NICU Baby Withdrawing...

nblondheim · February 2014

So as you know we are in the NICU as one twin is still working on feeding. There aren't many other families up currently and we gained a new little one a few days ago. I have seen the parents but never talked to them or anything... until tonight. My DH and I went down to the cafeteria for supper and met the family in the elevator. I was wearing our twin girl that was discharged and the mom asked about her and we explained she is a twin and her other twin is still here. She informed us she has a little one up here that is doing well but is withdrawing on methadone. Me being me, I thought it was a drug! DH (a deputy sheriff) informed me it is typically given to someone that is a drug user to get them to quit. A quick google search said it's primarily for heroin users. Either way I seriously was stunned. First of all she gave up the information to us (random strangers) willingly. Second of all, how in the heck do you do that?!?!?! I will stop there as I am soooo full of many emotions on that subject!

AriaAmante143 · February 2014

I can't believe she just volunteered the info to you.

rockopera · February 2014

That is so so sad.

amdecker1016 · February 2014

Woww.
My first thought was, maybe she is adopting?
Because cps wouldn't let Lo go home with mom if it was withdrawing.
At least i wouldn't think they would let her.

karacakes98 · February 2014

That's heartbreaking. I hope watching her baby go through that is a turning point for her to change. Poor little one.

mevensen · February 2014

That's terrible! I can't believe she just came right out and told you that! Sick.

ProudMommy030614 · February 2014

When I was a hospice nurse we used methadone as a pain medication. Idk if it's used for pain in Peds or not.

bingbongsmama · February 2014

Sadly, withdrawal is common reason babies spend time in the nicu.

PinupMomma08 · February 2014

My SIL got to take her daughter home after she withdrew from meth. They assigned her a social worker, and lost custody a few weeks later. The state payed for rehab and she got custody back for now. They will give moms every chance under the sun before really doing anything. Hopefully this LO is being adopted, and not getting sent back into a shit hole. Poor sweet baby

jennlanting · February 2014

Very very heartbreaking

BrideNamedMeg · February 2014

My first thought would be are you sure she's the biological mom?? A baby born to a women in a methadone program might be in state care already...

Excitedmum35 · February 2014

So sad. So many ppl who really want to have babies......

jennybean80 · February 2014

Better that she is on methadone than still using heroine. At least methadone is prescribed and clean. She seems to be trying to change her lifestyle.

babylimas · February 2014

I know they use methadone to help heart babies get off their pain medications. The little ones seem to have very difficult times with withdrawal, even after short times on medication. It's a common discussion on heart boards.

Khope87 · February 2014

I worked as a pharmacy dispenser in the uk. Here, you can go onto a methadone programme if you want to come off drugs. You will be given methadone daily from a local chemist and be assigned key workers etc. In my experience, around 50% of the people I can across abused the free system, whilst the other 50% were people trying their hardest to get clean. For those, it is hard, but they are turning round their lives.

Where I worked is a tough life and people got into drugs for a number of reasons. I have never and would now never ever do drugs, but I know if I was there, in their shoes, at the times they were, I sure as hell would have to get the escape they seeked. Some of the stories still haunt me as to what happened....

A few of our patients had children whilst coming of methadone themselves and all kept their children as they were the ones trying to come clean. I wouldn't judge too quick..... It is difficult to know the back story.

For the record, these children were never planned - again another delight of struggling to keep on top everything when your life is crumbling.... But like many other woman (including me if we ever had an 'accident') they couldn't face an abortion. The few that I got to know pretty well had their children grow up well - oddly enough, their children were always immaculate and polite! That bit always suptised me! The mums were often off methadone too within the first year (I guess not easy in the slightest with a newborn in tow)

kls33145 · February 2014

My sister-in-law is a nicu nurse. She takes her job very seriously and never releases any personal information but has come home many nights in tears over babies going through withdrawal.
She said it's the worst thing ever.

I hope you don't have to witness that poor little baby going through it. It's bad enough thinking about it...but as a mother, especially of a newborn, seeing it would be unbearable I think.

