I am adopting a baby and the mom is on metadone?

Question

I am wondering what i should look for and is the baby going to be ok when it is born

Answer 1

You really should speak with a pediatrician. My guess is there are going to be loads of problems. Good luck!

Answer 2

You should already have a pediatrican or professional healthcare worker that you can call for these types of questions. Ask around, your agency, your lawyer, or an adoption professional if they have any referrals for you. I know that I contacted our pediatrician at least 4 times on four seperate occasions prior to our match with questions like yours. Also, the internet provides a ton of information as well. Good Luck

Answer 3

You should speak to a doctor for certain, but I believe that methadone is relatively safe in pregnancy.  It is used to prevent withdrawl symptoms which are much more dangerous.

Answer 4

Amy--

My  little boy is 6 yrs old and he was born addicted to Heroin. He spent several weeks in the hospital and was eventually placed on Methadone to help him Physically withdraw from Heroin.....  They were careful to take him off the drugs as my understanding it that Opiate Withdrawl is horrible.

My little boy met all of his 1 yr mile stones--and started to show some delays as he grew older... He is a little smaller--a little "yonger" then his actual age.....

Of all the drug exposures my personal feeling is that this one is far less harmful long term--then alcohol or meth....

I would find out when the methadone started and what his birth circumstances may be... Will he need detox and it this going to be a hard birth?

My little boy is soooo sweet and he is very calm and happy but it is clear he had a very hard start.

***Added: The Sleep Issues are true and my little boy still suffers very serious sleep problems.

*

Answer 5

Hi Amy,

Methadone is a drug given to help people break their addiction to Heroin or Morphine.  This link has extensive info for methadone & pregnancy facts: http://www.methadoneandpregnancy.com/

such as: "The baby may not experience withdrawal from methadone until 5-7 days after birth. On average, 60%-90% of babies born to mothers who are in MMT will show withdrawal signs.

A baby has withdrawals just like adults do, including (but not limited to):

Loose stools

Yawning

Poor sleeping

Sweating

Fever

Sneezing

Seizures

Tremors

Babies showing signs of withdrawals might need to be moved to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit" There is so much more on that page.  If I were you, I would print that out in case you want to bring it with you when you discuss it with the baby's doctor.

If you meant Meth, as in Methamphetamine, click these links for detailed info on Methamphetamine use and effects on babies:

http://www.ndmch.com/publications/Metham...

http://otispregnancy.org/pdf/methampheta...

Another site had this info:

"Half of the newborns whose mothers used methamphetamine during pregnancy experience withdrawal syndrome; this syndrome is relatively mild and required medication in only 4% of the cases."  

If drugs were injected, then there is also an increased risk of HIV and hepatitis B and C transmission for the baby.  Hope these links help, and I pray for the baby.

julie j

reunited adoptee

Answer 6

The baby should be overall okay but will be addicted to methadone and will probably need methadone after he's born and slowly get weaned off of it.  Essentially, the baby will be a drug baby but with constant care and proper treatment, you should be able to help the baby to eventually not be addicted.

Answer 7

I agree with Happymom and others - you should speak to a pediatrician.  Methadone is far better than many other substances.  My son was born addicted to opiates and he too met all his 1 year milestones.

Best of luck to you!

Answer 8

Speak to your doctor or pediatrician to learn what types of things you should look for once the child is placed with you.  They will best be able to give you the answers you need so that you can feel comfortable and provide the proper care for your baby.

Good luck to you.

Answer 9

Your baby may have some trouble feeding and sleeping.

He may not sleep for more than a hour at a time and only eat 1 or 2 oz at a time and may need to sleep upright in a bouncy seat at first to help with reflux. It gets better as the days go by.