Teressa
NM |
My METH BABY and past pregnancy
I've seen a couple of posts lately regarding
the use of meth during pregnancy. I just wanted to put in my
.02.
I used meth until I found out I was pregnant, I was 4 months
along at that point. I decided to quit then and there. But, I
had a couple of relapses and was not completely clean until the
begining of my last trimester.
The doctors said:
My son would come early...He was 2 weeks late
My son would have low birth weight...He weighed 8lbs. 14ozs.
Everyday when I take him to day care the teacher are falling all
over themselves to tell me just how bright he is. In fact, he
sees a developmental specialist once a month, just to put my
mind at ease. She continues to assure me that my son's progress
is off the charts.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm not condoning using meth during
pregnancy! God no! What I'm saying is nothing is impossible. My
son is the reason I got clean and the reason I STAY clean. I
just wanted to maybe give people hope concerning meth and
pregnancy. I know what the medical community says, but I am
living proof that God transcends. |
Replies... |
Guene |
Re: My METH BABY and past pregnancy
Teresa that is so beautiful, I
love to hear stories with great happy endings so much. I'm glad
your son is fine and that he is growing up normal and healthly
too. Congrats on you being clean and changing your life around
too. Love and Hugs |
LivesWith
Wolves |
Re: My METH BABY and past pregnancy
Teressa,
I am glad that you have a happy, healthy baby. And
congratulations on getting and staying clean.
How old is your baby now?
Do you think you were fairly healthy before you got pregnant?
Did you eat good, nutritional food?
Did you drink alcohol or do other drugs?
Were you living in a comfortable, safe place?
I think there are many factors to having a healthy baby. Meth,
unfortunately takes away so much from someone's body and life
that little is left. The mom's I have dealt with were doing
numerous drugs for long periods of time and were living on the
street. |
Teressa
NM |
Re: My METH BABY and past pregnancy
How old is your baby now? 2 in
May
Do you think you were fairly healthy before you got pregnant?
not really, I had been on meth for 5 years
Did you eat good, nutritional food? in the 3rd trimester I did
Did you drink alcohol or do other drugs? No alcohol, or other
drugs but I was smoking about a pack of ciggs a day which I also
quit
Were you living in a comfortable, safe place? I was homeless
bouncing from place to place until my last trimester when I got
into a group home. |
LivesWith
Wolves |
Re: My METH BABY and past pregnancy
So, you sound like "a typical" addict......and this was your first baby. I assume you are
young.
Without trying to bring you down and make you worry, I would
just offer this bit of advice.
Watch closely when your child starts in the school system. It is
when they try to use their brain that you notice their peculiar
difficulties. And, in watching closely, you will be prepared to
help them learn different ways of learning the things they have
problems with.
Hopefully, your little Einstein will grow to be something great
and not struggle in school!!!
Keep up the good work MOM. |
Teressa
NM |
Re: My METH BABY and past pregnancy
Actually this is my second
child. I have a 12 yr old daughter as well. I am 31, I guess,
feels older some days than others I think tweeker years are like dog years 1=7
I will be very tuned in to all of his developmental levels, I
just wanted to post this bit of info so that people don't
automatically think they have no options when the discover they
are pregnant while on meth. Miracles happen every day! |
mkf |
Re: My METH BABY and past pregnancy
I am very happy for your son that he is
excelling. that's wonderful. I'm also appreciative that you are
not condoning meth use during pregnancy, and that your son is
your motivation to stay clean.
