Chantilly
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Help! Raising a Meth Baby
I am raising a baby whose mother was & is addicted
to meth. See was on meth during pregnancy & I am pretty sure she
is on it now. Her son is 8 months old & she is 6 months
pregnant. Every time I go to pick him up from the parents house
about a day later he is banging his head on anything he can. I
NEED HELP to find out what soothes them or just what to do. |
| Replies... |
| Guene |
Re: Help! Raising a Meth Baby
Welcome to the board and I'm so sorry to hear about
the baby. I really don't know anything about that, but I'm glad
that you are here. |
| sweetJR |
Re: Help! Raising a Meth Baby
omg, please intervene and call CPS! Just reading
this upsets me! She needs to be locked up until this other baby
comes and then the baby put in a safe home! Same with the 8
month old! the banging head thing , omg, just makes me ill to
think if it is from meth exposure. |
| TnSkye |
Re: Help! Raising a Meth Baby
I'm sorry you had to find us for this.
Have you spoken with a doctor about this? There are various
reasons why a baby would be doing this, from meth or otherwise.
This is truely, truely sad. I have a 6 month old niece and I
can't imagine her banging her head...Something is definately
wrong with this picture. Best of luck to you. Keep us informed,
won't you?
Babies born to meth mothers is still 'experimental' I guess you
could say. We know 'this' could happen and 'that' could happen,
but for the most part, the children appear to be normal.
We do have a friend here who has recently found out that her
young daughter is ADHD and is likely due to her meth use during
pregnancy, but no one can know for sure. |
| imlostinky |
Re: Help! Raising a Meth Baby
Have him evaluated through a knowledgeable
pediatrician.
Banging head is often a sign of autism.
Does he show emotion? Can you see his smiles in his eyes?
How is he with connecting and bonding?
Does he rock back and forth quite a bit?
I'd have a pediatrician who is experienced with autism do an
evaluation.
Most definitely.
The banging of the head is an indication of something going on -
emotional or physical. |
Naiev
Newlywed |
Re: Help! Raising a Meth Baby
Chantilly,
First off welcome...I'm glad you're here.
SweetJR is right, you need to intervene...wondering what is
going to "soothe" the child I think should be the least of the
worries...let's get the baby out of the situation.
Are you in a position to do that? Legal intervention needs to
happen....in my opinion. |
sickand
tired77 |
Re: Help! Raising a Meth Baby
Yeah- I was thinking that too, JR.
The best advice I can give you is to keep that baby away from
the parents! If they are using meth, then the baby obviously has
no place there.
Now...
If she is 6 months along now, then that should be far enough
along for the fetus to be considered viable...
Meaning that the authorities CAN step in to make sure she
doesn't use for the remainder of this pregnancy.
Not reporting the incident(s) is doing a favor to NO ONE.
I'd say (without hesistation) that you should CALL THE LAW! |
| Chantilly |
Re: Help! Raising a Meth Baby
I have been asked to be the legal gaurdian for this
child & the unbron child when the girl goes to jail for a few
months. I have signed papers to be the gaurdian but it is a
revockable contract that the mother could revock at any time. I
picked him up last sat night they said sunday that they would
call for him in a hour or 2. Its been 2 days now. They might
have left the country |
| imlostinky |
Re: Help! Raising a Meth Baby
Good info
here about head banging.
Quote:
But children who are overstimulated (in an overwhelming
environment) find these rhythmic movements soothing.
Ah Ha - lightbulb.
S&T , yep without a doubt.
|
| Chantilly |
Re: Help! Raising a Meth Baby
He does show emotion but is a very irritable baby.
Short attention span, constantly wanting to bounce or shake his
head. |
sickand
tired77
|
Re: Help! Raising a Meth Baby
If you report what's going on, then you should be
able to file a temporary order stipulating full custody for the
time being.
Just a suggestion. |
| sweetJR |
Re: Help! Raising a Meth Baby
chantily, like you say the thing you signed has no
binding; get an attorney and make it binding so they can't do
the wander in and wander out of the child(ren)'s lives! you are
the start of a major hero for these two; make it permanent for
them and you! |
| Guene |
Re: Help! Raising a Meth Baby
He needs a good doctor and love. How very sad, poor
thing, please find some help for him and I agree with everybody
here, she would be turned in. |
| Chantilly |
Re: Help! Raising a Meth Baby
I am trying to get her to go to The Agape House(
its a chritian based transitional home in our town for women who
are drug dependant), our church & myself are involved deeply
with them. |
Naiev
Newlywed |
Re: Help! Raising a Meth Baby
What is her reaction to this Chantilly?
Has she expressed any desire? |
| Chantilly |
Re: Help! Raising a Meth Baby
She is sentenced to go to jail for at least 4
months but the jail is full & doesnt want to pay for a c-section
so they are letting her wait until the baby is born. Her & her
boyfriend did come to church yesterday & she shows signs of
being able to be reached but the baby's daddy is a tough shell |
sickand
tired77 |
Re: Help! Raising a Meth Baby
Is she going to jail on meth-related charges? |
| dells |
Re: Help! Raising a Meth Baby
Is CPS involved, is the time with the parents
"visits", is the child with you all the time except for visits?
I would say any time at all with parents needs to be supervised.
