My NEW baby is here & doing GREAT! NO w/d, NO CPS, NO prob!

Just wanted to update everyone here on my status. Though I am very busy (typing with one hand while I hold my new baby with the other one - lol) I felt it very important to take a moment to post my SUCCESSFUL "Subutex/Suboxone and Pregnancy" story here on suboxforum! My intention is only to ease the minds of the pregnant mothers like me who worried myself silly over the possible effects of the subs on baby, the possible "trouble" I might have with CPS or the hospital/staff when I gave birth, and the possible withdrawal of my baby after birth from the subs. Though there could've been several problems, there were none. I had a great birthing experience, my baby was born healthy with no w/d symptoms, and I was given NO problems at the hospital or otherwise! Smile

I was induced Tuesday morning (at 40 weeks gestation - full term) and chose to skip my Subutex dose for just that morning. We arrived at the hospital at 7:30 am & registration took about 30 minutes. During the registration, staff got a complete rundown of all my current medications including my 2mg/day of Subutex. I was completely honest with all the staff and have been honest thus far with my OB as well, so everyone knew of my Subutex use.

At about 8:30 am started fluids in an IV along with some Pitocen to begin to speed up my contractions. I had already begun to dialate before I went in for induction and so the pitocen was just to ease things along. At about 10:00 am my doctor broke my water and so the contractions began to get more intense and closer together. By noon I had requested my epidural and by 1:00 pm I was more comfortable and able to relax with the epidural working just fine. At 6:30 pm I felt the epidural wearing off but it was too late to get it adjusted because I was fully dialated and ready to begin pushing. My baby was born within about 45 minutes.

He is a big boy - weighing over 9lbs and totally healthy! I was immediatly given the chance to hold and bond with baby (along with my husband) for nearly an hour after he was born. Since he was born so late in the evening, I was given a little extra time with him before the next shift of staff came in to take him for bathing and shots. After he was checked out they moved us to a maternity room. That night I rested comfortably with baby in the room. All three of us (me, my husband, and baby) slept like BABIES!!! LOL!

The next morning the pediatrician came around to speak with us and he proclaimed that after his complete examination, my baby was completely healthy. There were NO signs of w/d at all and no medical issues otherwise. We were to be released the following morning - after staying the required 36 hours in the hospital. And sure enough, the next morning we were both discharged and sent home.

Nobody from CPS visited us. Nobody even said a word about anything like that. NOTHING.

We're adjusting to life with a new baby - my other children are also adjusting - and I'm recovering from a successful but painful childbirthing experience. I'm so happy and realize that though we're very LUCKY to have had such good fortune, that I am not the exception... my story is probably the most likely outcome of this type of situation. I believe that because we were so honest, that my doctors were able to prepare. They treated me with complete dignaty and respect. There was no whispers, hard looks, or ill treatment from the staff.

I had a wonderful expereince. The nurses were all SO very nice and helpful. The doctors were kind and understanding. I couldn't have asked for a better set of people or a better outcome.

There IS hope. I am still on Subutex for now. I will be able to also begin weaning when I feel like I am ready. This pregnancy I got myself down to 2mg/day from 16mg/day. If there is another woman that can find comfort in my experience then I'm glad I took the time to post it here!
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Sometimes the only way OUT is THROUGH!

YAY! I messaged you on bbc and was waiting to hear back from you! I was getting worried! Im so glad you posted here! I knew everything would be great! Im so happy for you! congrats congrats congrats!
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Laura

Of course there's such a thing as angels. Only sometimes they don't have wings... and we call them mothers. -Unknown

Thank you very much for taking the time to update! I'm sure you're pretty busy with a newborn. You story definetly made me relax slightly. Congradulations on becomming a mommy! Nine pounds, wow! He was a big boy! Thats great, I am so happy for you sweetheart.
If you don't mind me asking what state are you in?

I am SO happy for you. Thanks for posting a story that is sure to reassure other expectant Moms. I wish you and your family all the best.
Lilly

Thanks everyone! RTLmom, I haven't gotten on BBC yet - but thank you for your support too! I can't wait to post an update there too. And for Abby, I'm in NC.
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Sometimes the only way OUT is THROUGH!

