Can anything be done?

[bambi66]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? OH but maybe IN

I have learned of a situation involving a pregnant woman that has been using heroin (at 6-7 months along in the pregnancy - supposable quit again). She has previous addiction issues with herion but everyone thought she cleaned up her act when she learned of her pregnancy. This woman lives near the IN/OH border and I'm not sure which state she is currently living in since she bounces around a lot. She is unmarried.

What, if anything can be done to make sure someone is aware that this womas has a problem and is tested at the hospital? I know her name and can find out what hospital is delivering the baby (scheduled c-section). She's had little to no pre-natal care due to the herion addiction. She really has no business raising this baby. There are also multiple warrants for her arrest but she's hard to locate.

Thank you for any advice.

 

[Antigone*]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? OH but maybe IN

I have learned of a situation involving a pregnant woman that has been using heroin (at 6-7 months along in the pregnancy - supposable quit again). She has previous addiction issues with herion but everyone thought she cleaned up her act when she learned of her pregnancy. This woman lives near the IN/OH border and I'm not sure which state she is currently living in since she bounces around a lot. She is unmarried.

What, if anything can be done to make sure someone is aware that this womas has a problem and is tested at the hospital? I know her name and can find out what hospital is delivering the baby (scheduled c-section). She's had little to no pre-natal care due to the herion addiction. She really has no business raising this baby. There are also multiple warrants for her arrest but she's hard to locate.

Thank you for any advice.

So, who is this woman to you?

 

[bambi66]

Not that it matters but she is a friend's step daughter. She is over 30. I just want to try to save this child if possible.

 

[Antigone*]

Not that it matters but she is a friend's step daughter. She is over 30. I just want to try to save this child if possible.

So, what is your friend doing to help her step daughter?

 

[mistoffolees]

Not that it matters but she is a friend's step daughter. She is over 30. I just want to try to save this child if possible.

You'll probably need to get CPS involved.

 

[Antigone*]

You'll probably need to get CPS involved.

I agree Misto, but that would be very difficult if they dont' know where the woman is. The only possible time would be at the time of delivery if the OP knows when or where the baby is being delivered.

 

[bambi66]

Friend has no idea what to do anymore. SD and her mother are or were addicts. Her mother died of an accidental overdose earlier this year.
CPS in which state though?

 

[Antigone*]

Friend has no idea what to do anymore. SD and her mother are or were addicts. Her mother died of an accidental overdose earlier this year.
CPS in which state though?

That is the problem. You will have to wait to see where she delivers the baby. This is complicated because you really don't know where the woman is.

 

[bambi66]

This woman went to a safe house of some type in OH at 6-7 months along for detox. I can't belive they didn't report her there but they said they don't do that or people wouldn't come to them.
She already has one 6 year old girl she lost custody of due to her addictions but it was not through an agence. The paternal grandparents somehow got custody since they were the only options other than states custody.
It's a mess and the child will be the one to suffer.

 

[rbw5147]

This baby is going to almost immediately start going through withdrawal after it is born. The baby will be drug tested and and opiates will show up in his/her system. The hospital can treat that and there is no way for mom to lie her out of this one. If you can't contact CPS because you don't where she is or where she will deliver, the hospital will contact CPS after the birth. Sadly, there is not much or really anything that you can do now.

 

[bambi66]

This baby is going to almost immediately start going through withdrawal after it is born. The baby will be drug tested and and opiates will show up in his/her system. The hospital can treat that and there is no way for mom to lie her out of this one. If you can't contact CPS because you don't where she is or where she will deliver, the hospital will contact CPS after the birth. Sadly, there is not much or really anything that you can do now.

Do hospitals automatically test mothers when they deliver? I thought they would need a reason.
Mom is supposably clean now but who knows... Sad indeed

 

[ecmst12]

The reason would be symptoms of withdrawal shortly after birth. They don't need to test the mother necessarily, only the baby. If the baby has drugs in its system, there's only one way they could have gotten there.

 

[Zigner]

Do hospitals automatically test mothers when they deliver? I thought they would need a reason.
Mom is supposably clean now but who knows... Sad indeed

Precisely.

 

[sometwo]

Its sad but I imagine nothing can be done unless the baby tests positive when she delivers.

There was a similar situation here in another state. I actually had to take my stepson in to be questioned by CPS because his mom was pregnant and she tested positive for meth. They told me then though , they wouldn't do anything unless she was positive when she was in the hospital having the baby.

Mom had baby and I guess didn't test positive because she still has this child who I believe turned 4 this year. Granted we haven't seen her in 2 1/2 years but I know she was not off drugs entirely because she failed a drug test just 2 1/2 yrs ago and that's why she hasn't seen stepson.

Its sad but sometimes you can't do anything.

 

[rbw5147]

Its sad but I imagine nothing can be done unless the baby tests positive when she delivers.

There was a similar situation here in another state. I actually had to take my stepson in to be questioned by CPS because his mom was pregnant and she tested positive for meth. They told me then though , they wouldn't do anything unless she was positive when she was in the hospital having the baby.

Mom had baby and I guess didn't test positive because she still has this child who I believe turned 4 this year. Granted we haven't seen her in 2 1/2 years but I know she was not off drugs entirely because she failed a drug test just 2 1/2 yrs ago and that's why she hasn't seen stepson.

Its sad but sometimes you can't do anything.

Well, the "good" (and that is not the word I would like to use) thing is that opiates stay in your system much longer than meth. If mom is still using, it's highly unlikely that she will try to quit on her own, while pregnant. Heroin addicts will avoid being "dope sick" at almost all costs.

Nursery nurses and doctors are very familiar with infant signs of withdrawal. They likely won't drug test mom if there isn't an obvious reason to do so, until the baby starts showing withdrawal symptoms and they test the baby.

Two things really concern me. One, I hope she doesn't try and deliver this child at home and not in a hospital and two, most moms are discharged SO soon after delivery, that it IS possible that Mom and baby could be discharged before the baby starts showing signs and symptoms of opiate withdrawal.

I'm racking my brain about this one. Did you say earlier that you had contacted CPS? If you haven't, you might do that and they may have some more advice.