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Original poster

drug dependant baby, advice needed

734 replies

EarthMotherImNot · 03/03/2010 15:20

I've been asked to foster a baby expected to be suffering drug withdrawal when it is born next week.

It is years since I've cared for one of these and any advice would be most gratefully received.

OP posts:
SparklyGothKat · 31/03/2010 10:54

WHen my DD2 was in SCBU, there was a baby withdrawing in the same bay, the crying was so high pitched, it made me so sad you are doing a great job and your FD sounds delightful.

Original poster
EarthMotherImNot · 31/03/2010 10:48

Baby weighing in at.......drum roll..........

5lb 13ozs

She has lost that pinched look and while she's not exactly on course for sumo wrestling she's getting there

I'm so pleased with her I could dance a jig but I'm too tired so a quiet yeayyyyy will have to do.

As an aside I sent some photo's of her when she went to see her her mum and got a message back.....

Thanks but they're too small to put on my wall can you enlarge them for me

OP posts:
Tambasher · 30/03/2010 07:10

You're a star and I can relate to your last comment about the mother. Poor Lo. Let's hope mother has learned a lesson, I am afraid though sometimes they just don't and repeat the cycle.

Thank goodness for people like you. x

Original poster
EarthMotherImNot · 30/03/2010 06:13

Thank you Minnerva, thats most kind of you.

My link worker tells me that my sense of humour has probably saved quite a few social workers from a good slapping

As for compassion, well sitting here at silly-o-clock with a baby who still has more than an hour to go til her meds are due and sadly can't tell the time, (and if I'm brutally honest makes me want to shake her mum for putting her in this position) breeds its own compassion

Can I add a good luck to you also

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Minnerva · 29/03/2010 21:54

I have been following this story with great interest and would just like to commend you EarthMotherImNot for your compassion and the special ability of being able to keep a sense of humour and perspective on it all.I hope that i can be half as positive and optimistic as you when I start with my placements-you have been quite inspirational.
I am looking forward to further updates-when you have the time and/or energy-good luck!

Original poster
EarthMotherImNot · 25/03/2010 14:51

I know exactly what you mean, it's hard having any sort of life when you're tied in every morning. Lo is collected at 8.30am each morning and is, in effect out for most of the morning so any family plans are afternoons or nothing.

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chegirlWILLbeserene · 25/03/2010 13:48

Wow that is a lot of contact.

DS had 4 a week but they were 4hrs each. For the first 9 mths or so they were very badly managed and didnt do much to help DS or his b.mum.

They couldve been so much more productive but I got the feeling they were for box ticking rather than anything else. DS didnt start rolling over until they decreased and he actually got a chance to lie around a play! He spent so much time travelling to and fro and then being taken to McDonalds in his buggy he just didnt get a chance to develop.

Original poster
EarthMotherImNot · 25/03/2010 13:22

contact is every day bar weekends, it has to be supervised and ss don't "do" weekends.

Its for an hour and I think she'll be here until at least summer, hopefully anyway

OP posts:
QBEE · 25/03/2010 10:13

how often do you have to do contact and did they tell you how long she will stay with you for?
glad you got a lovely lie in

Original poster
EarthMotherImNot · 25/03/2010 06:59

Hi chegirl, I had a lie-in today until 6am (bliss) as Dh did the 3am feed/meds.

lo's birth parents are both long term users and not just of one substance, more whatever they could get IYSWIM so I am fearful for lo's future.

At the moment she is doing well, I know that soon they will want to reduce her dose and I understand that can make them jittery again.

It's an awful thing for anyone to go through but she is so tiny

OP posts:
chegirlWILLbeserene · 24/03/2010 19:32

Hi Earth,

Glad to hear little miss is doing so well.

Its hard to say with my DS. He has learning difficulties, auditory processing disorder and developmental delay.
How much of that is due to the drugs, the neglect or genetic factors is impossible really.

