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I would like to know what will happen to a baby that is born to a heroin addicted mother?? I know the baby would be addicted to heroin and so therefore would have to go through the withdrawal process. I just wanted to know what this involves and what difficulties the baby may have at birth or later on?? If anyone has any information on this I would be most grateful. x
PS FYI I am not pregnant nor a heroin addict, it is actually my sister inlaw. I am very concerned about the baby who is due in 11 days (13th Aug).
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Dear Lou, I cannot tell you much about the effect on babies but I can share my knowledge on the effects of this drug later on in life, from personal experience. My mother did heroin when pregnant with my older brother, he is now in his mid 20's and ever since I can remember he has suffered from behavioural problems, learning difficulities and persistant mental health issues, he is also very small which I a__sume would have something to do with the heroin use. I'm not here to judge you sister in law but this is a serious issue that has affected my brothers quality of life, so very unfair. I really hope things can be different for your niece/nephew.
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Thx AnS. I have heard of this before. Its such an awful situation but all we can do now is support this child and make sure he is cared for properly. He was born yesterday am (3rd Aug) and so far so good. He is a little unwell, but is not showing any signs of withdrawal as yet. He weighed 6lb 4 so he wasn't an extremely small baby either (which I have heard is another possibility). I am just praying now that he is ok and that this will not affect him later in life. If anyone else has any info or expriences of herion and babies pls share. Thank u xxx
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The baby may need Methadon treatment. She has to be honest wit the care provider or the baby can go into shock from withdrawal, which has been known to be fatal to an infant. She may hae trouble with CPS but it's better than letting her baby have siezures and possibly fatal reaction to the w/d. That's not her choice. Someone needs to intervene so that baby gets the necessary medical treatment.
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Also, the amount of drugs used by a b___stfeeding mother is not excreted into the b___stmilk in a sufficient quant_ty to prevent serious withdrawals for the baby. It can take up to 48 hours before the baby starts to really withdraw from the drugs, esp. if there were pain meds administered during labor. Please do something for this baby.
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My mother used heroin throughout her entire pregnancy with me and I was hospitalizd for three months in an incubator, the w/d effect was so severe that evenbeing touched caused me to scream uncontrollably until the dr.s administered sedatives into my iv.
I have ADD and am not what you would call healthy - I have chronic migraines, asthma, and this is the kicker - the prenatal exposure to opiates have screwed up my sensetivity and neurological interpretation of pain signals so that even the smallest amount of pressure hurts like a broken bone. I think this babyneeds a thorough evaluation by a doctor who is a specialist in this field. Doing nothing is the same as hurting this child. Please, please don't let this slide. That baby NEEDS an ADVOCATE. Even if it rocks the boat within your family...
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Well the baby is still in the hospital and has been moved to a special baby unit so that he can be monitored and cared for properly. He still is not showing signs of witdrawal, other than not keeping his milk down. Apart from that he is sleeping most of the time. The doctor said that if he has not shown signs by day 5 then he is happy that he wont. He is staying in the hosptial for another 7 days and then he is coming home with the family. He has a lot of family support and will definitely be cared for properly.
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