[gigigeorge]

Morning All,

For those who have adopted drug exposed babies, I am looking for hospital & release experiences. While I realize that it has to do with the baby's condition etc I am trying to kinda estimate how long we might be out of state. After your baby was born how long before they were released from the hospital? We are looking at early meth exposure and continuous marijuana usage.

Thanks

gina.

[Dmommab]

tested positive for marijuana & cocaine at birth. He left the hospital at 2 days old HOWEVER we had some feeding issues for his first 2-3 days home & I really feel he should have been kept a little longer - he couldn't drink from a bottle AT ALL! Good luck to you!!!!

[minibus]

The baby we were scheduled to adopt tested positive for meth at birth. Bmom also told the hospital staff that she had used marijuana. The baby would have been released from the hospital (no NICU, just the regular nursery) at 72 hours. She had no more withdrawal symptoms, but was a little on the preemie side (not feeding quite as well, sleeping a lot).

[Linny]

One of our babies was drug exposed to several substances. While bmom tested positive for pot and cocaine, the hospital never tested the baby. (I suspect, along with other amoms too, that the baby was deliberately NOT tested, even though bmom was. Even so, baby had excellent apgars, was full term, etc.)

Be that as it may, our baby was discharged within regular times to cradle care, and we got there within a few days of his birth to receive him. I could tell within a few hours of having him that there was something wrong. While he had a good suck reflex, he displayed stiffness and tension. As soon as we got him home, I took him to our local early intervention service and they started therapies right away. Over one year later, and he's doing very well!!!

I believe each hospital is different; and I strongly suspect that---unless the apgars are low and the suck reflex is weak, many hospitals won't test babies for drug exposure, even though bmoms show positive for drugs during delivery.
IMO, you should just be prepared through readings and such, whenever you're allowed to take the baby home.
(I'd also strongly suggest you might contact your EI group even before you bring the baby home. They've been wonderful for our baby!)

Sincerely,

Linny

[blessedbybug]

Originally Posted by gigigeorge

Morning All,

For those who have adopted drug exposed babies, I am looking for hospital & release experiences. While I realize that it has to do with the baby's condition etc I am trying to kinda estimate how long we might be out of state. After your baby was born how long before they were released from the hospital? We are looking at early meth exposure and continuous marijuana usage.

Thanks

gina.

Both my kids did not test positive at birth and were released within a day of birth. We never saw any effects on DD. DS started some withdrawal symptoms within a day of birth.

[BethanyB]

My son's bio mom tested positive for some major drugs early in the pregnancy and then stopped giving samples. However my son did not test positive at birth. They still consider him drug exposed because he was exposed in the womb but his apgars were good. He was placed with me through foster care so he was in the hospital for two weeks waiting for family to be identified. He could have gone home with a day or two if it had not been for that.

He was a good baby but was slow on the development side of things and has some speech problems we are working on. But he's a gorgeous, smart little guy and I could not be happier.

Good luck!

[Adopted-B-4]

Our baby daughter had early exposure to crack/heroin/marijauna and meth along with "some pills" that she wasn't sure what they were. Anyway, our daughter was perfect and healthy but born early. She went home in 2 days with no issues, it is truly amazing. She is perfect and healthy. It's hard to say what issues the baby might have when it all depends on how many times of exposure and exactly which week of pregnancy. I know just being prepared for the worst and praying for the best is what we did.

[shy_bear]

Our son was released within 24 hrs. He had feeding issues and is now delayed. We have been involved with early intervention since he was 2-3mths old. His bmom tested + at birth for cocaine, she said she used marijuana and drank throughout the pg. He tested - at delivery and his merconium was also -.

[Stormster]

Shy i'm sorry your DS was exposed to all of those substances but I'm glad you have the benefit of knowing what you are possibly up against so you can address early.

I kind of know what i was told but it would have been nice to have his Merconium tested. Just to know if some of the early stuff we noticed was in any way related.

[mom2nathan]

Hi! My son was born positive for cocaine. His birthmother used cocaine daily for the majority of her pregnancy. He was supposed to have been discharged from the hospital at 24 hours, but they kept him for 48 hours just to make sure he was fine. He had absolutely no negative effects from the nicotine or cocaine withdrawal. We were very lucky!

[gigigeorge]

Thanks everyone for the responses !!! The dr let us know via the agency that her due date has been pushed a whole month. Apparently, they told her July all along but she kept thinking June so the dr officially notified everyone that it is july - so another month to go...

So on the drug use thingy, did any of you have expenses that were paid? We have agreed to help with her rent which is past due, but I have to admit I am concerned about just giving her money under the intention that she will pay her rent. Anyone have any suggestions? The attorney is going to put the money in trust, and when she requests it he will send it to her, but she has to fill out this form saying what she is requesting it for. Not that she necessarily has to use it for that, but I guess it protects us all.

gina.

[HansenFamAZ]

DS's bmom used meth til 5th month. No effects at birth or since. (Had unrelated infection that let to a week in NICU.)

DD's bmom used meth on and off the whole pregnancy. Nurses were sure she was going through withdrawl during labor. Test on DD at 48 hours was negative, but Bmom told me later she used it close to delivery. Only kept her to wait for test results. No effects then or now.

As far as rent, do not have your attorney just send it to her. Have your attorney make the check out to the apartment building (or where ever she is.) I paid for DD's bmoms rent the last few months (or she would have been kicked out and in a worse situation) and I made the check out to the complex. If they want a money order, then get that. No idea why your attorney would not tell you that. Same for any utilities, etc if necessary. (Food you can do gift cards, but if someone is really desperate to use the money for something else, they won't hesitate to sell it for half the value.)

PM me if you have any other questions about living expenses, etc. =)