that her birth mother did either drugs or drank during her pregnancy. Then again she may have been doing both. Please know that I dont write to you to discourage you from adoption, but I encourage you to really think about what it is that you will be taking on when you adopt a child that has been exposed to substance abuse. Do you have other children already??? Think about how a child like this will change there lives....Like I mentioned before my sister wasnt so lucky she had a lot of problems.....And nobody knew how to deal with her or help her. And as a consequence everyone in my family has paid a very high price. If you would like to talk I would be more than happy to share with you what I went through having a sister that had so many problems.

Again I cant stress enough that I have nothing but respect for you, and your willingness to take a child into your home. I wish you nothing but the best of luck.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Dear Sandra,

There really is no way of knowing what, if anything, will occur. Not all children who are born to women who abused alcohol or drugs suffers developmental or other problems. Is the risk higher? Definitely. But the child may develop fine. I would track her development carefully, as you would with any child, and be sure the health care providers are appraised of the pre-natal history.