When a pregnant woman continues smoking, drinking, using illicit drugs, or misusing prescription medications during her pregnancy, she is putting her baby at risk. During pregnancy, the placenta is very permeable, so the substances a pregnant woman takes can reach the fetus as well. In addition, the risk of stillbirth is increased by three times if a woman smokes cigarettes or marijuana during pregnancy. This estimate also includes prescription pain relievers, alcohol, and illegal drugs.
Evoke Wellness at Miramar’s drug and alcohol detox center is experienced in treating and detoxing pregnant women as safely and comfortably as possible. Please reach out to us for more information or to be admitted into a detox program at 866.931.9312. We can help you and your baby heal from addiction.
Should A Pregnant Woman Detox?
Anyone addicted to drugs or alcohol must take getting clean and sober very seriously, especially when pregnant. Medically-supervised detox for pregnant women is the safest way to help themselves and their unborn babies. However, medically supervised detoxification for pregnant women will be slower, as there are two lives to keep healthy. The only way to detox if a woman is pregnant is with the help of a professional detox center that specializes in pregnant women’s detox. Evoke Wellness at Miramar provides medically supervised detox services for pregnant women that ensure the safety of the child and the mother at all times.
The four critical forms of professional care and support a pregnant woman entering addiction treatment will have access to are:
- OBGYN and her medical doctors
- Therapy and counseling
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) during detox and/or treatment that are safe for the baby
- Educational resources
When a woman is pregnant and needs help to get clean and sober, she will need four forms of professional support. The first is medical supervision by an OBGYN and medical doctors specializing in addiction to monitor her and her baby’s health closely. Second, the woman will need emotional support through therapy and counseling. Pregnancy equates to varying hormones and body changes that will cause emotional ups and downs. Therapy and counseling will help the woman cope and aid her in her drug or alcohol use emotions. Third, depending on the drugs used, the newly recovering mom will also require medication-assisted treatments that are safe for her and her baby to prevent relapse. Last, the new mother will need education about parenting and family-centered support groups.
Is Detox Harder When You Are Pregnant?
Depending on the degree of drug or alcohol dependency, a pregnant woman’s detox and withdrawal symptoms can take a long time and be more complicated since she is pregnant. As a general rule, the more dependent on a substance any person is, pregnant or not, the more severe the withdrawal symptoms. Thankfully there are safe and effective detox medications that medical doctors will prescribe to a pregnant woman to help her and her baby get through detox comfortably. Since each woman and fetus has different health needs, a pregnant woman must be admitted into a medically supervised detox.
If you are pregnant and also struggling with addiction to drugs or alcohol, you must seek professional help immediately—for your own safety and the safety of your unborn child.
How Do Drugs and Alcohol Affect an Unborn Baby?
When a woman is addicted to drugs and or alcohol and is pregnant, she is responsible for her baby’s health, and drug addiction can thwart her maternal instincts. A woman may have already posed medical risks to her child before confirming her pregnancy. There are many health dangers associated with drug and alcohol use for a fetus, including:
- Congenital disabilities
- Having a premature baby
- Underweight babies
- Behavioral problems as the baby grow
- Learning disabilities
- Stillbirth
- Neo Natal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS)
Symptoms of drug withdrawal in a newborn can develop immediately or up to 14 days after birth and cause severe complications. It is vital to seek help immediately upon learning you are pregnant.
What Is Neo-Natal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS)?
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Neonatal abstinence syndrome is when the newborn undergoes withdrawal symptoms, usually at birth.
Regular use of some drugs can cause neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), in which the baby goes through withdrawal upon birth. Most research in this area has focused on the effects of opioids like prescription pain relievers or heroin. Data has also shown that using alcohol, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, and caffeine during pregnancy may also cause the infant to show withdrawal symptoms at birth. The type and severity of an infant’s withdrawal symptoms depend on the drug(s) used and how long and often the birth mother used.
Evoke Wellness at Miramar Provides Medically Supervised Detox for Pregnant Women
Evoke Wellness at Miramar provides safe medical detox services for pregnant women who need help from their addiction. Our medically supervised detox center is staffed with expert addiction specialists and medical doctors who will oversee the woman’s detox and OBGYN who will oversee her pregnancy and detox. In addition, we provide behavioral therapy while in detox to support the women’s state of mind and emotional health. Do not put your baby at risk; we can help you heal yourself and your baby safely. Call 866.931.9312 now for an immediate conversation with our clinical staff and be admitted in one day or less, or fill out our online form and allow us to get back to you.
