At 22, Michelle found out she was pregnant during her third year at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. She had been struggling with being away from home and had started to casually use prescription pills to deal with the anxiety and sleepless nights, but her usage had spiraled out of control with a recent break-up. Now, with a positive pregnancy test in hand, a tidal wave of guilt crashed over her. She didn’t know where to turn. How could she tell her family? Would they judge her? But somewhere deep inside, underneath the weight of the fear, she hears a quiet voice, “My body, my baby, deserves better. This is the reason I need to finally get clean.”
Oftentimes, when we think of a baby on the way, we picture the excitement, anticipation, and joy the new little bundle is going to bring with it. What we rarely talk about are the unique challenges pregnant women face (hormonal changes, anxiety, physical discomfort) and how drug addiction can compound these issues. Whether the addiction existed before pregnancy or began due to pregnancy-related stress, addiction must be dealt with for the health of the mother and baby.
Although we rarely discuss pregnancy and addiction in the same conversations, it is more common than most people realize. That’s why we have created this article, to help guide pregnant women and their families through detox and recovery, offering hope and healing for both the mother and baby. By looking at pregnancy and addiction, we’ll touch on some of the different challenges a woman faces during this time. By discussing the importance of sobriety, overcoming stigma, and learning what happens during the detox process, we hope that expecting mothers can achieve the sobriety that both she and her baby deserve. We will teach you what an addiction rehab can and should do to help pregnant mothers, and provide questions to ask to help you choose the best treatment center for you.
The Challenges of Pregnancy and Addiction
Pregnancy is nothing short of miraculous. The ability to nurture and sustain a living being within a woman’s body is remarkable, but it does not come without costs. Physical challenges may include nausea and fatigue, while anxiety and changes in body image can have both physical and mental impacts. For some women, these challenges can trigger substance use. Self-medicating for anxiety or pain can unintentionally lead to drug addiction while pregnant, and other women may enter into pregnancy with pre-existing substance use, like the example of Michelle, our college student abusing prescription medication.
No matter if you had a drug addiction before pregnancy or you have developed one since finding out the news, you are not alone. Although it is difficult to get accurate statistics due to underreporting, approximately 5-20% of pregnant women face substance abuse challenges. For these women, a safe detox for both her and baby, along with specialized treatment programs, can pave the way for a healthier pregnancy, baby, and future.
Untreated addictions can have devastating consequences. Pre-term birth, low birth weight, or neonatal abstinence syndrome are just a few complications that drug use during pregnancy can cause. Seeking sobriety is the most important step you can take to protect yourself and your baby. Let’s look at the importance of sobriety during pregnancy.
Why Sobriety is Important for Pregnant Mothers
Receiving drug addiction help and achieving sobriety (as early as possible) during pregnancy is a courageous act of love that transforms the health of the mother and baby and offers hope for the future. By getting sober, pregnant women can improve their nutrition, reducing the risk of complications like preterm birth, neonatal abstinence syndrome, and significantly reducing the risk of birth defects.
The impact of sobriety goes deeper than physical benefits. Being sober promotes emotional stability, helping women deal with pregnancy-related stress and building healthier family bonds as they prepare for parenthood. Holistically approaching sobriety, addressing the body, mind, and spirit, builds a foundation for a healthier future for the mother and child.
Wherever a woman is in her pregnancy, it’s never too late to get the help she needs and make a positive impact on her child’s health, as well as hers. However, the stigma surrounding addiction, rehab, and pregnancy often prevents a woman from seeking help, too afraid of the judgment, shame, and guilt. This makes overcoming these barriers critical to accessing the support needed for recovery.
Breaking the Stigma of Rehab for Pregnant Women
Being a parent is one of the most rewarding endeavors a person can take on. It is also one of the most challenging, scary, difficult, and guilt-laden, and it all starts the moment the test reads “positive.” This puts enormous pressure on the woman with a substance abuse issue and may even initiate one. So many women are afraid of being judged by admitting this truth about themselves, especially when expecting a child. The misconception that they’re a “bad mother” or “not fit to parent” is sometimes so painful that it prevents a pregnant woman from getting the help she desperately needs.
However, it is important to remember that addiction is not a moral failing but a complex disease that requires compassion and treatment, not shame. For pregnant women facing substance use, the weight of judgment and fear of criminal consequences can feel overwhelming, keeping them struggling in silence.
Breaking the stigma begins with open, honest conversations and a change in our perspective on the way we view addiction during pregnancy. Choosing to get help for herself and her unborn child is not a sign of weakness, but an act of courage and love. Families and communities must rally around these women, encouraging healing instead of passing judgment.
By shifting perspectives on addiction and pregnancy and having open conversations, pregnant women can move past the stigma and take the next step toward recovery. For Michelle, it was finding drug addiction help in Salt Lake City, where she could start her detox process and begin healing herself and her baby.
