Parents of Addicts Online Support Group

Hello Everyone,

I'm looking for information about heroin impacted babies, and wonder if anyone on this board has personal experience with such, and also if there's a handy list of resources

My wife and I are expecting a new nephew in the next couple weeks, who's mother is addicted to heroin. She's been on methadone the past 6 weeks or so, and is reportedly on a very low dosage, fwiw.

It seems likely CPS will move to intercede on the baby's behalf when it's born, but of course we don't know for sure.

The parents-to-be have asked us to take temporary custody, if possible, and if necessary, to keep the baby out of the system.

We're looking for information about the impact heroin use by pregnant women typically has on their babies, and what we'd likely be faced with in terms of potential or likely health and behavioral issues.

We're also considering offering to adopt the baby, if it comes to that, but not sure at all what special circumstances we'd be signing up for in that case.

Any thoughts? ideas? suggestions?

Thanks for any help!

well first of all welcome to this wonderful group ... & what a great gift you are giving that baby ... I think first you need to tell the hospital when the baby is born so they can put the baby into detox ... make sure the baby is healthy & doing well ... after that im sure the babys dr will want to check out the baby ... has the mother been using every day ?as all of us would love to help you ... we are not Drs & can not give medical advice .. you need to talk to all the drs & maybe they can even run a test before the baby is born ..they take fluid from the mother & test for the babys health ..I had that done ..due to being a diabetic only during pregnancy ...... but please keep posting & let us know how everything goes .. you & your husband are wonderful in doing this ....hope the mother gets some help so she can raise the baby ..hugs Trish

I have no idea about the baby. I think I would talk to a Dr. Welcome to the site. I am sorry you about your sister, i support you to learn all about her addiction and what limits you can put in place. Did CPS say a family member could adopt? I do adoption search and a case i am working on (from a long time ago ) Back then they did not place children in a home known to the mother of the child, this may have changed as that was many, many years ago. Oh I see now it is for Temp. custody. i would have the parents to be to go to every meeting possible without it being court ordered and get a book (like they would use for court ordered,) and get who ever leads the meeting to sigh it a meeting a day ,to show serious commitment to getting clean. Oh boy. How involved is CPS? Does she intend on getting clean? Make sure she and you are clear with their intents. If they make the child a ward of the state, that is a whole other ball game. Is CPS paying for the birth of the child? You may want to see an attorney as this can go a direction they want. Just my advise and I do not want to alarm you but CPS is looking after the interest of the child. Check the laws of your state without speaking directly to CPS as all of those conversations can be used in court. How far along is she and what kind of record does she have if any? I am not an attorney i just have read case files. Each state is different.

Post edited by: pattB, at: 01/09/2011 11:35 PM

I take it that the mother is giving up the child for adoption and you are going to have temp custody till then?!

I would take it that the mothers OB knows of her addiction and has her on methadone to prevent withdrawls. Which are very bad on the child.

When the baby is born it will be addicted to heroin/methadone. It will be taken care of to help it with its withdrawls, which are inevitable.Other than that God willing everything will be ok, noone can predict that, it could be just fine have some learning disabilities. Its anyones guess. Hopefully the poor thing will be ok.

If cps is involved, see what you can do with them to have the baby placed with you. Usually they won't go to foster care unless it is necessary, but that is in WV, like patti said each state is different. Good Luck. Keep us posted. Were here if you need us.

Babies born to mothers who have used heroin while they were pregnant have inherited their addiction, and upon birth must go through withdrawal. This is a painful process and includes symptoms like diarrhea, sweating, a higher-pitched cry, tremors and irritability (Bukatko, 125). The babies are also very likely to have low birth weight and small head circumference.

Babies born with low birth weight have been shown to have many difficulties later in life:

~Language, visuomotor, and other learning disabilities

~Behavior problems

~Children are more likely to be rejected by peers

~Performance in school may suffer and the children may need special education courses

These effects can be counter-acted if the child receives intense hands-on nurturing early in life!

When the mothers cannot take care of their children, they are given to foster agencies where they have a lot of trouble due to their behavioral problems, which often include hyperactivity and short attention span

This is only a bit of info that I found but there is so much on the net but best talking to her Dr. But if you were to take on this child the love you can give it may be more than it can ever receive in the system. Good luck and bless you for considering this.

I found this on the internet ... hope it helps.....

Babies born to mothers who have used heroin while they were pregnant have inherited their addiction, and upon birth must go through withdrawal. This is a painful process and includes symptoms like diarrhea, sweating, a higher-pitched cry, tremors and irritability (Bukatko, 125). The babies are also very likely to have low birth weight and small head circumference.

The sad cry of a baby addicted to heroin is one that will never leave my mind. As I held the infant in my arms and looked down at his loving face, no matter what I did there was absolutely no comfort for this baby at all. This baby was going to a foster home as with all newborns that test positive for drugs, they are removed from the mother and placed in foster care.

Continue reading on Examiner.com: Opiate (Heroin) Addiction During Pregnancy - Fort Lauderdale pregnancy | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/pregnancy-in-fort-lauderdale/opiate- heroin-addiction-during-pregnancy#ixzz1Aek6EnRS

I am sure this has been a lot for you to take in. You already know its a boy, and you have made the connection to nephew, I support you in whatever level of involvement you wish to take. I support you in supporting your sister or brother as i am not sure of the connection. We will be here to support you and we care about you and your feelings. All the women on this site are very tender with judgments and and take great care to ones feelings so feel free to share all your concerns. Patti

Maybe you have a PICC Pediatric Infant Care Center somewhere near you where you live. They are a critical care place for drug addicted babies. I volunteered at the one in my city and used to "rock" the babies who were going through withrdrawal. I have never heard such terrifying screams from babies, it haunted me. It was heartbreaking to me to watch these newborns going through this so much that I couldn't emotionally continue any more. But, if you can research it, these clinics had the best approach to ease the suffering of these infants. I would look online.

Shari