http://www.emdr.com/what-is-emdr/

Look into this therapy. Non pharmaceutical. Supposedly very effective for ptsd

So sorry that you are going through this, OP. Please do not take the Valium and risk reigniting your addiction. Do you have a partner or family help forwhen your baby arrives?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First, calm down. Testing positive for THC is not likely going to get the baby taken away from you or even necessarily a referral to CPS. This is not the same thing has the baby being born addicted to meth.

You can look into state/local laws and hospital policies about drug testing a birth. If you are in the DC area you have three jurisdictions to choose from and can select a hospital accordingly.

If you are in DC, then what you’ve done isn’t even illegal. CPS is looking for reckless endangerment of the child’s life. Reading your story, it seems that you reviewed the evidence available and made an informed choice that THC was safer for the baby than valium. That is not reckless.

I would encourage you to talk to your doctor since they have already offered the Valium prescription. You don’t have to tell them you have already taken THC but you can ask for their medical opinion on which would be better for the baby and allow you to control your symptoms.

It most certainly is. My mom is in nursing and she said they test mom for drugs in L&D and anything illegal in mom or baby gets CPS referral. There is not a scale of worse off drugs that gets you a referral or not. It’s mandatory reporting for any illegal drugs.

OP how far along are you and when was the last time you did it? It’s hard to get help and be leery since there are so many mandatory reporters. However, you gotta take care of you.

The rules vary by state. Here is a reference.

https://projects.propublica.org/graphics/maternity-drug-policies-by-state

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First, calm down. Testing positive for THC is not likely going to get the baby taken away from you or even necessarily a referral to CPS. This is not the same thing has the baby being born addicted to meth.

You can look into state/local laws and hospital policies about drug testing a birth. If you are in the DC area you have three jurisdictions to choose from and can select a hospital accordingly.

If you are in DC, then what you’ve done isn’t even illegal. CPS is looking for reckless endangerment of the child’s life. Reading your story, it seems that you reviewed the evidence available and made an informed choice that THC was safer for the baby than valium. That is not reckless.

I would encourage you to talk to your doctor since they have already offered the Valium prescription. You don’t have to tell them you have already taken THC but you can ask for their medical opinion on which would be better for the baby and allow you to control your symptoms.

It most certainly is. My mom is in nursing and she said they test mom for drugs in L&D and anything illegal in mom or baby gets CPS referral. There is not a scale of worse off drugs that gets you a referral or not. It’s mandatory reporting for any illegal drugs.

OP how far along are you and when was the last time you did it? It’s hard to get help and be leery since there are so many mandatory reporters. However, you gotta take care of you.

NP- a referral may happen, but that doesn’t mean the baby will get taken away. I don’t know the process, I don’t know what will happen, but a referral isn’t an automatic removal. If OP is a person of color, I hope that he baby is late and they don’t test.

Anonymous wrote:First, calm down. Testing positive for THC is not likely going to get the baby taken away from you or even necessarily a referral to CPS. This is not the same thing has the baby being born addicted to meth.

You can look into state/local laws and hospital policies about drug testing a birth. If you are in the DC area you have three jurisdictions to choose from and can select a hospital accordingly.

If you are in DC, then what you’ve done isn’t even illegal. CPS is looking for reckless endangerment of the child’s life. Reading your story, it seems that you reviewed the evidence available and made an informed choice that THC was safer for the baby than valium. That is not reckless.

I would encourage you to talk to your doctor since they have already offered the Valium prescription. You don’t have to tell them you have already taken THC but you can ask for their medical opinion on which would be better for the baby and allow you to control your symptoms.

It most certainly is. My mom is in nursing and she said they test mom for drugs in L&D and anything illegal in mom or baby gets CPS referral. There is not a scale of worse off drugs that gets you a referral or not. It’s mandatory reporting for any illegal drugs.

OP how far along are you and when was the last time you did it? It’s hard to get help and be leery since there are so many mandatory reporters. However, you gotta take care of you.

First, calm down. Testing positive for THC is not likely going to get the baby taken away from you or even necessarily a referral to CPS. This is not the same thing has the baby being born addicted to meth.

You can look into state/local laws and hospital policies about drug testing a birth. If you are in the DC area you have three jurisdictions to choose from and can select a hospital accordingly.

If you are in DC, then what you’ve done isn’t even illegal. CPS is looking for reckless endangerment of the child’s life. Reading your story, it seems that you reviewed the evidence available and made an informed choice that THC was safer for the baby than valium. That is not reckless.

I would encourage you to talk to your doctor since they have already offered the Valium prescription. You don’t have to tell them you have already taken THC but you can ask for their medical opinion on which would be better for the baby and allow you to control your symptoms.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry you’re going through this. Do you have a therapist/psychiatrist you could talk to?

