[wish41more]

Can anyone give me a straight answer as to what the side effects of a baby born exposed to meth are. I feel like the sw is not giving me the whole truth. THe day they called to see if we wanted him they said he only tested poss for marajuana now all of a sudden it's meth and our sw was totally shocked today when I told her I just found out???

[Kate1129]

Pregnancy. Meth use during pregnancy can result in prenatal complications, low birth weight, birth defects, increased rates of premature delivery, and abnormal infant behavior. Children born to meth-addicted mothers go through painful withdrawal for weeks or months. Long-term, most children prenatally exposed to meth function normally as they get older, though some may have “subtle impairments” that negatively affect regulation of emotions and ability to concentrate, which could put them at risk for behavioral and learning difficulties.

This is what I found in one of my books. This is about as detailed as anyone gets. There are just too many unknowns.

[hubbyswife]

Oh, that's awful, I know what u mean, sometimes I think they don't know the whole truth or they keep it from us so that we will say yes to accepting the placement.....

Best wishes....

[wish41more]

Well, the more I get to know this little guy the more I recognize that at certain times during the day there's definately something going on w/him that I've never experienced with a baby. It's like he hurts inside. I have to hold him tight and let him grasp on to my fingers so he doesn't scratch himself and so he feels more secure. Also, when we first got him he HATED having his back or tummy rubbed. It just dawned on me that it's probably bc he never had anyone touch him so much. :-( It's so sad. He's getting alot better though and it seems like he actually enjoyed his tummy being rubbed tonight. I just can't stand the thought of him having to go back with this woman. I've been praying so hard!

[bjhv]

Hello A,
I am sorry you did not get all the info on M.
I do not know what the long term effects can be I guess it all depends on how badly he was exposed to meth.
It makes me so angry that these women who dont care about these babies keep having them and we cant! But I guess we are lucky they do or we would not have the little ones in our homes?!
Just keep loving him and ask you peditrician about it I am sure he can give you some answers also contact Easter Seals in your area ask for advice.You do not have to tell them your name or anything that would break confidentaility(?) agreement.
Good Luck and he is SO adorable!!!!
Deb
Bipo mom to 4
fs mom to 2
hoping for a baby (new born )
and to adopt J 21 months old.

[momofmykids]

Originally Posted by wish41more

I've been praying so hard!

Praying with ya! Please keep us posted.

God bless you and this precious little baby.

[nursie]

Lots of variable involved in the 'meth' children. When they were exposed : in utero, what trimester, post delivery i.e. crawling around in it , having it near their crib/food, meth lab fume exposure, etc.
We have 4 children in our home with meth exposure. 3 of them have speech delays(2,3,&4 yo), 2 have learning disablities (3 &4 yo), 3 seem to have emotional/social issues but they were in a neglectful environment and one had social deprivation(acted almost autistic like when he first came to us), 3 have some attachment disorder concerns (not RAD) but still either disorganized and anxious attachment(those problems seem to be improving), one is VERY active/hyperactive(he seems to being calming down some), the one we have had since birth/7mo old seems unscathed (even tho mom used meth during the Pregnancy), she does seem very busy and not to have a very normal sleep pattern (she never sleeps long enough , LOL) altho she is on target developmentally.
Now, having said all that, many of the above factors could be related to their environment more than the meth exposure. These children have made HUGE progress by becoming more age appropriate in all areas:social, emotional, cognitive , and physical : ever since they joined our family and got some special ed help. Stability and a normal life without violence, abuse, or neglect has proven to be a huge blessing for these little darlings. I am not saying it is the only answer and love does not cure all I can say 'there is hope' for these kids and I see improvements and the chance for a happy,productive, normal life for all of these who have been affected by their past exposure to drugs, drug addicted parents, and a home environment I would classify as chaotic.
Good luck and keep on praying. I pray fervently for these kids, they deserve a good life.

[tybeemarie]

I don't know that there's been as much research on meth exposure as there has been on cocaine exposure or even alcohol exposure. Given that the baby tested positive for marijuana and meth, you should also consider the possibility or fetal alcohol syndrome. I'm sorry to interject more troubling possibilities, but many drug users also drink, of course, and it's not clear how much you have to drink to effect the unborn baby.

I have children who were cocaine and alcohol exposed. The cocaine didn't trouble me so much, but when I learned about the FAS, I was floored. However, the children are remarkably high functioning and have improved a lot in the 6 months they've been with us. Now, had you asked me when they were presented to us, would you like a sibling group of 3, with 2 FAS kids, my answer would have been a resounding no. And these are issues to investigate seriously and consider seriously, no question. But for us, I think it will work out. The attachment issues are FAR more troublesome, and that may also be at the root of why this baby resists your touch. Self-harming is also consistent with RAD. And there are babies who have RAD issues.