It makes me so angry at the mother. I know that I don't know her, the situation, or anything about her life, but I can't help but want to punch her in the face for causing this to her baby. It sounds like if she was on methadone, she was attempting to kick her habit? But still....I'm judging her, as it's had a terrible impact on this little, innocent life.

babylimas · February 2014

But again, no one has any idea why this baby is on methadone. It could very well be that the infant required morphine and now is using the methadone to prevent withdrawal symptoms.

Zriseon3 · February 2014

Methadone is used for lots of reasons. But I can't judge their situation since I haven't been there. I do know from working with people that being an addict is complicated. You may want to clean up for your baby more than anything but addiction is a disease. It's not so cut and dry. You can't just quit because you want to. It seems that if this baby is withdrawing for maternal reasons then at least the mom was trying to get help.

Edited: I repeated the same sentence. Stupid pregnancy brain.

benevolentforce · February 2014

babylimas said:
But again, no one has any idea why this baby is on methadone. It could very well be that the infant required morphine and now is using the methadone to prevent withdrawal symptoms.

This was my first thought too. That or that it isn't the biological mother as PPs have said. Seems odd the mom would volunteer the information if she were somehow at fault. That said... addicts do strange things. Whatever the reason, I hope that little babe gets better soon.

kls33145 · February 2014

I feel like I live in a bubble sometimes and aren't aware of other circumstances, here for example.
I absolutely rushed to judgement but clearly there's a lot that could be going on.
I just hope that baby gets better ASAP...what a tough way to start life out of the womb

clo1982 · February 2014

I agree that 1. No one knows why the baby was on it and 2. If the mom was, then she is most likely trying to get clean. Granted, I've never used but I don't think kicking a heroin habit is comparable to giving up caffeine or I would even say giving up smoking. It totally sucks if the baby is being affected by the mom's use (or past use) but my hope is that what the baby is experiencing withdrawal from is the lesser of the evils and the mom is doing what she can to get clean. A lot of people have a past, but that doesn't mean they don't deserve a shot at giving their child a normal future.

SamJustice · February 2014

I have to agree with everyone. DS was on Fentanyl for two major abdominal surgeries when he was born. He suffered from mild withdrawals after they took him off. It was absolutely heartbreaking and I knew other parents would walk past his pod and see his little body shaking. The judgement was so crushing I couldn't stand being there.

TradeMama · February 2014

I have a friend from high school whose baby withdrew from methadone when she was born. She took methadone the whole time she was pregnant-- but the doctor told her that withdrawing from heroin cold turkey while pregnant was not safe for her baby. Getting pregnant was the best thing to happen to her, she truly loves her daughter and having a baby and being a mom has been motivation for her to get her life together and stay clean.

[Deleted User] · February 2014

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[Deleted User] · February 2014

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pepperedmoth · February 2014

snow527 said:

TallAsh said:
This thread pisses me off. It's really none of anyone's damn business or place to judge.

As pointed out, there are several uses for methadone besides a mom being a heroin addict.

Any baby I have cared for that was on a ventilator for more than a few days has to go on a methadone wean because their bodies get used to the pain meds we give to keep them comfortable while intubated.

But even if she was an addict, at least she was trying to do the right thing for her baby by choosing a controlled drug versus a street drug.

It doesn't help anyone to post angry comments. It doesn't make you a better mom. It doesn't make her a better mom. It doesn't make that baby's life easier. So why even bother with the negative energy?

Came here to say all of this.

Same here. This, this, this, this, THIS.

cdnmomma · February 2014

I'm with TallAsh on this. The judgement in the thread is surprising and hypocritical especially given how many women on tb have chosen to enjoy certain things not traditionally considered safe for pg. this woman may not have known she was pg when she was using and it seems she's been trying to turn things around. I applaud her honesty. The shame and guilt put on moms is the number one reason infant who need support don't always get it because their moms are too afraid to be completely honest.

Also for the record, research is showing far better outcomes for infants exposed to prenatal drug use than those exposed to prenatal alcohol use.

