Pregnancy Among Drug Addicted Women Is An Ever-Growing Concern
At Suncoast Rehabilitation Center, we treat people addicted to drugs on a daily basis. However, there are some women who have to think about more than their own addiction. These are pregnant women suffering from this unfortunate ever-growing problem.
(Call us confidentially today, if this is your situation. (877) 850-7355)
When a pregnant woman is addicted to drugs, the baby she is carrying is also being directly affected by those drugs, and the unborn child can suffer serious consequences. This may be obvious, but how does it really work?
A baby gets nutrition from the mother by way of the umbilical cord. Anything the mother eats is broken down by her body, the nutrients and substances go from her small intestine into the blood stream, into the placenta,
then through the umbilical cord into the baby. Anything and everything the mother eats (hamburger, fries, cereal, eggs, sandwich, coke, cigarettes, alcohol, drugs) is absorbed by the baby as well.
ANYTHING the mother puts into her body is absorbed into her blood stream and is then also absorbed by the baby.
This includes any medication the mother may take: cold medication, headache medication, blood pressure medication, depression medication, etc.
Unfortunately, nature didn’t provide a filtration system to keep separate “things only for mommy” from “things only for baby.” If the mother feels really satisfied from a good meal of steak, broccoli and potatoes, the baby feels the same. If the mother gets high from pain meds, heroin, cocaine, marijuana, ecstasy, etc., the baby will also get high.
The Mother on Drugs = the Unborn Child on Drugs = Problems for the Baby. This is a devastating reality.
Just a few of several ways drugs can affect an unborn or newly born child:
This is a condition where babies are born with a drug dependency. After birth, they are now separated from the drugs their mother’s system has been feeding them – so they suffer from withdrawals.
Please keep in mind: Any drug that the mother is dependent on IS A DRUG THE UNBORN CHILD CAN BECOME DEPENDENT UPON.
The withdrawals suffered by the newborn are so heart wrenching it is hard to consider. These symptoms can include seizures, extreme discomfort, insomnia, inability to eat, and diarrhea so severe it creates sores.
Have you ever heard of babies with colic that can cry for hours on end? Well, these babies going through withdrawal can cry for days on end. A nurse who helps infants through Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome stated that these babies have a very specific wail. When you are done reading this article – including the section “What can I do?” – Please take a look at a few YouTube videos of babies going through Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome.
- Death in the womb
Any drug (prescription medications, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, etc.) has many dangerous side effects which can negatively affect both the mother and the baby. These drugs can harm the immune system, affect the brain, and cause difficulties in nutritional absorption. All of these factors can cause the child to die before he or she is born.
- Premature birth
When babies are born before their due dates they are at a higher risk for dangerous physical problems. They may suffer brain damage, breathing problems, lung damage or have digestive issues.
A TRUE STORY
A few years ago I was told a story by a mother: She was going through a difficult pregnancy and had been hospitalized for a few things and had some surgeries unrelated to the pregnancy. The doctors gave her heavy pain medications (one was Oxycodone) and told her it was safe for the baby.
The baby boy was born premature, was in and out of the hospital for the next year with seizures, incredibly high fevers, was restless and couldn’t sleep, etc. This mother wasn’t addicted; she was simply given heavy pain medications for the surgeries. They affected the baby.
Getting properly informed of the pros and cons of any prescribed treatment is extremely important during pregnancy to keep the baby safe. Additionally, mothers should always ask “what are the alternatives to traditional treatments?” There are natural supplements that are very effective and will not harm the unborn child.
- Maternal death
A mother may die before she has a chance to deliver her child due to drug overdose or side effects suffered from drug addiction.
- Complications with the placenta
These complications are called “placental abruption.” What this means is that the placenta disconnects partially or completely from the uterus. This can cause the unborn baby to die from lack of oxygen or to starve to death. It can also cause the mother to bleed heavily. If left untreated, both mother and child can die.
The above are not just listed as potential side effects of drug use while pregnant. They actually occur to women and children every day in the United States. At Suncoast we are dedicated to protecting the unborn children and the mothers carrying them from these negative effects of drug use.
I’m pregnant and I’m addicted. What can I do?
Drug addiction is extremely difficult to deal with in the best of times. As a pregnant woman, when you have the cravings, how can you get off of drugs in a safe way?
Your first step is to consult your doctor. If you need to, find a doctor you can trust with private information and who you feel will help you and your unborn child through this difficult time. Going through severe withdrawal symptoms while pregnant can be dangerous –so it is important that you are supervised.
In fact, some states require that a pregnant woman take part in an in-patient detox program so they have constant medical monitoring.
IMPORTANT: Be sure to read and understand all the literature on any drugs you are taking. Research the effects of any drug to which you are addicted, and also research any drugs you may be prescribed during your pregnancy.
Your doctor may prescribe a drug like methadone or Suboxone. I hate to break the news to you, but these drugs are as addictive (if not more so) than the drugs you may be currently taking.
Methadone and Suboxone are addictive prescription opiates designed to replace your addiction with a medically monitored dependency. If you are on these drugs when your baby is born, the new born will still likely suffer from dependency.
Often, you will need to be weaned from the drugs to which you are addicted. Quitting cold turkey during a pregnancy can be dangerous – even though it can feel like the right thing to do for your baby. Instead, it is better to participate in a monitored – preferably in-patient detox or rehab program which will wean you gradually off of the drugs.
The end result is both you and your baby are drug-free and healthy, so ensure any program in which you participate provides proper nutrition for expecting mothers along with detox.
Don’t skip rehab. After detox, you may feel that your baby is out of danger and that you are out of danger. However, addiction doesn’t “just happen.” There is a root reason behind addiction. Be sure to participate in a rehab program after you are fully drug-free. Additionally, connect with healthy pregnancy groups that will inform you on the correct types of exercise, vitamins, and diet to follow during pregnancy. These groups will serve for support during pregnancy – and may help you change your lifestyle into a healthier one.
The good news is that there IS HOPE! Dependent or addicted expecting mothers can get the right medical attention. Under proper medical supervision they can be weaned off the drugs and live drug free. There are also natural ways to treat the emotional and physical difficulties.
Remember, the child is completely different from the mother. Give him/her a chance to start off life drug-free. Give him/her an opportunity to grow up the best possible way he/she can.
If you are considering getting pregnant or are a person who could become pregnant or get another pregnant – and you are suffering from drug addiction – contact us today. We can help you get drug-free and healthy.
Refs: NutritionInTheWomb.org, American Pregnancy Association, MayoClinic.com, Interviews