I know b.mum didnt have a habit. She wasnt a junkie, more of a binge user.

DS doesnt have the adhd sorts of behaviours often associtated with drug exposure. But we are trying to get him out of mainstream schooling because he is struggling so much.

Who knows really?

Hope you are getting some rest

Original poster
EarthMotherImNot · 24/03/2010 15:34

You're so very welcome, and yes, I should have

Enjoy x

OP posts:
mrsjuan · 24/03/2010 15:23

Oh no - that didn't work - it's in chat with your name on.

Basically to say thank you very very much and you shouldn't have

mrsjuan · 24/03/2010 15:22

Hello EarthMother
I have left you a little message here

Glad she's doing so well - you must be exhausted

Original poster
EarthMotherImNot · 24/03/2010 11:16

Hi chegirl, she is doing ok

She can sleep for about an hour now, before it was 10-15 minutes at the most.

She is feeding well 3-4ozs every 4 hours and taking her meds fine.

The lo's consultant has been lovely, always willing to talk to us and has, in fact given us his personal phone number so we don't have to waste time getting past secretarys.

We have had quite a few babies with drug issues but she is our 1st on meds, I was terrified at first but it's amazing how quickly we've adapted to our 4 hour life.

Can I ask if you found any lasting effects with your DS?

OP posts:
chegirlWILLbeserene · 23/03/2010 20:39

Hello Earth,

How are you getting along with the teeny baby?

My DS was born after exposure to drugs and alchohol but was actively withdrawing (thank God). He came to me at 8 weeks.

He didnt sleep through for a VERY long time (sorry). He wanted to be fed very small amounts 1oz every hour. I am not sure how much of this was the drugs and how much was the insecurity he was feeling.

Have you spoken to the paediatrician responsible for LAC in your LA? Our one is lovely and knows LOADS about drug addicted babies. She is very approachable and has always been willing to get me info when I have needed it.

Hope your little one settles soon. It sounds like you are doing a fab job.

SPBInDisguise · 23/03/2010 17:56

you're a star

Original poster
EarthMotherImNot · 23/03/2010 17:51

Hi DOG, she is doing quite well, she sleeps a little longer through the night, an hour sometimes two

We've had problems getting her meds sorted, apparently a lot of community type pharmacies don't like issuing the drug as it can become unstable and its quite a trek to the hospital.

A lovely mner sent me some tiny baby clothes today and I'm looking forward to putting her in tights that are not a-la Nora Batty

OP posts:
D0G · 23/03/2010 16:56

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D0G · 21/03/2010 20:34

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Original poster
EarthMotherImNot · 21/03/2010 17:55

Health Visitor is calling this week so she'll probably weigh her then.

I think we've been lumbered re the neighbours because the loud music has started again tonight. I'll be ringing the police if it goes on though

I can't begin to tell you how tired we all are, normally one of us would snatch some sleep then the other but it's impossible with the music and the banging.

They are refusing to come to the door when we've knocked so we're stumped as to what else to try.

OP posts:
MrsSantos · 21/03/2010 15:21

God - good luck. What an amazing thing to do

D0G · 21/03/2010 15:06

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Original poster
EarthMotherImNot · 21/03/2010 11:44

We've had some "issues", her sleep is still in fits and starts and the slightest noise seems to wake her. I'm not sure if she needs her dosage upped a tad but we are struggling to get her to go the 4 hours between doses.

None of this has been helped by our new next door neighbours who decided to throw the mother of all parties last night, complete with banging screaming and running in and out of their front door in various states of undress.

Dh went round to them at 1.30am and thank god they turned the music down. I've tried to have a word this morning but even though I know they're up they are not answering the door

On top of all this the hospital have screwed up the amount of medicine they've given us and it will, in all likelihood run out before their pharmacy opens on Monday.

Phew thank god for a mini rant
Bet you're sorry you asked now DOG

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D0G · 21/03/2010 08:14

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