[Deleted User] · February 2014

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cdnmomma · February 2014

Ya I get it. That wasnt my intent. I've been working for ten+ years with children who have been prenatally exposed and their moms and I feel that there is a lot of misinformation out there and judgement. I didnt mean to contribute to the judgement.

nblondheim · February 2014

kls33145 said:
I feel like I live in a bubble sometimes and aren't aware of other circumstances, here for example.
I absolutely rushed to judgement but clearly there's a lot that could be going on.
I just hope that baby gets better ASAP...what a tough way to start life out of the womb

This is me too!! I rushed to judgment! So I apologize for it!!!

With that being said, it is the biological mother.

SmittyPants · February 2014

This thread pisses me off. It's really none of anyone's damn business or place to judge. As pointed out, there are several uses for methadone besides a mom being a heroin addict. Any baby I have cared for that was on a ventilator for more than a few days has to go on a methadone wean because their bodies get used to the pain meds we give to keep them comfortable while intubated. But even if she was an addict, at least she was trying to do the right thing for her baby by choosing a controlled drug versus a street drug. It doesn't help anyone to post angry comments. It doesn't make you a better mom. It doesn't make her a better mom. It doesn't make that baby's life easier. So why even bother with the negative energy?

My thoughts exactly.

aesmom · February 2014

babylimas said:

But again, no one has any idea why this baby is on methadone. It could very well be that the infant required morphine and now is using the methadone to prevent withdrawal symptoms.

This. I gave lots of kids methadone after they spent long periods of time in the NICU/PICU. While I have given it to babies whose mothers abused drugs, those mothers were never allowed to visit. I highly doubt this mother was abusing drugs if she told you her kid was on a methadone schedule. Which by the way can take weeks to complete.

nblondheim · February 2014

@aesmom This baby was born at 37 weeks and has been in the NICU for 3 days.

aesmom · February 2014

@nblondheim maybe the mom had to be on something while pregnant that would cause withdrawal symptoms? Seizure meds or some sort of chronic pain meds? I don't know and can't speculate that much. Just saying methadone is common and not only because mom was doing heroin.

bumpuser10054788 · February 2014

Agree on the fact there could be a lot of other reasons for the methadone. When I was researching my itchy feet/legs, I was on a RLS site (which it looks like I probably don't have since I don't meet all the symptoms) and saw that methadone is one of the few/only things that can be used for severe, debilitating RLS during pregnancy that is considered fairly safe for the baby. It was heartbreaking reading some pregnant ladies' posts on the board on there, where they were suffering so much and so sleep deprived they were practically suicidal until they got on methadone, while at the same time felt like bad moms for having to take it. We'll never know why she and/or her LO was on it, so have no ability to judge, but at least her LO is getting the appropriate care.

AriaAmante143 · February 2014

Kalpa521 said:
I'm with TallAsh on this. The judgement in the thread is surprising and hypocritical especially given how many women on tb have chosen to enjoy certain things not traditionally considered safe for pg. this woman may not have known she was pg when she was using and it seems she's been trying to turn things around. I applaud her honesty. The shame and guilt put on moms is the number one reason infant who need support don't always get it because their moms are too afraid to be completely honest.

Also for the record, research is showing far better outcomes for infants exposed to prenatal drug use than those exposed to prenatal alcohol use.

This post was SUPER beneficial to this thread.

*drinks soda and eye rolls for days*

beachcomberbride · February 2014

#1. You don't know that she is the bio mom, she could be a relative that is taking over custody (one of my best friends adopted her sisters son and has been his "mom" from day 1 when he was in the NICU withdrawing from heroine) or his adoptive mommy #2. If she was on methadone, you don't know why she was on it. She could very well be turning her life around or been on it for pain med usage.

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pepperedmoth · February 2014

In a way I think MORE highly of that mom if she was on methadone while pregnant to keep herself clean and off heroin.

That's HARD. That's a HUGE struggle to go through for your baby. It's so admirable when someone is able to get clean and stay clean.

beachcomberbride · February 2014

@pepperedmoth not only do I love your avatar, but you're a nice person

[Deleted User] · February 2014

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