Pregnancy and Substance Use: A Harm Reduction Toolkit
Finding other women going through similar programs can provide continued motivation to complete the program. In addition, support groups for women undergoing the same process will help them understand the potential complications and struggles through the detox process and new motherhood. Simply put, this means, “getting the drugs out of your system.” It sounds easy, but it’s not. Detoxing is a major concern for pregnant people who are addicted to drugs. Many people may not realize it is possible to become pregnant in the year after having a baby. Some people may want to avoid this because they do not want to have another baby right now, while others may be excited at the prospect of having a large family with children close in age.
Detoxing While Pregnant: The Safety of Detox and Withdrawal
When searching for a doula, get as much information about them as possible. Ask them if they provide trauma-informed care or have experience with people who use drugs. If you have relationships with trusted social service providers, community health care workers, case managers, or treatment providers, you may ask them to help you find an experienced doula. When you smoke during pregnancy, you increase the risk of exposing you and your body to harmful chemicals that can lead to adverse health issues. Herbal supplements may contain ingredients that are contraindicated in pregnancy. They may also contain substances that can adversely affect the mother and the unborn baby.
Is It Safe To Detox While Pregnant?
Hyperemesis gravidarum is nausea and vomiting so severe that you are unable to eat or drink anything, even water. It is very dangerous because it can cause severe dehydration and loss of nutrients and electrolytes. If you think you may be experiencing hyperemesis gravidarum, see a provider right away. Both buprenorphine-naloxone (Suboxone®) and buprenorphine (Subutex®) are safe for treatment of pregnant people.
What treatment options are available for people who are pregnant?
This section will give you the tools you need to be as healthy as possible, whether or not you’re using. The most important and radical part of harm reduction is to demonstrate with our words and actions that we respect and love people who use drugs. For medication abortions, people will experience bleeding, and some may have intense cramping and gastrointestinal discomfort (vomiting and diarrhea). For in-clinic abortions, most people who are awake for the procedure describe the discomfort as intense period cramps.
If you or a loved one are pregnant and want to address your substance abuse before the birth of your baby, help is available. Rehab can help women manage substance abuse during and after pregnancy, from treating withdrawal syndrome to managing cravings and triggers postpartum. Expectant mothers can find ecstasy mdma or molly a rehab program that provides expert care for behavioral problems, whether they have an addiction to illicit drugs, prescription drugs, or other related issues. That’s why it may be beneficial for women who are pregnant to enter an inpatient treatment program designed specifically for pregnant women.
What treatment options are available for dependence on benzodiazepines?
You may be provided certain medications to manage the side effects of withdrawal. Your doctor will choose medications that have cocaine detection the least chance of affecting your unborn baby. Therefore, you need to be completely honest with your healthcare professional.
Addiction Resource is an educational platform for sharing and disseminating information about addiction and substance abuse recovery centers. Addiction Resource is not a healthcare provider, nor does it claim to offer sound medical advice to anyone. Addiction Resource does not favor or support any specific recovery center, nor do we claim to ensure the quality, validity, or effectiveness of any particular treatment center.
In addition, detox further eliminates the cravings for the drug of choice. The side effects for the child can vary from low birth weight, fetal alcohol syndrome, short attention span, retarded mental growth, and many other life-changing defects. Enduring a detox program can increase the odds of having a baby born free of these birth defects and chemical dependency. Pregnant women suffering from an addiction have many more anxieties and worries than one who is simply pregnant.
Furthermore, whole grains like brown rice and oats also provide fiber that improves digestion and excretion. All this works together to optimize excretion and elimination of toxins from the body. The Natural Resources Defense Council, a nonprofit environmental action organization, maintains there is no assurance that bottled water is any cleaner than tap. Contact your local health department to investigate what’s in your area’s tap water. To check the purity of a particular bottled water brand, visit the NSF International website.
You’re probably seeing them regularly for checkups relating to the health of your child, so simply extend the discussion to talk about your diet and any supplements or cleanses you might want to take. The trouble with a detox is that, if it works as advertised, it’s stirring up toxins in your body. This means they circulate through your blood, the same blood that your body uses to feed your child. If they don’t work to stir up toxins, then you may be making large dietary changes that can have an effect on your child as well. Pregnancy is a time of great change in your body, as it adapts itself to the needs of the developing child rather than your own. This has a wide range of effects, from changing your cravings to introducing new allergies.
- The first year after having a baby is physically and emotionally difficult.
- Upon discovering that they are expecting, women may find it tempting and in the best interest of their baby to stop all drug use immediately and suddenly.
- Simply put, this means, “getting the drugs out of your system.” It sounds easy, but it’s not.
- Long-term outcomes appear similar to other children in the same peer group.
- One of the most popular cleanses or detox programs is the juice cleanse.
- However, it can be done safely, under proper supervision and monitoring.
Organic and/or all natural, whole foods are much healthier and nutritious options that work with your natural detox systems as opposed to against them. During pregnancy, a woman’s body is experiencing drastic changes and is constantly adjusting. Simply being pregnant puts a woman at risk for a number of disorderly body functions. Her hormones are raging up and down, and sometimes she doesn’t know if she is coming or going.
Some of them require fasting and consuming only a regulated amount of certain foods, like a juice cleanse or something like the maple syrup diet. This is important if you’re choosing a detox program, because many such programs include a multivitamin or a series of supplements to replace what you’re not consuming with your regular diet. If you end up taking too much of certain vitamins, or too little of some nutrients, you can jeopardize the health of you or your baby. If you’re pregnant and using drugs or alcohol, there is help available.
If you’re ready to begin your recovery journey, reach out to us at New Direction for Women today. This is not typically used unless there is an emergency, because there are increased risks for the pregnant person as well as the baby. General anesthesia means that you will be unconscious and feel nothing during the birth.
Use this information to start a conversation about your care with your team. You have the right to decline any test for yourself but, in most states, once the baby is born, providers do not need your consent to test the baby and they don’t have to inform you of any infant testing. It is best practice for providers to work collaboratively with parents regarding any tests or interventions the infant receives.
Payment of benefits are subject to all terms, conditions, limitations, and exclusions of the member’s contract at time of service. Drug detoxing while pregnant is challenging for both mothers and doctors. When an addicted woman goes into withdrawal, the body is severely out of balance, which can harm the fetus. At New Directions for Women, we specialize in treating addicted pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy. We recognize the profound impact that drugs can have on a woman’s mental, physical, and emotional well-being. We offer a nurturing atmosphere where women can find solace and support as they heal.
The right professional will never shame you for your addiction, and they will work with you to find the right process moving forward. Your and your baby’s safety and well-being will always be of the highest priority. Detoxing from drugs or alcohol during pregnancy can be dangerous for the expectant mother and unborn baby at all stages of development. However, it can be done safely, under proper supervision and monitoring. A treatment center will attempt to verify your health insurance benefits and/or necessary authorizations on your behalf. We cannot guarantee payment or verification eligibility as conveyed by your health insurance provider will be accurate and complete.
In fact, if a baby is showing signs of withdrawal breast/chestfeeding appears to make them less severe. This may be because skin-to-skin contact and attachment formation help the baby feel better while breast/chestfeeding. If you’re pregnant, medical detox and addiction treatment should always include obstetrical care. Regular atorvastatin oral route description and brand names obstetric exams can prevent potential problems and are important for monitoring your baby’s growth and development. Some addiction treatment centers have team members that provide this specialized care at the addiction rehab center, while others will connect you with outside providers during your time with them.