Pregnant/Postpartum Women

Some pregnant/postpartum women struggle with the issues of substance abuse and addiction. Since their needs for recovery services are different from others in the general population, there are addiction treatment programs that are focused on helping these women achieve recovery and sobriety.

Addiction Treatment and Pregnancy

Pregnant/postpartum women who struggle with drug and alcohol abuse and addiction often have major problems that other women might not necessary have. For instance, they have to desire their ongoing desire to remain healthy and well while also dealing with the demands of their chemical dependence on drugs and alcohol.

A national survey conducted in 2012 showed that more than 5 percent of pregnant/postpartum women abuse drugs while another 8.5 percent consume alcohol on a regular basis.

Addiction comes with many challenges that could affect your pregnancy, delivery, as well as the eventual development of your baby. However, you might still be worried that your options for addiction treatment are limited - especially while you are still expecting a child or shortly after you give birth.

Even so, you should realize that there are certain drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs that are focused on the recovery needs of pregnant/postpartum women. These programs can help you guide you down the road to full recovery and sobriety.

Pregnant/Postpartum Women Addiction Treatment Services

While enrolled in these programs, you will receive a wide variety of recovery services that are specifically designed to deal with your unique and needs for long term recovery. These services include:

a) Medically Managed Detoxification

Going through the withdrawal process while expecting a child or while struggling with postpartum depression can come up with a wide variety of risks and dangers. Some of these dangers include:

Developmental delay
Low birth weight
Miscarriage
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (or NAS), where your baby will experience withdrawal symptoms after they are born, including difficulty breathing, seizures, fever, diarrhea, tremors, and convulsions
Premature birth
Stillbirth
Underdeveloped organs

To this end, you are going to need specific medically supervised detoxification services to manage your withdrawal symptoms and drug cravings as well as to reduce the risk that you and your baby may suffer the effects listed above.

b) Unique Treatment Plans

Drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs for pregnant/postpartum women will also offer unique treatment plans designed to ensure that you achieve lasting recovery in a safe and controlled way.

To this end, you can expect to benefit from the following types of unique treatment and recovery plans and services:

Prenatal and postnatal treatment and care, including access to general clinicians and obstetricians

- Access to a sober living facility

- Aftercare programming

- Fetal monitoring

- Infant bonding, where required

- Nutritional support

- Parenting resources

- Regular vitals monitoring

- Relapse prevention

After detox, you will also be provided with a wide varietyy of therapy options - which will be based on your needs and requirements. Some addiction treatment programs for pregnant/postpartum women will also offer a combination of therapies designed to ensure that you - and your baby - benefit from everything that the rehabilitation program and facility has to offer.

Getting Help

It is recommended that you seek ongoing rehabilitation for pregnant/postpartum women to ensure that you achieve recovery - both during and after your pregnancy. This way, you should be able to reduce and eventually overcome your substance abuse and addiction as well as protect your child.