I hope you consider yourself lucky. Statistics show your son's
result of your use is not the norm. He certainly is a blessing -
he may very well have saved your life! |
25 years
but no
more |
Re: My METH BABY and past pregnancy
My two daughters are meth babies
too. They are 13 and 9 years old now, and BOTH have always been
at the tops of their class. Two years ago, my oldest daughter
won the Scripps Spelling Bee for her whole school. I agree with
you that not ALL meth babies have problems. My first was two
weeks early. My water broke that morning 15 minutes after the
Landers earthquake hit California, and the 2nd large earthquake
that day came while I was in labor. My youngest daughter came ON
her due date and weighed 9.1 lbs., and both daughters are
extremely healthy too. It depends on how much meth you used, and
on what days you used it. If you used a toxic amount on a
critical day of development, then your baby is in trouble. On
the other hand, if you ate well, and took vitamins, you have a
good chance at a healthy baby. It is like Russian Roulette. All
babies develop at different times, therefore nobody knows what
the critical days are for each different baby. You and I were
just lucky twice. I thank god for it every day of my life. |
irish
11682 |
Re: My METH BABY and past pregnancy
omg, I hope people (women) post
more on this subject.
to the original poster, thank you sooo much for your imput.
all that comes to mind to say is thank you. |
Nyte
Passion |
Re: My METH BABY and past pregnancy
Quote:
I am living proof that God
transcends.
Powerful Words depicting the Powerful Truth!
|
CONCERNED
NANNY |
Re: My METH BABY and past pregnancy
Quote:
I know what the medical community
says, but I am living proof that God transcends.
Teressa,
You have given me some peace. I googled and found this board. My
daughter (17) is pregnant and not her, but the daddy of her baby
was (supposedly clean) a meth user. I have put this into prayer
so you have given me some hope. |
Penelope |
Re: My METH BABY and past pregnancy
Please, understand I mean no
harm, insult, or anything bad about you or your child...
But when I hear:
Quote:
I am living proof that God
transcends.
I absolutely cringe - I think about my mother who did everything
she was supposed to do - no drugs, no booze, good nutrition, yet
my little brother Dougie is Autistic. I cringe when I hear that
"God Transends" when I think about all of the disabled adults
and children I took care of when I worked at the state hospital.
I cringe when I hear "God Trancends" and I think of all the kids
in the world who starve and die on a daily basis.
I don't think God had a thing to do with it. I think you were
just VERY, VERY LUCKY.
Mother nature does some very cruel things to people - go to your
local state hospital or special education center if you don't
believe me.
If God transcends, then what happened to my little brother?
Again - no insult intended and I hope you don't take it that
way. It's just that I've seen the worst case scenarios of Mother
Natures (Or God's, if you want to see it that way) cruelty. This
is not meant to target you, Teressa.
I think things just happen as a matter of luck, genes, and
nature. If you'd seen what I have seen in my lifetime, you might
believe the same. |
CONCERNED
NANNY |
Re: My METH BABY and past pregnancy
Quote:
I don't think God had a thing to do
with it. I think you were just VERY, VERY LUCKY.
Quote:
Mother nature does some very cruel
things to people - go to your local state hospital or
special education center if you don't believe me.
Penelope,
I am a Special Education Teacher and I feel that in essence I am
a worker (of sorts) of God!! We don't have to understand why God
does what he does, we just have to trust him.
By the way some of the students I deal with are the way they are
because of {excuse my French} stupid ass women who think more of
themselves than they do the life inside of them and do drugs and
cause this damage. Mother was there all right!!!
I don't know why I was an addict; why my daughter got pregnant
at age 16 by a supposed former meth addict; why I had a husband
(not my current husband) that beat me; why my mother died of
cancer when I was 17. I am a very good person; guess I was just
lucky (as you say) huh?!
If God was to make everything perfect (which you seem to think
all bad things are to be blamed on him). Why would we need this
world anyway.
Have you ever heard of the main thing that God gave us to make
us "keepers of ourselves?" It's called FREE WILL!!
I apologize if I have come off sounding like a pain in the ass,
but these are my feelings and it really makes me mad when people
use the Disabled to wrench their fists at God!!! |
Sfj |
Re: My METH BABY and past pregnancy
There’s at least two sides to
this and every other opinion. Let me tell you why I’m entering
this discussion even though I’m not a mother. First, I care
about those who are. I have a mother, I’m married to a mother,
my sister is a mother, and my daughter is a mother. I am a
husband and a father. We’ve had five children. The third, died
at age eleven and a half months. That was over twenty years ago.
