what can happen if he gets me pregnant while in methadone tr

trueheartedlover · Newbie Joined: 03 Dec 2006 Posts: 3

hi all
i am in a seriouse relationship that i know for a fact is moving to the next level . we talk about having kids allt he time and i lovwe the idea of it because i am a very big family person.. my question is what can happen to the unborn child because my BF has been in a methadone treatment for a year now can it harm the baby when we do concieve i dont want to bring a child in to the worl that will suffer so please help me i have tryed searching for answers every where and never get them..
sincerly
trueheartedlover

Asia · Newbie Joined: 12 Dec 2006 Posts: 1

Okay! Bad New's..... Crying or Very sad

I have been on Methadone for almost 17 year's. I have had 2 babies during this time and I must say that it caused a huge amount of needless suffering for them during my pregnancy's and after they were born. Your unborn baby will get at least half of whatever drug you are doing or are prescribed, so while I was pregnant I had to have an even larger amount of Methadone daily as I would start feeling some withdrawl symtoms due to the pregnancy. Both of my babies were born addicted, it was just horrible. They have to be placed in the NICU to be under 24-hour withdrawl watch where they are given Phenobarb. to combat the hurt of no longer getting the methadone. Which all in it's own started it's own battle with them as they had no appitite and were not gaining weight as they should have been. They were uncomfortable, and it was obvious on sight. Only the few hours immediately after they would get their phenobarb. would they seem "comfortable". Now... I know that you have probably have heard some people say that they have had a baby(s) while being on a addictive drug and their babies had NO problems, or that they never needed any help in the hospital. Well, I do believe that it depends greatly on what your addicted too and the amount, but if you must have a baby now PLEASE get to as low of a miligram as you can because chances are if you start having withdrawl symtoms while pregnant, they will increase your amount as DR.s wont want you going into premature labor, having blood pressure problems, lack of appetite, etc. At least that is how it is with Mom's on Methadone. Bottom line, it's really a very selfish thing to get pregnant while knowing the type of start your more than likely offering your unborn baby. After my first, and seeing all he went through, I swore I would'nt have another one if I couldn't get to a safer lower dose, however accidents do happen...ooops Rolling Eyes

Jack, my son and Laken my daughter, are doing wonderful now, but it's with me daily how they suffered needlessly because of the Methadone. But, I, like yourself wanted to be a Mom. Just make sure you get as much info. as you can on pregnancy and Methadone, and go to your local hospital and ask if you can see what a baby in the NICU has to go through that's addicted, and tell them why your asking, the NICU nurses are a plethra of knowlage and could answer all your questions. I hope whatever you decide everything works out for the best. And I can't sress this enough...RESEARCH...methadone addicted babies, pregnancy and methadone, etc. Good luck, I'm available to talk on the subject of Methadone anytime should you need answer's.
Take Care
Asia Very Happy

Julie Broker · Newbie Joined: 01 Oct 2007 Posts: 1

Detox first. If not, you're going to be in my shoes. I accidentally got pregnant while on MMT, and believe me, I would have rather had anything else happen. The thought of having an addicted baby disgusted me, as did the idea of the rotten social services people being in the hospital for the delivery! That would be most humiliating to you, wouldn't it? Having to prove to total strangers that you can care for your baby? I am lucky, though. I started methadone at 80 mgs, and quickly realized that no one on earth needs a dose that high, unless you WANT to feel it. By the time I got pregnant, I was at 35 mgs. I'm now at 29 mgs, going to 26 tomorrow. Most people who say you can't detox pregnant are coming from the standpoint that you will start dope again as soon as you are off meth! Gotta love stereotypes! Also, unless you are at a high dose, your withdrawl will not totally suck, because most likely you will feel like crap anyway from first trimester (often the worst), and any minor withdrawls won't even register on your radar. A couple mgs per week won't kill you, neither will some discomfort! For me, it was detox or abort, and i'm about 6 weeks pregnant, detox done by 15 weeks, before the baby is big enough to start "taking" your dose (which I heard really happens because the docs, once again deciding what is in YOUR best interest FOR YOU, tell you to detox in second trimester to avoid miscarriage.) I think it would be better to miscarry trying than to bring a baby into the world to suffer withdrawl as a first life experience. Basically, my situation sucks because I can trust NO ONE, as the clinic will try and block my detox (they think I just want to get off), and they could call social services, as could any doctors I would see for prenatal care. I must get my own vitamins, and fake ectopic pregnancy symptoms to get seen by an ER doc at various hospitals who won't drug test me. It is very scary and very LONELY, no one to confide in who has medical knowledge, basically it is a crap shoot for me. My advice? WAIT WAIT WAIT! In detox you will deal with anxiety that you never dealt with before-meth detox plus pregnancy hormones! You should also be CLEAN from dope and coke (and obviously the others) for over a year before even considering a detox, as you will need your mental strength to be able to calm yourself down! And another thing, why the rush to have a baby? One thing I would have wished for (i have a four year old daughter, I am 24) was more time with my husband as a couple, because kids change everything, and most relationships CANNOT stand a baby, especially relationships between addicts who have all types of issues to work out. A kid can in NO WAY better your life, marriage, relationship, detox, being clean. or anything, it can only make each of these things more difficult! BUT, it is your life, and if you do get pregnant, don't buy the "safer to stay on meth" hype! After all, they get PAID to feed you meth, don't they? Why wouldn't social services want to be in your life if you give them a chance? They take children away from mothers for a living! Please get down to a low dose before getting preg, and if you can't do that, you ARE NOT READY! Then, begin a slow detox, and KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT unless you have TRUE TRUST for a doctor! (who is obliged to report you, and even though meth is legal, childrens services will crawl up your... quicker than you can spit!) Good luck to you, and please, please get a puppy instead!

what can happen if he gets me pregnant while in methadone tr

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