Having a baby growing inside of you is one of the most beautiful experiences in life. It can also be a scary time, especially if you are worried about possible complications. Being addicted to opiates, such as Oxycodone while pregnant is risky, but there is a form of treatment that can lessen the risks for mother and child.
Oxycodone is a powerful opiate that can be habit-forming. Detoxing from this prescription medication can be difficult and painful. In addition, it causes opiate withdrawal symptoms, which can be devastating to a fetus. This is why addiction and medical experts warn against trying to go “cold turkey” or detox in other ways during this time.
Oxycodone Detox During Pregnancy Can Be Detrimental for a Fetus
Some of the withdrawal symptoms that are possible when coming off Oxycodone include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Chills
- Achy bones and joints
- Severe cravings
- Tremors
- Agitation
- Seizures, in severe cases
You can see why going through this type of withdrawal is not good for a baby. The body is in such a state of upheaval during withdrawal, and this can cause problems including stillborn birth, pre-term birth, and birth defects. This is why experts say that any type of opiate detox or rehab program during pregnancy is not wise.
The Waismann Method has helped millions of people with this problem, but we’re not able to help pregnant women at this time. Our company offers rapid opiate detoxification, a medical procedure that induces withdrawal while patients are under deep sedation. The process uses intravenous and oral medications to eliminate the physical opiate dependency at the receptor sites.
Methadone The Approved Opiate Addiction Treatment During Pregnancy
Instead of quitting Oxycodone during pregnancy, doctors will switch you to Methadone. This is seen as a less risky option because Methadone is believed to have less potential for abuse and addiction. It’s used to replace the Oxycodone so that patients aren’t thrown into a dangerous withdrawal. It is also intended to eliminate cravings people experience when they stop taking Oxycodone.
This type of treatment can be offered on an outpatient basis as part of a treatment program that includes medical oversight. Having regular, scheduled check-ups during pregnancy is so important. Mother and fetus should be monitored closely, no matter what the mother’s health status is.
Methadone is an opiate, and the baby will likely be born dependent upon it. This is different than addiction. He or she will be physically dependent, but without the addition of psychological opiate dependence, this doesn’t constitute addiction. The withdrawal symptoms a newborn experiences after exposure to Methadone can be managed to ease discomfort. Symptoms may include excessive, high-pitched crying, rapid breathing, yawning, sneezing and upset stomach.
