I just wanted everyone to know that my granddaughter was exposed to methadone during pregnancy, and she is the most intelligent, personable little girl that is unbelievably normal. I never expected that to happen. I feared the worst. I went on websites, did research and was terrified, but all for nothing. Maybe we were lucky, I don't know. But I know her mom was a heroin addict and she was on methadone the entire pregnancy. My granddaughter is FINE. Her vocabulary mimics that of a young adult, it's like she's highly intelligent. She can speak Spanish, has a memory better than mine and is amazing. I just wanted to put this out there for grandparents that might be worried, because believe me, I did my research and look at dozens of websites trying to get that answer. It can be OK, they can be fine if they get out of that environment and are given the chance to thrive. My granddaughter is almost 3, and she is potty trained (earlier than my 3 year old granddaughter (with no drug exposure), so be rest assured, it can happen and maybe we're lucky, but I hope you find comfort with this post.
I know the last post was in may but i just wanted to respond to some of the questions and ask some too. Im 8 months pregnant and been on methadone for 9 years. My first daughter was born when i wasnt addicted to drugs and was so healthy and came home right away.its 10 years later and im pregnant with my second daughter. Im so scared about the effects of methadone on my baby.ive been on 75 mgs the whole pregnancy.i am not stable on my dose.i start withdrawling every night and it sucks but i do not want to go up higher, ijust want my serum levels low so my baby may possibly not be exposed to enough methadone to be addicted. My clinic is very leary about increasing me because im pregnant so thats why ive tried to stay on my same dose.unfortunately i still smoke ciggerettes. I smoke about a pack a day. Im extremely worried about the combined effect of ciggs and methadone on my baby. Everyone says my belly looks so small. My doc says he thinks the baby is a good size but how can he really tell just by measuring my stomach/uterus. Im afraid of being in extreme pain during labor because i know methadone blocks other pain meds from working.my first baby was a planned c section so ive never went through labor pain or contractions.im petrified. Someone PLEASE PLEASE explain their labor experience in detail. Someone on methadone who actually had to push their baby out while on methadone. How did they manage ur pain while u gave birth? Will they withhold pain meds during labor due to u being on methadone? Do u think a c section would be safer for a baby exposed to methadone in the womb? I havent taken any illegal drugs for 8 years. During my pregnancy i have taken gabapentin once in a while to ease withdrawl and help me sleep till i take my dose in the morning.i do not have a prescription and i do not take it everyday. Maybe 2 days a week.i do not want to become addicted but im worried about the gabapentin, methadone ,ciggerette combo effect on my unborn daughter. My anxiety is fricken through the roof. I just wish someone would really tell me how their labor was and not just if the doctors and nurses were nice or not. Thanku guys....
I just want to give I out on the original post, although old. I had 2 children at 2 different hospitals on methadone. The 1st on I was very upset because the nurses treated me like the scum of the earth. I made it all the way through a 37 hour induced labour without asking for any pain meds other than the epidermal I finally got 6 hours before the birth. I was on methadone after being prescribed it by a pain management dr and didn't know at the time I got pregnant that you couldn't just stop taking it when you get prego. The nurses didn't bother to loom at my history, just assumed the worst. So after laying on back and then staining to push for hours, when the epidural wore off I was dying from the pain. I asked for something g and holy hell did I get the bullsnot. One nurse started telling me I was mother now and needed to get myself clean for the baby, Yada Yada yada...I was so pissed! "Oh your fine," she said, "the hard part is over. "
WTF. My husband saw in my eyes that I was about to come off the bed and strangle her, so he stepped in and spoke up. He told her that I was NOT the the type of addict she was implying, was an excellent parent, and had been put on the methadone by a dr and told NOT to go off it after I found out I was prego. She shut right up and got me a pain shot. That was all I asked for, just the 1 was enough to relax me and help the pain enough until I could get up and finally walk around to ease the pain.
Baby #2 Now fast forward 4 years, I take a few rounds of antibiotics and they lower my birth control enough to bring me the miracle of my son. I was not thrilled to have another baby on methadone, but I am so blessed to have my son. I this time I went hospital and dr ahopping. I asked all the questions, watched their reactions, and made sure I was going somewhere that would treate like a person. It worked- this hospital was amazing. They didn't even call CPS for the "make sure everything is ok at home" interview. I ran into a rotten anesthesia dr, but the people that counted, my dr, my nurses, my baby's nurse-were fantasitic. I had a much more enjoyable stay and birth-even though it ended with an emergency c'section after his heart rate dropped very low. In fact the anesthesiologist had happened to be in the building and heard our floor calling over and over for and anesthesia dr stat & ran over to help. They did give me a narcotic pain shot for the 1st 24hours, but it honestly didn't do much- possibly from the methadone being at 100mg and blocking it. I was not given anything other than my methadone after that, (except tylenol and motrin) But I did just fine!