Best of luck to you and the baby. I'll say a prayer for you.

[csimmons]

We have a fd who was exposed prenatally to meth and marijuana. We brought her home from the hospital. She was the perfect baby and did all the "normal" stuff that babies do. However, as the months swept by, we noticed she was overly, excessively clingy. I could not hardly put her down to use the bathroom. She had to be constantly entertained and had to be "moving" all of the time. If she was in her bouncy seat, your foot had to be tapping her up and down or she would cry. When she hit a year old, her activity level soared. I have a son who is AD/HD and I have no doubt that our fd is also AD/HD. She is nearly 2 and is now having sleep problems. She doesn't want to go to sleep and she wakes up in the early hours of the night, wanting to stay awake. She also has sensory issues and is receiving Occupational Therapy to address these issues. She has very little sensation around her mouth area (due to the drugs) so she crams her mouth full of food, nearly choking herself. This is the only way she can "feel" her food. She doesn't like to be touched and is very sensitive. She doesn't like to be rocked, but prefers to be "bounced" up and down. We took her to Columbia, Missouri to be evaluated at the FAS Clinic. They do feel she was also exposed to Alcohol. They have diagnosed her with Neurobehavioral Disorder. This was due to her drug / alcohol exposure. It is my understanding that the drugs and alcohol effect the frontal lobe of the brain. Our fd is very flighty. She is aggressive, extremely defiant, and there seems to be no set pattern for her emotions. It was recommended to us that we call First STeps for an Evaluation. The ball got rolling from there. She is receiving a lot of help. She is a very beautiful little girl and we feel so bad that she has to endure these hardships all because her bmother didn't care enough about her to keep her safe. We will have a long road ahead with her. We are supposedly having the TPR hearing within the next few months. We want some permenancy for this little one so we can get on with life.

Good luck to you all.

[wish41more]

Wow, so you think the problems she is having started later? It's been 2 months since we got M and REALLY, no lies, he IS THE BEST baby I have ever taken care of. My own healthy bson was much much harder than him. He already sleeps through the night and literally only cries when he's hungry or has poop! My bson had stranger anxiety at 3 months old. M will sit and smile with anyone we hand him to. I just love him to death! So far so good with having no side effects but he is only 3.5 months old. Do they think the issues your fd has are from fas or the exposure to meth?

[Withay]

I have had 7 newborns who were meth exposed in utero during the last 13 months.

I have found that, almost without exception, they are fussier and have more trouble sucking than the ones who are not exposed. I agree with Nursie that it depends on when the child was exposed during pregnancy as to what symptoms they exhibit.

Several of my meth babies have been calmed by swaddling. I usually use a lightweight fleece blanket so it has a little stretch. I like the oblong ones best because I fold down approximately 6 inches on the long side and lay the baby down approximately 15 inches from the left end. I then put the baby's right hand and arm under the flap and wrap the blanket around them and tuck it under their left side. I then repeat the process by tucking their left hand and arm under the flap and wrap the rest of the blanket around them. The flap helps to keep their hands and arms contained so they feel more secure.

Another thing that helps is the bouncy seat that has the vibrator built in. The subtle vibration seems to calm them. If you are holding the baby and they are having trouble calming down, simply place your hand on their bum and gently 'vibrate' your arm up and down. This seems to calm them.

You may notice that when the baby stretches, or is startled there is tremoring at the full stretch. The swaddling helps to control this.

Another thing that many of the meth babies exhibit is extreme stiffness. It can seem as if you are dressing a rubber doll. Gently doing range-of-motion exercises can help to reduce this. The earlier the range-of-motion exercises can be begun with a child the more effective they are. I also do a full-body massage at least once per day. Use a firm, but gentle touch. Sometimes the very light touch can be irritating to these babies.

Also very important to these babies is tummy to chest holding. I spend at least 2 hours a day holding my meth babies this way. Try to do it for at least one hour at a time.

Blessings,
Dbl L

[shycar]

I have a baby right now that was exposed to drugs. Mom denied so they never tested the baby, but hair test from mom showed that she used while preg with crack and meth. The baby has Jitters. She has Jercky, not sure spelled right, movements. She cries a lot. Does not like to be in car seat. In the car she cries non-stop. She has to be held a certain way or she cries. She also has a hard time soothing herself. Once she starts a full blown cry she has a hard time to stop. Our baby is 2 months next week. Other wise than that she is great baby, loves to goo and smile and laugh and holds her head very well. We dont know what affect she will have as she is older, but time will tell.