Understanding what happens during the detox process can help ease fears and encourage a woman to seek help. Let’s break down the process of medically supervised detox and learn how it safely supports both the mother and baby.
Detox During Pregnancy: What Happens
The process of detox can be a difficult and risky one, but necessary. For this reason, medically supervised detox is strongly encouraged, especially for pregnant women. Tailored to protect both the mother and baby, medically supervised detox safely eliminates substances from the body of the mother and child. During detox, physical effects on the mother are monitored and managed, as well as on the unborn baby. The common symptoms experienced during detox include:
- Physical Withdrawal: The most common symptoms for the mother during withdrawal are nausea, fatigue, muscle aches, sweating, or tremors. These will vary depending on the substance being detoxed. The baby may experience fetal distress, such as an increased heart rate.
- Emotional Challenges: Detoxing while pregnant can bring intense emotional challenges. Compounded by pregnancy hormones and social stigma, women can experience extreme fear of harming their baby, guilt over the addiction, and anxiety and depression from the withdrawal.
These physical and emotional challenges that occur during detox can be overwhelming, but with supportive care, women can find the hope and strength for healing. By safely tapering off harmful substances while monitoring the baby, risks are minimized, and complications can be prevented.
Addiction rehab centers play a major role in providing a safe environment for detox with ongoing support and therapies that promote healing. Knowing how rehab centers can support pregnant mothers can help a woman choose the best treatment facility for her recovery.
How Rehab Centers Can Support Pregnant Mothers
Each drug addiction program and residential rehab facility has its own unique approach to healing. During pregnancy, it is key that the rehab facility a woman chooses offers tailored treatment for pregnant mothers that includes:
- Access to prenatal care and collaboration with an OB-GYN.
- Medically supervised detox.
- Addiction counseling (individual, group, family).
- Psychotherapy, such as CBT or DBT.
- Nutritional Support.
- Integrated holistic approach, healing mind, body, and spirit.
- Parenting education and support groups.
The care that a rehab facility provides goes way beyond detox. It supports women throughout their recovery journey and beyond. Women also have the power to help themselves through the detox process.
Self-Help Strategies for Pregnant Mothers in Detox
As if asking for help wasn’t hard enough, now you have to go through the detox process. This can be an extremely difficult time, emotionally and physically. Use the following tips to manage detox in the best way possible.
- Stay hydrated and eat nutritious meals.
- Participate in safe exercise practices.
- Prioritize sleep.
- Participate in stress management activities, like journaling or participating in creative outlets like art, music, or outdoor activity.
- Lean on your support network and stay connected. Reach out to family, friends, or support groups in your treatment center. Having a shoulder to lean on can make all the difference.
- Educate yourself and learn about addiction and pregnancy. The more you understand about its potential harm, the more you will be motivated to stay sober.
- Prioritize self-care, which includes prenatal care for the unborn child.
- Remind yourself why you are in recovery and why it’s so important, not only for you, but the child you are carrying.
Don’t be afraid to speak up about your specific needs. Each woman’s experience is different and requires a customized approach for healing. This is why finding the right treatment center is vital for success, and it begins with asking the right questions.
Questions to Ask When Choosing a Treatment Program
For pregnant mothers, it could not be more important to choose a rehabilitation center that tailors treatment specifically to them and their unborn child. Asking the right questions when choosing a treatment center ensures that the treatment will meet the needs of the mother. Here is a list of questions to ask when trying to make a decision:
- Does your facility or program have experience in treating pregnant women?
- Does your facility offer specialized programs for pregnant women?
- Is medically supervised detox available?
- What type of detox protocols are used to keep the mother and baby safe?
- Does your program work with and collaborate with an OB-GYN?
- Is your staff trained in both addiction and prenatal care?
- What type of support is offered after detox? (Inpatient or intensive outpatient programs?)
- Do you provide mental health services or counseling for pregnancy-related stress?
- Does your facility provide nutritional support and education?
- What type of holistic therapies are included in your treatment programs?
- Is your facility accredited?
Asking these questions can help women and families find a safe and supportive environment for their recovery.
Hope, Healing, and a Fresh Start for Two
For pregnant mothers like Michelle, being pregnant and battling an addiction may feel like an impossible situation. But with the right care and choosing sobriety, a healthier future for both the mother and baby can be realized, free from the grip of addiction. By understanding the emotional and physical toll of addiction during pregnancy to overcoming stigma, and choosing the right rehab facility, pregnant mothers can gain hope for the future. Breaking the silence and embracing treatment is how hope is restored. If you or someone you know is facing this challenge, know that they are not the only one, and help is out there. Ask the right questions to find a treatment center that prioritizes the needs of the mother and the health of the baby, taking the first step toward hope, healing, and a sober tomorrow.
