pregnancy and hydrocodone

[1scaredmommasfriend]

My best friend has been pregnant for 28 weeks and has been taking hydrocodone illegally for the entire pregnancy. Shes been struggling to stop and she's cut down to a half a day because she's trying to quit. I keep urging her to stop and I just recently found outthey drug test newborns in arkansas. Is this all newborns? Will it be in the babies system of she stops now? will they take her baby from her? I would hate to see that happen to her. Please answer ASAP. We are both stressing out and I know she doesn't need to be. (Oh and her baby is completly healthy and everything has been fine the entire time) also she has had two doctor visits and had to pee in a cup but they haven't mentioned her failing a drug test. Does this mean they dodnt drug test? I thoufht they had to tell her if she failed one.

[CountryMomToBe]

So, I'm not an addict or a professional so I don't claim to know anything about hydrocodone addiction... BUT I can tell you that I worked at a psychiatric & drug rehabilitation hospital and I did see a lot of (A LOT) of people going through hydrocodone withdrawal.  It's pretty terrifying.  I understand that your friend is afraid of the doctor, but she NEEDS to tell him/her about the addiction before trying to quit cold turkey.  The withdrawal is bad enough on a non-pregnant person, it can put a lot of stress on mother and baby and she could possibly lose the baby inside her, before he/she is even born.  Like one of the previous posters said, it's better to tell the doctor now and get it straightened out before baby comes.  

[1scaredmommasfriend]

Thank you for your help. I've found out they deffinatly drug test newborns in my state. But she still has 12 weeks so she quitting and hoping if she passes then they won't take her baby.

[asmith21488]

She cant kick the habit while pregnant do you think she will stop once the babys here? Is that enviornment going to be conducive to a baby developing correctly? If not maybe the state stepping in will jump start her to get her act together or find a better place for the baby...sorry if this seems rude but the babys well being should be number one in my opinion.

[AngelaAdams]

A lot of stuff is bad for babies. But I wouldn't be taking it if my doctor didnt completely reassure me it's better then not taking anything at all. And the Tylenol in hydrocodone is what makes that worse to take then suboxone  especially cause I was taking 11 pills a day. I've get ultrasounds every week and baby girl is super healthy. Already bigger then average at 36 weeks. I also have several friends that also were out on suboxone while pregnant also others on hydrocodones and all their babies were fine. It's hard for ppl who aren't addicts to really ever understand. So ppl will always bash. I'm glad noone has on this post yet. Sorry to hear what happened to your sister. Of courser medications affect everyone differently but there's also many things relating to still birth and sometimes there's no explanation. I have a friend well used to be friend who didnt know she was pregnant till 5 months. She was shooting up meth all day everyday. She had a healthy 7 lb baby still. Some ppl really don't deserve motherhood. Yet they have healthy baby's. while others deserving lose theirs. Anyways the chances of anything being wrong with baby from pills or suboxone are slim to none. My doctor has has over 100 pregnant patients he put on suboxone and every one of them delivered healthy babies. I've done a ton of research. The hydrocodone shouldn't affect her baby either. Just do your research. And good luck again.

[Jacid12]

I heard taking suboxones was really bad for the baby.. Worse than taking pain killers.. My sister was pregnant and a heroin addict and she took suboxones she ended up having a stillborn at 33 weeks. Not saying it was the suboxones that did it bc when she didn't have suboxones she would take heroin ... I'm sure your doctor knows what's best for you and baby.. That's just what my sister found out after she lost the baby that suboxones were bad for the baby.

[1scaredmommasfriend]

Thank you your comment helprd a lot. She saying she doesn't want to tell her doctor cause she's known to tell and get the baby taken. Everything I read said anything you take after 20 weeks will be in the babies system. So this worried me. She has cut her dosage down to almost nothing so far. I thibk she wants to try not telling her doctor. I was g oping if she quit now then they wouldn't take her baby because she wasn't doing anything anymore.

[AngelaAdams]

I was addicted to the same thing. When I became pregnant I told my doctor about it and that I wanted to quit but it was so hard cause if withdrawal. So he put me on suboxone. I've been taking it my whole pregnancy. It makes you feel like hydrocondone does only it's better for your health. It stops you from withdrawing. it also doesn't show up in a drug test either. Anyways yes doctors do drug test you. And yes they can take your baby from you at the hospital if he/she tests positive. Which the baby will if the momma is taking pills. If she quits within a week or two before delivering her baby she should be fine. It is out of your system within 48-72 hours. Also the baby will withdrawal when he/she is born if she takes it up until she delivers. Babies have withdrawl just like we do as adults. Not trying to scare her! Just informing her of what I know. I have friends who have been thru this same situation. I recommend she quits ASAP so she won't risk her baby being taken away or withdrawing after birth. However, before she does that, she needs to tell her doctor that she's taking that medication and has been whole pregnancy. Because if she quits cold turkey, the withdrawl she will go thru can possibly cause a miscarriage or pre term labor. That's what my doctor told me and that's also why he put me on suboxone. And my baby is 100% healthy. I'm 36 weeks now. They won't take away her baby just because she "was" taking that illegally. But if she continues then they can yes. Not saying they will for sure. But they definitely can. Please tell her to inform her doctor. He will know what she needs to do. Good Luck! And hang in there I know exactly what she's going thru. :(

[ki2times]

Idk if they check stool. That's the first I've heard. I thought they just did blood tests. Some women don't find out they're pregnant til they're 5 months or so. Tell her don't go cold turkey because that could send her and baby into shock.

[1scaredmommasfriend]

I'm pretty sire she plans to auit the next few days. Other research I have done says they test the babies stool and it dates back to 20 weeks some say. I hope your right.

[ki2times]

They don't have to say anything about a failed drug test but they do test at every Dr appt, so they know even if she didn't tell them. Idk how long that stays in your system but I'm sure if she quits altogether within the next two weeks and goes full term then the baby should be clean. Good luck.