If you take drugs and are pregnant, the greatest gift you can give your baby is to quit. There are really no safe drugs or no safe amount to take when you are pregnant. It is best for the health of your baby for you to quit. In fact, his life may depend on it.
When you discover you are pregnant, you will find that you think of yourself less and your baby more. This makes it easier for some women to quit drugs than at any other time in life. Take advantage of this natural maternal instinct to help you kick the habit.
Depending on the drugs you use you may be able to quit on your own without any help. For example, if you smoke a little marijuana on occasion, like at a party or concert, quitting may be no big deal. You may just stop without any help or intervention.
If you do harder drugs, such as cocaine, heroin or crystal meth, quitting alone may not be possible. You may fear telling your health care provider about your drug use. Many women fear this because they fear their babies will be taken away. In some states, this is possible.
However, if you are seeking help the state is far less likely to step in than it would if you continued to use drugs and the baby is born addicted. In this case, you can guarantee that you will lose custody of your child. Asking for help is the best solution.
Your health care provider can help you find a treatment program, if needed. Don’t be afraid to ask. There are also national hotlines you can call for help. Here are some numbers to call:
The National Drug Help Hotline 1-800-662-4357
National Alcohol and Drug Dependence Hotline 1-800-622-2255
However you choose to seek out help, be sure to do it. There are in and out patient treatment programs and support groups available in every community. When you are going through treatment, you will need to avoid friends who use drugs. They will get you started again. Surround yourself with supportive people who are clean and sober. These friends and family members are more likely to help you stay on the right track.
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