I haven’t been a patient with one for over the last couple of years. I did call into the office of my former therapist but I’m considered a new patient and she’s booking three months out. I didn’t make an appointment.

This is such bullshit that therapist are booked that far out and don't make exceptions. I'm sorry for you, OP. I agree though, make the appointment and keep looking for new therapist to get appointment sooner.

Are you currently working? If so see if your work has an EAP program.

I am so sorry you’re going through this. My best recommendation would be for you to line up a good therapist now that you can start seeing so you’re covered once the baby is born. I did not have PPD/PPA and the transition to sleepless nights with a newborn was incredibly challenging. Add even more on top and you WILL need help to pull yourself out of it, especially given your history. You should absolutely discuss with your OB as well so you can have a plan for delivery... can you start some meds right away as a preventative measure?

In your case I would plan not to nurse so you can take the meds you need and not have to worry about the baby. If you strongly prefer breast milk you can look into donor milk.

The best thing you can do is take care of yourself so you can be a great mom to your baby. What’s done is done. If you can stop the THC I would not disclose and hope for the best. If they do drug test I think you will be in a much better position if you’re already getting help/treatment vs not.

When are you due?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry you’re going through this. Do you have a therapist/psychiatrist you could talk to?

+1. Please talk to someone. It sounds like you need to at least go up on your antidepressants. PPA/PPD is no joke, coming from someone who has it without any warning. I agree re: not disclosing the THC, but please please talk to someone to get your self in the safest state of mind possible before your sweet baby comes.

+2 Set up the appointment even if that means you cancel it later if you don’t need it. The first few weeks PP are bonkers hormonally, and going into it with your history may mean you’ll need to seek treatment. Please don’t be afraid to speak to your OB about your feelings so you can have a plan of action whenbaby comes rather than start from scratch while you’re recovering.

It’s going to be ok. You’re concerned for your health and your baby’s health and that’s a great indication that you’ll be a caring and proactive mom. We’re all in this together, we all have our own burdens to shoulder. Always speak up when you need help. Good luck.

Anonymous wrote:Sorry you’re going through this. Do you have a therapist/psychiatrist you could talk to?

+1. Please talk to someone. It sounds like you need to at least go up on your antidepressants. PPA/PPD is no joke, coming from someone who has it without any warning. I agree re: not disclosing the THC, but please please talk to someone to get your self in the safest state of mind possible before your sweet baby comes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry you’re going through this. Do you have a therapist/psychiatrist you could talk to?

I haven’t been a patient with one for over the last couple of years. I did call into the office of my former therapist but I’m considered a new patient and she’s booking three months out. I didn’t make an appointment.

I think therapists would be considered mandatory CPS reporters, just FYI. I hope you get the help you need, but you should not disclose your current THC use.

Anonymous wrote:Sorry you’re going through this. Do you have a therapist/psychiatrist you could talk to?

I haven’t been a patient with one for over the last couple of years. I did call into the office of my former therapist but I’m considered a new patient and she’s booking three months out. I didn’t make an appointment.

Sorry you’re going through this. Do you have a therapist/psychiatrist you could talk to?

I want to discuss this to maybe help myself regain control of my emotions.
Backstory:
A few years ago I was saw/was apart of something and I developed PTSD from it. Was only 25 at that time and went on anti depressants and anti anxiety medication. Stayed on Diazapam for more than a year. When I realized I wasn’t being triggered on the daily with flashbacks and only using it to sleep, I tried to get off of it, but continued to have nightmares that made it difficult to stay asleep. Doc said I had an addiction to it. Took time but I eventually figured out how to live life with only the anti depressant, occasional Xanax for panic attacks and THC for situations when my mind couldn’t sleep. Learning to cope without Valium felt close to impossible, that detox period was a real low for me.

I’m 32 now and everything in this pregnancy was fine until a couple weeks ago. No Xanax or THC but stayed on the antidepressant. I’m not as well rested, and I assume that’s why these flashbacks and nightmares have started again. They’re the level of intensity I remember from my 20’s. My doctor said I could go back on Valium to prevent PPD/PPA. I haven’t asked for a RX. I have no excuse other than I wasn’t able to snap out of that sense of chaos, and I’ve used THC on four different occasions recently. I’m terrified of trying Valium again, I don’t want to go through the addiction/detox process. Valium is harmful for the fetus, as is THC, but one is legal and one isn’t. I’m going to test positive, the baby will test positive.

The only person I’ve discussed this with is a L&D nurse friend who said not to bring up THC useage with my doctor because the hospital will absolutely have to test for it, whereas right now I don’t know if they will. She also said to stick to formula, which I will do. I’m terrified of the unknown and consequences of this. What’s done is done with the useage. I’m still struggling with some of the PTSD symptoms but they’re not my biggest concern, being in jeopardy with CPS or law enforcement is much scarier.

I don’t have anyone I can talk to about this, turning to the internet.