National Drug Help Hotline 1-800-662-4357
Information on using drugs during pregnancy and links to helpful sites:
http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14332_1169.asp
Good luck--
LMC
i don't think the blood work includes a drug screening. i asked the woman who was doing my blood work what they were testing for and everything. (i hate needles and was curious why they were draining me of all of my blood....) she went through a list of different diseases and what not but said nothing about drugs. they have to tell if you they do don't they?
i could be wrong...
i still think an anonymous phone call would be a good idea.
The sad thing is, even if she stopped cold turkey, THAT might be too much for the baby to handle in the womb......
I can't recall, but don't the doctors do some basic blood tests at the first visit anyway? Maybe a drug screen is normal (or maybe it isn't). If it were me, I would give the office a heads up and see if they can include the appropriate drug screens when drawing blood. Or even when she pees in the cup at each visit......They can detect drugs in that too, and every women has to do that at each visit.
I'm so sorry you have to sit back and watch this happen....I hope she gets some help and the baby turns out healthy, somehow.
Honestly you should call, that baby shouldnt have to go through that at all. like heatherlynn22 said, you can always make an annonymous call, ive had to do it for a freind, but it was worth it in the end.
If doctors have a reason to suspect drug use, they typically can test the mother for this (many times the mother has to sign a contract to say she can be tested if drug use is suspected when she first receives care from a doctor). The question is, will they suspect anything?
In my opinion, child abuse is not tolerable INSIDE the womb as well as outside and drug abuse can be considered abuse - not to mention it is illegal. Unfortunately, you have some very hard decisions to make. If your sister was beating her baby what would you do? The answer to that question should help you with the answer to this one.
IF the baby survives the pregnancy (drug use can lead to miscarriage) you can always make an "anonymous" phone call. if you think that the child is in danger (even in the womb) don't hesitate to call. do what's best for that baby!!! i have a cousin who (well actually we don't know what happened to the baby since she won't talk to anybody in the family now) is/was pregnant and throughout her pregnancy did meth, heroin, coke and smoke marijuana and drank alcohol. that child...if s/he survives (she also never received prenatal care or took prenatal vitamins) will have some SERIOUS problems.
you can call and tell her doctor about it i'm not sure what s/he would do but cys, cps, dcs, dcw or whatever the child services are where you live should at least look into it.