She was born with Down’s syndrome and congenital heart disease.
The other four are all happy, healthy, well-adjusted, successful
adults. I’m very thankful for my wife and family.
When our little angel was born, the attending pediatrician
instantly told us she was ‘mentally retarded.’ That is not an
easy thing to hear ten minutes after the joy of birth.
I spent months and years harboring guilt and shame. I thought
God was punishing me because I was a sinner. There was even a
minister in the church we were attending that said our baby’s
condition was a result of my previous sins. My wife has never
done drugs of any sort in her whole life. I had not used any
drugs, drink, cigarettes or anything similar for years. I was
very young and this was twenty years before my meth run.
How does a person get over something like that? There are
thousands of handicapped children and their parents have never
used drugs.
Is it fair to blame the parents?
Is it fair to blame God?
I really don’t think so.
I really think that there are way too many things that are
beyond our scope of understanding to try and figure out. Far
beyond my knowledge, that’s for sure. |
CONCERNED
NANNY |
Re: My METH BABY and past pregnancy
Quote:
I spent months and years harboring
guilt and shame. I thought God was punishing me because I
was a sinner. There was even a minister in the church we
were attending that said our baby’s condition was a result
of my previous sins.
Sfj, my friend I empathize with you for having to harbor that
guilt (for which you should not of had to do) for so many years.
Yes, I am a firm believer in God, but I do not believe the
mininster was right in saying what he said to you; he should of
been there to comfort you.
Quote:
I really think that there are way too
many things that are beyond our scope of understanding to
try and figure out. Far beyond my knowledge, that’s for
sure.
You have put it more eloquently than I could have. That is kinda
what I was trying say.
On another note, Sfj. I have read many posts that you have made
and to be honest with you I actually thought you were a mom (no
offense; I'm saying that as a compliment to you. You have the
heart and feelings that you so often see in a mom. Your kids are
very blessed to have you as a dad! |
no more
mething
around |
Re: My METH BABY and past pregnancy
Your story is inspiring, God
transcends - absolutely.
If we believe God is responsible for all that is screwed in the
world can we not give Him credit for all that is good as well?
JMHO |
Teressa
NM |
Re: My METH BABY and past pregnancy
lisa...I agree with you. I never
intended for this post to become a religious debate.
I just know that, for me, in my soul that I could not have
overcome the things that I did without God. I was weak, thus the
addiction, however God lifted me above.
We are all sinners, EVERYONE of us! I do not, however, believe
that God punishes us for it, in ANY way.
I could say more on this topic but I won't. Again I never meant
for this to become a religion debate.
The whole purpose for my post was just to give some hope to
folks dealing with meth issues and pregnancy.
I remember how hopeless and helpless I felt. I felt like I was
drowning and nothing and no one could/would help me. I ended up
helping myself with the help and compassion of total strangers.
Just an attempt at a post that would offer hope and maybe a
light at the end of the tunnel.
~Much love to all |
Brn7more |
Re: My METH BABY and past pregnancy
I was one of them (disgusting to me) selfish
mothers who regrets every moment of it now that I'm clean and my
head is screwed on a little better, who used during her
pregnancy. You know I shot up everyday for the first four months
I was so high I forgot I was pregnant until the baby was kicking
inside of me. I was so scared knowing how much dope I'd done...
and God only know3s why my baby was born 9 pounds and as far as
anyone could tell "normal"! I have always wondered and kept it
in my mind that someday he was going to have problems. He
started school and is doing o.k. so far... I took him to the
Doctors and had him checked for hep. B and C... now I can't help
but wonder that maybe he'll developed some kind of mental
illness after the age of 18 ???? I feel so bad I couldn't live
with myself if I did another thing to hurt him. That's what
drives me to stay clean (5 years now)! Like I said God ONLY
knows what's re4ally going on here............ |
25 years
but no
more |
Re: My METH BABY and past pregnancy
I too
feel terrible that I used during my pregnancies. All we can do
now is just have the happiest life that we can with them and
hope for the best. Now that I am clean I thank god every day for
their good health. |
mkf |
Re: My METH BABY and past pregnancy
perhaps if
you believe God had something to do with your child being
healthy - maybe he gave you a healthy child so you would see the
light and quit using.