I highly recommend touring and asking the questions - it can be embarrassing - but hey, it's better to go somewhere that will treat you like a person when your as vulnerable as you and your baby are when that time comes. Good luck to all! Xoxo
WTF. My husband saw in my eyes that I was about to come off the bed and strangle her, so he stepped in and spoke up. He told her that I was NOT the the type of addict she was implying, was an excellent parent, and had been put on the methadone by a dr and told NOT to go off it after I found out I was prego. She shut right up and got me a pain shot. That was all I asked for, just the 1 was enough to relax me and help the pain enough until I could get up and finally walk around to ease the pain.
Baby #2 Now fast forward 4 years, I take a few rounds of antibiotics and they lower my birth control enough to bring me the miracle of my son. I was not thrilled to have another baby on methadone, but I am so blessed to have my son. I this time I went hospital and dr ahopping. I asked all the questions, watched their reactions, and made sure I was going somewhere that would treate like a person. It worked- this hospital was amazing. They didn't even call CPS for the "make sure everything is ok at home" interview. I ran into a rotten anesthesia dr, but the people that counted, my dr, my nurses, my baby's nurse-were fantasitic. I had a much more enjoyable stay and birth-even though it ended with an emergency c'section after his heart rate dropped very low. In fact the anesthesiologist had happened to be in the building and heard our floor calling over and over for and anesthesia dr stat & ran over to help. They did give me a narcotic pain shot for the 1st 24hours, but it honestly didn't do much- possibly from the methadone being at 100mg and blocking it. I was not given anything other than my methadone after that, (except tylenol and motrin) But I did just fine!
I highly recommend touring and asking the questions - it can be embarrassing - but hey, it's better to go somewhere that will treat you like a person when your as vulnerable as you and your baby are when that time comes. Good luck to all! Xoxo
Chelle- I just saw your post - get the epidural. ..that will definitely work for pain. As for the small size...methadone will cause low birth weight itself, but so will smoking. I had a "used up placenta " too for my 3rd child (wnd born on methadone)
I know the stress your talking about, but try very hard to at least reduce your smoking. Or get a vape cigarette with low nicotine. That way you have the movement of smoking to keep you hands busy, but less harmful effects. I'm fairly convinced it was smoking that caused the issues that made my 3rd child end up an emergency c'section instead of a regular vaginal birth like my other 2.
And, as I said in my previous post - tour some local hospitals to find one that will make you comfortable and treat you right.
Good luck and try to remain calm :)
Good luck! Xoxo
I know the stress your talking about, but try very hard to at least reduce your smoking. Or get a vape cigarette with low nicotine. That way you have the movement of smoking to keep you hands busy, but less harmful effects. I'm fairly convinced it was smoking that caused the issues that made my 3rd child end up an emergency c'section instead of a regular vaginal birth like my other 2.
And, as I said in my previous post - tour some local hospitals to find one that will make you comfortable and treat you right.
Good luck and try to remain calm :)
Good luck! Xoxo
I am on methadone 150mg split dose and I'm 8 months pregnant and I want to know if when u go into labor will you be able to take any pain meds at all and if I end up havin a c-section will u get pain medication after at all I'm not trying to get high I just don't want to be in pain I have been clean from any illegal drugs for almost 2 years now hope someone can help answer my ???s
Hi I have read all these posts about being pregnant and on methadone. Currently I am 27 weeks Pregannt with my first child and I'm on 69mg of Methadone. I am very upset with myself because I was clean for 9 months and when I was 4 months pregnant I relapsed on Herorin. I New I could not continue using so I contacted a methadone clinic ! The methadone has really helped me but I'm just scared of when I give birth to my baby girl if she's going to withdraw. I feel so guilty that I did this to my innocent child ! I would love to talk to other women who have experienced what I'm going through and could help ease my mind !
I left my email so if anyone who knows what I'm going through can help me out and just talk to me about this can email me I really would appreciate it thank you so much in advance :)
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I left my email so if anyone who knows what I'm going through can help me out and just talk to me about this can email me I really would appreciate it thank you so much in advance :)
***Please do not post personal contact information. Thank you, The Moderators ***
