Detox question

[purr]

No not for me..

My neighbor just had a baby this morning - 8 lb. I'm very happy for them, but I dont want to ask them this question. She said that the baby will be in the hospital about a month going through detox since she was on methadone while pregnant. Her older son was in for a month and hes going to be 4 and just started talking - dont know if this is related or what.

What happens to the babies while going through that? I hope its nothing bad. I feel so bad for her. :( I couldnt imagine being separated from my newborn for a month! I couldnt stand it when they took him away from me to get him circumcised and at night so I could sleep some.

Not degrading her or the baby - just curious as to what happens.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

1. I'm no expert on this but a MONTH sounds a bit long, just for that reason.

[purr]

2. I have no idea. Its in a major hospital in pittsburgh so

there could be something else that they're not telling?

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

5. Well, methadone has a really long half life (long duration), which is

why it's used for detox, so that the addict can have a steady level of drug with infrequent dosing, so maybe this stuff hangs around extremely long in a newborn.

But a month of hospitalization seems long for anything, especially if the baby is full term and otherwise healthy. But I don't know.

[purr]

7. She said she was due 1/8 but didnt have the baby until today..

I dont know whats up with that story !! I never knew anyone who went almost a whole month overdue. Uggh!! I wanted to pop at 36 weeks asap - well, I did anyway lol.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

10. Sounds like you're not getting the "whole story".

[purr]

13. Me either..

She also went around telling people her son was her grandson and she was never pregnant before so she doesnt know when she got pregnant :wtf: strange situation I tell ya.

[skygazer]

3. I don't know either but I'll kick this

Poor little thing. She was on methadone with her son as well? How long does one stay on methadone? Seems like 5 years is just trading one addiction for another. And that's not passing judgment - I'm an admitted ex-junkie myself but I never used methadone so I don't know much about it.

I hope for the baby's sake it's not like kicking smack because I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

[purr]

4. Her and her bf have been on meth for the past 20 years.

I thought they were supposed to cut down after awhle as well. She drank while she was pregnant too - I dont know the past few months, but when she was 4 mo pregnant she was drinking 40s in her front yard :( I feel for those kids having to go through that. She was on methadone with her son too.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

6. The idea is to taper down the methadone dose, and your body's level

of drug, gradually, over time, to ease withdrawal problems.

Although if they've been on prescription methadone rather than injecting drugs, it's probably a lot better in terms of HIV/Hepatitis C & B risk.

[purr]

8. Over 20 yrs? Going every day? Weird!

Sorry I'm stupid when it comes to this - Ive only been addicted to nicotine and never dabbled in drugs - not even pot.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

14. No, my point is it should be a tool used to ease withdrawal, not to

prevent it entirely, although I'm guessing the addict is still better off using methadone than street drugs.

[purr]

16. It definately is better than using street drugs..

I remember when I was pregnant with my 1st son he tried to go cold turkey on heroin (and meth too) and went through some serious withdrawls and had to be rushed to the ER - he thought he was having a heart attack.

[skygazer]

9. Wow, that seems crazy to me

I guess I'll have to read up on the whole thing because I can't see the difference between being dependent on heroin and being dependent on methadone. I kicked cold turkey which was horrendous, painful and frightening. There were times I thought I was going to die (and other times when I wished I would) but I've been clean now for 11 years and NOTHING owns my body any more except me.

[purr]

11. Good for you!! Very good!!

Stay that way too!! I wish I could kick the smoking habit - nothing like what you went through but I'm still addicted. You got one hell of a drive to quit it like that. Kudos!

[skygazer]

18. Thank you

It reached the point where it was either quit or die, or at least that's what the choice seemed like. I quit on my birthday - it was my gift to myself and it was the best gift I ever received. Makes my birthday celebration a very special one indeed.

You will quit the smoking habit someday, I bet. It's impossible to do until your mind is resolved to do it. :hug:

[purr]

21. I do want to so bad.. I tried and tried but I became this

miserable beast.. I didnt want to be like that around my kids - i would snap really easy and I felt so horrible after I did that. You made a really wise decision! :hug: I hope you keep your birthday present!

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

12. The difference is you don't get HIV/Hepatitis from sharing needles,

and the drug is pharmaceutical grade instead of "cut with whatever the dealer put into it".

[skygazer]

15. I understand that and certainly approve of that aspect of it

But a 20 year crutch? That seems extreme.

I guess there are people who just need a crutch of some sort but it seems horrible to inflict that on a baby.

[purr]

17. Thats what I thought too..

I cut down dramatically on smoking when I was pregnant. I know I should've quit but I just couldnt, so my doc told me to cut down to no more than 5 a day. Which I did and thankfully no issues with him.

[adriennui]

24. why the hell did they bring innocent

children into their still chaotic lifestyle.????????? selfish fools.

[purr]

26. I always wondered that myself..

I thought the state took kids off of parents that are addicted to drugs and the like? Doesnt make sense to me.

[liberaltrucker]

19. Maybe Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Should be the real worry. It's my understanding(I could be wrong)is that narcotic withdrawal, as painful as it is, isn't life threatening. FAS is VERY serious, all you need for proof in Chimpie.

[purr]

20. Didnt even think of FAS..

When I was going through preterm labor with all 3 of my kids I was told by quite a few people to drink a glass of wine and it'll stop it. All I could see is this little fetus drunk and I couldnt do it.

[liberaltrucker]

22. My prayers and good vibes for the baby

He/she is gonna need it:scared:

[purr]

23. When my aunt told me I thought of good vibes for her too.

Its not her (the babys) fault.. In my original post where I said I felt bad for her - her was meaning the baby. Poor thing :(

[liberaltrucker]

25. I have 2 granddaughters

Taylor (2 yo) and Caitlin (7 mo). Thank God they're healthy, no thanks to their mother. LTWife and I are caring for them-have legal custody. So, you can see why your post hit home.

[purr]

27. Least they have you now if their mother wasnt any good..

I hope they continue not to have any probs.. poor things. I have a 6 month old and I couldnt imagine life without him or my 5 & 2 yr olds either. Its just sad :(

[liberaltrucker]

28. The kids(ours and yours) will be fine

They have adults who love them and will care for them. Explaining how their mom signed away custody will be hard, though. Luckily, Taylor pays no attention to her "mother", and Caitlin is still too young to know.