I still think people who use during pregnancy are playing
russian roulette with someone else's life. Not said to belittle
anyone here - I've read the stories and I know I've done things
I regret doing and feel I wronged my children - so no judgment
from me.
But I think Penelope was right. |
Teressa
NM |
Re: My METH BABY and past pregnancy
Mkf...I
ABSOLUTELY believe that God put my son in my life to "save" me
from myself. I thank Him every singlr day for it!
The other thing that I feel needs to be said, for those who may
be silently...or not so silently condemning me is this...
I didn't get pregnant on purpose. Like most addicts I was just
out there getting high and having stupid, mindless sex. The only
difference between me and you is I got pregnant and you didn't.
It could have happened to you too. And even once you know it's
not like you just set your pipe down and say "Oh I'm pregnant
now I guess I better stop!"
Getting pregnant with my son and the events that followed just
happened to be my epiphany. Thankfully we all at some point had
such an epiphany. Different events, same outcomes. We all credit
our sobriety to something different. I don't condemn you, please
grant others the same courtesy. |
sarah
1652 |
Re: My METH BABY and past pregnancy
I
agree with Nanny- Yes- God is all knowing...he is all knowing-
just as we do not understand some things- he knows all- eben his
reasons and his whys... |
lilbitcrzy
97 |
Re: My METH BABY and past pregnancy
i
used meth day in and out and lived on the streets hiding from
the police until i found out i was pregnant, about 3 months in.
i was then reported to the county for being a pregnant iv
narcotics addict. i was drud tested at every dr appt and failed
every test up until my last month(i had stopped the meth but
kept on with smoking pot and cigs) i also had a heart attack in
my sixth month. my daughter was born clean 6 days late and i had
the stomach flu during back labor. do u have any idea what its
like to throw up with every contraction.YUCK!!!! she was 7lbs
11oz and is now 9 and happy and healthy she never gets sick she
is a straight A student with perfect attendance. her school
tested her and recomended i let her go from the 1st grade to the
3rd but i diddnt think it was a good idea at the time. so she is
now in 3rd grade but could be in the 4th she attends enrichment
classes she reads at a 6th grade level and and uses words that i
don't even know. i consider myself very lucky that things turned
out the way they did. getting pregnant was the only thing that
saved my life back then im not sure yet whats gonna do it this
time |
Teressa
NM |
Re: My METH BABY and past pregnancy
Lilbitcrzy...are
you using again? What's your story? Maybe I missed it somewhere
along the way? |
lilbitcrzy
97 |
Re: My METH BABY and past pregnancy
I dont come
around very much so my story is not posted. i started using meth
again about a year ago when my daughters dad wondered back into
our lives for awhile. he only came around if he had drugs but he
disappeared again in october and we havent heard from him since.