So happy to see that you ONLY needed 2mg by the time you gave birth... Thats whats important about your post ( to me anywhy ) Getting below 2mg is so very tough, thats where I stuck at... I did not write this post to be rude or mean in anywhay, only that hospital people freak out about suboxone, Good Luck

Yes, pregnancy was the best motivator for me to get my dose down to 2mg. I worried myself so much during the pregnancy even trying to wean completely at one point but it was too stressful on my body. I did find that trying to go below 2mg was the TOUGHEST part.
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Sometimes the only way OUT is THROUGH!

I'm so relieved to hear about your experience. The comments on this board have motivated me to talk with my Dr. tomorrow before the c-section is done just to make sure there are no suprises! My greatest worry is they will take my baby away and place her in the NICU out of fear.
Also, I did find going below 2mg the hardest of all. I was at 2mg 3 mos ago and have slowly decreased my dose to .25mg/d and been having issues with depression, cravings, sweats, etc. ever since. I feel so claustorphobic at night like I can't breath or get enough air in, yawning constantly- I have this feeling like I'll never feel good again and didn't even think about it being the sub withdrawal because I thought my body would have adjusted to the decrease within a week or so.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience!

Just wanted to say a quick "Congratulations!" to you, Sunshinepromise. And a thank you.....from someone who worked hard for many years as a labor and delivery nurse, it is very refreshing to read stories from people like you. People who have done their homework, reported their history accurately, done all they can to ensure a good outcome (including expecting one) and is then kind enough to come back and report their wonderfully positive experiences with their healthcare team! This happens thousands of times every single day. But, unfortunately, what gets talked about, posted about and hyped about the most, are the relatively few (in comparison) who have a difficult or negative experience along the way.
So.....again, thank you and congratulations! Enjoy every precious moment with that baby! They go by way too fast!
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You can't undo anything you've already done, but you can face up to it. You can tell the truth. You can seek forgiveness. And then let God do the rest.

This is a great story-and I'm so glad that you posted it. It does give all of us pregnant women hope that a smooth labor and delivery is possible!

I wish there was a way to pinpoint why (or a number of reasons why) some experiences go badly and end up with prolonged NICU stays and CPS involvement, and others don't. That way perhaps we could develop a 'what to do and what not to do' list for future pregnant sub moms. Thus far, I'm not seeing any patterns, though!

Last week, I remember someone posting that a 72-hour NICU stay was considered 'normal/mandatory' for all babies born to moms taking sub---to see if withdrawals occurred, etc. It doesn't appear as if the OP experienced this---could someone clarify for me? Is the 72-hour NICU stay something that may be considered mandatory hospital by hospital? Pediatrician by pediatrician? It's on my list of 'questions to ask' at my next ob/gyn visit, but I wondered if there were published guidelines somewhere.

Anyhow, congratulations Sunshinepromise on your wonderful birth and new family. Enjoy!!!

hope - that is an excellent question and one that I also wondered about before and after my experience. It might be noted that the hospital I delivered at did not have a NICU unit... (smallish town but close by to a large city) So perhaps it was the call of the pediatrician to whether or not a baby shows signs of NAS and with that information making a decision to move the baby to a hospital with a NICU. Since my baby didn't exibit signs of w/d then perhaps it was a non-issue?

Also, since Subutex is SO new (at least where I'm from, I'm the first woman in the county to deliver a baby while taking Subutex!) then maybe it doesn't carry the same stigma as Methadone. My friend delivered a baby on Methadone and STILL had no problems with CPS being involved. So perhaps it is the area? The hospital? The staff (ped, nurses, OBs?)?

It would be helpful to know if there were commonalities amongst the women who do encounter problems with social services or with hospitals taking infants to the NICU "just in case". My friend that I mentioned who delivered a baby on Methadone also just delivered her second child on Subutex (different area) yet still had an experience much like mine. It does seem that her past history would be enough to warrant more concern from the professionals involved, but it didn't.

It is CURIOUS!
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Sometimes the only way OUT is THROUGH!