Pregnancy and Substance Use: A Harm Reduction Toolkit

The accuracy of extracted data was reviewed by two authors (M.T., E.E.K.). Meta-analysis was not performed as a result of heterogeneity in study designs, detoxification processes, and in how and what adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes were assessed. Authors were not contacted and additional data from included studies were not obtained beyond what was available in the published manuscripts. Keeping you and your baby safe from the effects of drugs and alcohol doesn’t end with a detox program. Without treatment, you won’t develop an understanding of why you use substances or the healthy coping skills you need to stay sober. Your detox team can help you choose an addiction treatment program that fits your needs and connect you with services that keep you and your baby healthy.

  1. “When I joined this group, I wasn’t used to sharing, talking or being in groups at all.
  2. It is important that you deal with these issues as failure to do so could see you in trouble again at a later date.
  3. During labor and birth, it is their job to care for you and advocate for you in a non-judgmental, non-medical ways – especially during stressful situations.

Equally essential is filling your grocery cart with produce in every color of the rainbow. Fruit and vegetables contain important nutrients for proper fetal development, such as calcium, fiber, and iron, to name a few; each color offers different nutrients and protective properties. By this, we mean eating minimally tapering off opioids: when and how processed foods with few or no additives, preservatives, pesticides, hormones, or other chemicals. EHproject has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We work mostly with peer-reviewed studies to ensure accurate information.

Is Treatment During Pregnancy Safe?

These problems include premature birth, low birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDA), and neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Rehabilitation is not a cure for drug addiction, but it does increase your chances of managing substance abuse and decreases your risks of certain health effects. Despite warnings about the dangers of drug and alcohol use during pregnancy, many pregnant women still struggle with substance abuse. This low-cost drug rehab center in California offers gender-specific behavioral health services to parenting women and pregnant women. The right professional will never shame you for your addiction, and they will work with you to find the right process moving forward.

There may be some tests that can be carried out to determine the health of your unborn baby. Drinking also helps to stabilize body temperature, particularly during warmer months and places with high temperatures. Pregnant women should aim to drink at least 8-10 glasses of water per day. Herbal supplements and teas[2] are alternatives once the specific ingredients of each tea are reviewed and certified safe by your healthcare provider. Seek guidance from your healthcare provider for a safe and healthy detox during pregnancy.

Detox Kit – 15 Day

“Pregnancy in all trimesters can induce the full emotional range from elation to devastation. This can create vulnerability to drug use for people with substance use disorders. SUD is a stigmatized medical condition that impacts 10% of the adult population. It is poorly understood for pregnant and postpartum people, who face discrimination accessing care and treatment. Pregnant people often experience challenges that limit their access to needed support and treatment. This can lead to increased maternal mortality and opioid-involved pregnancies in as many as 6 percent of childbirths.

This section will give you the tools you need to be as healthy as possible, whether or not you’re using. Self stigma means that sometimes you might feel like you ought to be ashamed of yourself, based on what substances you use or the circumstances in which you use them. Stigma is a process that discriminates against people who use drugs and pushes them to the margins of society.

Avoid Harsh or Abrupt Detox Programs

Your physician can determine the best medical interventions to keep you and your baby safe during detox based on your individual situation. Many pregnant people will choose naltrexone over opioid agonist therapy (OAT) because it eliminates the risk of withdrawal in newborns. The care plan for every pregnant person taking any Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) requires inclusion of a thorough discussion of the local legal landscape and how long does marijuana stay in your system referrals to legal aid, if desired. Ethical providers work with patients to minimize the individual harm done by these laws and policies, and work to changes such laws and policies where they exist. At ChoicePoint, health care experts and therapists understand the consequences of drug addiction in pregnant women to help mothers deal with addiction problems. Medications used in our detox program are perfectly safe for expecting mothers.

Section 1: Quality Perinatal Care is Your Right

These benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms can be dangerous and life-threatening to the pregnant individual and fetus. Utilizing a medically supervised detox that includes medication-assisted treatment (MAT) options may be an option for someone who is pregnant and struggling with opioid abuse. That can vary if you are active or if you live in a warm climate you might want to drink more water. Making your prenatal diet as natural as possible with vegetables and fruits can make you and your baby happy. Even if you follow a healthy diet, pregnancy requires adjustments in your diet as well as your routine.

In most states, it is not mandatory to report pregnant or parenting clients’ substance use to child welfare or law enforcement agencies. Benzodiazepines are a class of medications prescribed for sleep, anxiety, and seizures. Benzodiazepines work in a similar way to alcohol in the brain on the same brain receptors. Their use might slightly increase the risk of having a baby with cleft lip or palate, but there is no link to other birth defects. Some studies found an increased risk of lower birth weight and other studies did not. Possible lower birth weights among people who take these medications could be related to sleep deprivation, and not the drugs, because many people take benzodiazepines for sleep problems.

They are usually only bothersome for a few days, and then barely noticeable. These cramps increase in intensity with each birth, so the cramps following your fifth birth will be more intense than those following your first. Cramps are more intense during activities that release natural oxytocin, such as breast/chestfeeding, cuddling your baby, or hearing them cry. It helps to anticipate these times and use measures to decrease this pain before it starts. Be sure to use a licensed professional if using acupuncture during labor and clear it with the birth provider in advance. Spinal anesthesia is usually used for cesarean section, unless an epidural is already in place.