but i start using when i was 9 and my mom took my 2 sisters and
moved out of state and left me with my drug addicted abusive
dad. the longest i've been clean since then was 3 months during
my pregnancy I used just about everything jusy depending on
availability or who i was hanging with. but since i had my
daughter i pretty much stayed with weed and not much more then a
few years back i was in a relationship where my bf didnt approve
of it so i quit and started drinking with him. iwas never a
drinker i didn't like the loss of control but i'm a switcher i
switch habbits deppending on whats around. i wasdrinking very
heavy for about a year and a half. i lost the job i had for 6
years and almost lost the house i had buily 2 1/2 yr ago i
finally quit drinking when her dad came around because it chased
off the other guy and thats what her dad and i always did
together so it was just second nature.i always knew that meth
was my drug of choice and if i could get it i would.its sad
thought because they say u stop maturing mentally when u start
using which would make my daughter and me the same age. |
mkf |
Re: My METH BABY and past pregnancy
TeressaNM - I believe what I said was - NO JUDGMENT FROM ME -
I don't condemn you or anyone else - perhaps you misunderstood
my comments. |
mkf |
Re: My METH BABY and past pregnancy
Just one
more thing - my intention wasn't to cause you to feel bad or
angry - I'm sorry if it did. |
Teressa
NM |
Re: My METH BABY and past pregnancy
mkf...my comments were not directed in anyone in particular just
the world in general. I guess sometimes I just get a little
indignant over peoples judgements as a whole...sorry if my anger
seemed directed at you or anyone in particular I am sorry that
was not my intent. |
Penelope |
Re: My METH BABY and past pregnancy
Nanny...
Quote:
I am a Special Education Teacher and
I feel that in essence I am a worker (of sorts) of God!!
I feel the same way. I've been working with the disabled or the
mentally ill since 1980. Prior to that, I was a volunteer and
the babysitter for every disabled kid that belonged to my mom's
friends.
Quote:
I apologize if I have come off
sounding like a pain in the ass, but these are my feelings
and it really makes me mad when people use the Disabled to
wrench their fists at God!!!
I am in no way wrenching my fist at God. God and I are pretty
good friends. What I am saying is that the disabled are the way
they are sometimes for reasons we do understand (Cerebral Palsy
is one example, PKU, Hydrocephaly) and then there are those who
are disabled because of some dirty trick that nature or genetics
has played upon them.
what I do NOT believe is that God saves some kids and disables
others. I believe these things happen as a matter of nature,
luck, genetics, and things we don't yet understand.
One thing I DO agree with - as a special ed teacher, as a psych
nurse, as a volunteer at the Special Olympics, or as the guy who
drops a quarter in the can to help the disabled - YES, WE ARE
DOING GOD'S WORK.
I just don't believe that God has anything to do with whether or
not an individual is disabled or not. I believe it is a matter
of LUCK and NATURE.
Quote:
If God was to make everything perfect
(which you seem to think all bad things are to be blamed on
him). Why would we need this world anyway.
Re-read my post. After you're done, you'll see that what I am
saying is that I blame God for NOTHING - for nothing good and
for nothing bad. I believe that things sometimes just happen -
Sfj said it the best:
Quote:
I really think that there are way too
many things that are beyond our scope of understanding to
try and figure out. Far beyond my knowledge, that’s for
sure.
Some things are beyond our comprehension and that it is
sometimes too easy and convenient to blame God. I blame God for
NOTHING.
Bad things happen to good people, and good things happen to bad
people. Such is the world.
I believe with all my heart that God is always there for me when
I need GUIDANCE in order to navigate my way through this
confusing thing we have called "Life." It's up to me to follow
his guidance - thats our "GOD GIVEN" free will for those of us
who are blessed enough to use it. For those who are not so
blessed as to be able to exercise their free will, I feel we are
OBLIGATED to care for them... like you and I are doing now! |
mom
mab38 |
Re: My METH BABY and past pregnancy
My daughter,
who is a meth addict quit cold turkey when she found out she was
pregnant, about 3 months. I am so proud she had the guts and
willpower to stay clean after she found out she was pregnant. I
can only hope and prey she stays clean after he is born. God
puts everyone on this earth for a reason, and takes u away when
HE wants to. I just want to say hang in there and take care of
your child the best u know how. Love to ya, Donna |
25years
butno
more |
Re: My METH BABY and past pregnancy
Donna - Tell your daughter congratulations
for being ABLE to quit cold turkey when she found out that she
was pregnant.
You are a very lucky grandmother with a very strong willed
daughter. Good for her! |
