Midwife drug questions

[LaurenMay]

Hi everyone,

I have just told the GP I'm pregnant (5+1) and they have sent me over a self referral form for the midwives...
so one of the question ask about recreational/illicit drug use; like past use and which substance.
My question is why is this relevant?
I'm now 25 the last time I did any illicit drug was about 5/6 years ago, I don't see the relevance. I'm not proud of it and would rather leave it off my medical notes.
I can understand about needing to know about recent or current drug use but not from years and years ago.

Anyone know anything about this or have an opinion? AIBU?

I just said I hadn't done drugs for years and it was never mentioned again

Drugs can have a long term effect in your body so it can be relevant to your medical history depending on the drug.

I also partook in some "youthful experimentation" but didn't disclose it to my midwife. It was years ago, it has no bearing on my life today and to be honest I don't like to give out that impression anymore.

Midwife here, it isn't relevant in most cases and I don't write down past recreational use. I doubt most women even disclose. It's important to ask because it may be relevant, for instance if you're a recovering addict.

If it was 5/6 years ago I wouldn’t even mention it.

I lied on my booking paperwork. I felt it was irrelevant to my pregnancy and would potentially cause the midwife to view me differently.

It could be relevant if you were a recovering addict that has been sober for years so they don't give you opioid based drugs if you ever went into hospital

I’m a midwife. I’m not the slightest bit interested in the joint you had when you were 15 or the cocaine you tried on holiday in 2014. I only want to know about ongoing issues.

Just leave it off the form

I think it's important to note here that as a health care professional (of course I can only speak for myself) but I really will not judge you. I couldn't care less what you do, have done or will do. What's important to me is how it'll impact your care and to help ensure I give you the best I can.

I know it's hard not to feel judged but honestly, you'd be surprised what we've heard and seen. You're not the first to experiment and won't be the last. Doesn't make you a bad person, just makes you a person xxx

@lovelyjubbly12 - I’m a HCP too and I don’t judge either BUT I work with enough others who I know do!

I was asked this question at my booking appointment. I told her I experimented at university about 15 years ago. She just laughed and commented that lots of people do and as long as it’s not recent or continuing it’s not really relevant.
It is really important the midwives ask these types of questions though. It may feel intrusive but it’s for the good of your baby.

Yeah, I was asked at my booking in appointment and said 'never'. The last time I took drugs was some MDMA at a festival in 2014 and I don't plan to again (at least not until I'm in my 60s and reliving raving days!) so I didn't think it was at all relevant.

On the other hand I was completely upfront about the fact that I've had a few mental health issues over the years, date of last self-harm etc, as even though that was also 5+ years ago I know that it's good to have flagged as it puts me at slightly increased risk of needing MH support during pregnancy and post birth.

I did check with my friend who is a midwife beforehand and she said the above was what she'd do . She said (informally and only to me - THIS IS NOT OFFICIAL ADVICE!) it was probably the best bet not to mention it as, even though it's lying and obviously not great, there's always a slim risk on the day you'll be talking to a super over-keen midwife who'll refer you to the support service and at worst you'll have a slightly awkward phonecall with someone who doesn't know why you've been referred to them...!

Just say no / none