If the guardianship is not mandated by the court then it should
be, none of this back & forth stuff with this baby. Regarding
the child in utero, call CPS now to protect that baby till
birth.
Are you willing to take both babies? God Bless you, these babies
need you! |
| Chantilly |
Re: Help! Raising a Meth Baby
Yes she is going on drug charges. Plus the
boyfriend has a warrent for his arrest. As soon as she goes off
I am calling his Parole Officer. I am just afraid she will hit
the road if he gets put in jail. |
Naiev
Newlywed |
Re: Help! Raising a Meth Baby
If you get him out of the way now, maybe she'll
check into treatment though....let's think about that? |
cmom
|
Re: Help! Raising a Meth Baby
Chantilly,
By all means, contact CPS and also have the child checked out by
a pediatrician. |
| Chantilly |
Re: Help! Raising a Meth Baby
I am willing to take the babies full time. Right
now I am just a substitute Grandma. On the other hand I am in my
40s with adult children who dont have any kids yet so raising a
child & getting used to the late nights again is a big
adjustment. |
sickand
tired77 |
Re: Help! Raising a Meth Baby
With the current situation, you should have no
problem getting that order for full custody.
My understanding as to how this works is that you would file the
order, stating your reason. Then she would be court-ordered to a
drug test. When she doesn't pass, you win... simple as that.
I would also presume since she is currently pregnant, that she
would be incarcerated NOW rather than after the baby is born as
a means to protect this baby from being further subjected to her
drug use.
Once the fetus is considered viable, it IS a punishable crime
for her to still be using.
What state are you in?
Only asking what state you are in because I know
the info I've given is good for Oklahoma...
I just don't know for sure how things work everywhere else! |
| Chantilly |
Re: Help! Raising a Meth Baby
Does anybody have experience with this type of
child? I didnt know if there were any suggestions or comments on
what to do or expect.
|
sickand
tired77
|
Re: Help! Raising a Meth Baby
I researched a bit & would recommend that you check
into Arkansas SB-114. |
TnSkye
|
Re: Help! Raising a Meth Baby
SFJ recently posted an article about a woman in
Hawaii whose drug use caused her unborn child to die. I forget
all the details. There was something about it living for 4-5
days. I guess she had a c-section???
Any way, the judge said she was innocent because the fetus was
not a living being. This was the woman who now works for Doug
Chapman-Dog, The Bounty Hunter.
|
sickand
tired77
|
Re: Help! Raising a Meth Baby
The link that imlostinky provided gives some good
info regarding the child's behavior.
You should read that if you haven't already.
Actually, it says that chldren who bang their heads may end up
being VERY intelligent.
Check it out!
|
| Amom |
Re: Help! Raising a Meth Baby
I really hesitate to mention this, it is very
embarrassing. I think you will have to follow up with Dr. But I
was a head banger -I bet it was to soothe but our house was only
moderately disfunctional,(just some yelling in an Italian
household. no drinking, definatley no drugs, no physical
punishments. if there is such a thing. I am 50 ( gulp ) now. I
did out- grow it far as I know! But they even put a plastic
curler in my hair. They were afraid I would hurt myself. Even
the neighbors could hear it! I was always high strung and never
have slept well. Even before all of this crap.
Just wanted you to know it may not be a serious problem but you
will want to follow it up, It for me was more like chewing on a
pencil or tapping fingers I guess. |
nano
banano |
Re: Help! Raising a Meth Baby
hERE IS ONE GOOD LINK I FOUND...THERE ARE MANY MORE
OUT THERE THAT MAY HELP YOU!
www.kidsource.com/kidsour...#Resources
A while back I found an excellent site about drug exposed or
affected children, but can't find it now......there are more and
more resources out there, as the problem is getting worse. I'd
also suggest going to sites about "reactive attachment disorder"
as they have many suggestions about caring for children exposed
to drugs in-utero......you will find many links to help you from
these sites.
My step-grandaughter was exposed to meth in-utero in the first
few months of her mother's pregnancy and was a head banger,
rarely made eye contact....did not respond to smiles and human
interaction as "normal" babies do....I learned all I could and
worked, and worked, and worked with her.....she is now 8 and
still has some problems, such as impulsiveness, aggressive
behavior, no empathy and compassion etc......she's learned the
proper responses in given situations through constant
reinforcement and repetition, but left to her own devices, her
responses are not driven by conscience, but rather by what she's
been taught.....for instance, she will still at times, step over
or around a hurt/bleeding/crying playmate in the yard, seemingly
oblivious to their pain, and rush to an adult asking for a
popsicle or something she wants at the moment....she must
constantly be reminded of the proper response....stopping to see
if playmate is ok etc.
Learn, learn, learn all you can.....these childrn need
CONSISTENCY, FIRM BOUNDARIES, LOTS OF PHYSICAL AFFECTION/EYE
CONTACT AND UNCONDITIONAL LOVE!
GOOD LUCK....YOU HAVE MY ADMIRATION AND RESPECT .....THIS CHILD
NEEDS YOU....YOU WILL NEED LOTS OF SUPPORT FOR YOURSELF
TOO....THIS IS NOT AN EASY JOB, BUT IT IS SOOOOO WORTH IT!
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