Please tell me everything you know about a drug-addicted baby

[Robin]

Please tell me anything. Link me to webpages, blogs, tell me about books, tell me your personal stories, anything. What does this mean for the baby, and what does this mean long-term? The baby is on methadone for withdrawal now and is expected to be in the hospital for about 2 months, if those details help at all.

[jenfostermom]

Each drug is different and much of it depends on how long mom used the harder drug (usually heroin) before starting on the methadone program.

We have only had one methadone baby and after her 7 weeks of hospital withdrawals she did very well when she came home with us. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.

[twinmomstl]

They cry and cry and cry some more. And its not just a normal cry it can be high pitched and piercing. These babies need tons and tons of patience. Know about NASS scoring and how the baby has done in the hospital. They also eat and suck like crazy and have loose stools. They also need lower stimulation. I work with these kind of babies but I have no insight on what it is like at home. Your can pm me if you have other questions.

[WynneBabies]

It REALLY varies. I've had one methadone baby (originally born addicted to heroin) and she spend a few days in the hospital on it (this was after she had been released to me originally from the hospital) and she was on a taper for about a month and I administered it to her. She did okay. Fussy, but not terrible. I hear now at just she of a year old that she's doing really well.

[thtr4me]

Originally Posted by twinmomstl They cry and cry and cry some more. And its not just a normal cry it can be high pitched and piercing. These babies need tons and tons of patience.

Yes to this. The crying is so awful and heartbreaking. My dad spent many hours walking the street with my (adopted) brothers as they screamed. They are all grown up now and fairly normal, but there were lots of struggles.

[anne_josh]

A foster parent who spoke to our class has had several and she said after the withdrawal it wasn't too bad, and it depended on the baby's temperament as well. She did say though that it is important to keep in touch (check in frequently) with a doctor, and that sometimes things get lost/lost in translation between the hospital and the pediatrician, so your doctor should definitely get a copy of all records and be well briefed on the baby's status and treatment plan.

[Chris10]

I now have my first drug addicted baby. Mom was taking seven different prescription narcotics through out her whole pregnancy. I got him at 14 days old. His only symptom is frequent sneezing.

[CherryPie]

All of my clients are drug exposed infants.....it greatly varies to no probs at all (well, who knows what can show up later on in life) to needing therapy, delays, etc. The local hospitals here use morphine to detox the babies and sometimes they also add phenobarbital.

[lepidoptera]

I know one whose foster mother relinquished the baby after 2 months because he cried too much . Broke my heart.

They do cry a lot more, because they're in withdrawal, and it hurts and it sucks. It's not their fault they are in pain. You just have to remember that you're doing your best to comfort them, and that even if it seems like it doesn't, just you being there makes them feel so much better.

[newmommy13]

Originally Posted by lepidoptera I know one whose foster mother relinquished the baby after 2 months because he cried too much . Broke my heart. They do cry a lot more, because they're in withdrawal, and it hurts and it sucks. It's not their fault they are in pain. You just have to remember that you're doing your best to comfort them, and that even if it seems like it doesn't, just you being there makes them feel so much better.

Sounds like she didn't have the proper training of she didn't realize that was what she was getting into...