Drunk OB and SRS

Scooter5 · Jan 30, 2009

Here in NY, if a baby is born positive with illegal substances in its body, then Child Protective is called. Will they take the baby? Perhaps temporarily, but family reunification is always the goal, unless the parents are unfit, then parental rights can be terminated. As always, there is a lengthy process through family court that must be followed unless the parents are willing to just sign their rights away.

nkochrn, RN · Jan 30, 2009

Thanks, my OB supervisor is under the impression that the mom is losing the baby is losing the baby asap when it's born. I argued with her that they would probly try to get the baby back to the mom.

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · Feb 2, 2009

I'm positive it varies from state to state, but in my state, it depends on so many variables whether they will take baby away from mom. It depends on how long the hx is, if baby's drug screen is + (in the situation you described, almost certain), if this is her first baby or not, if she has any sort of 'safety net' at home - i.e., people who will make sure the baby gets what he needs if mom is not doing it - all those things, and probably some I'm forgetting at the moment.

It's an automatic referral to CPS (that's what we call it in my state), but no, not an automatic removal of baby from the house.

RochesterRN-BSN, BSN, RN · Feb 2, 2009

I work in psych ER and we get pregnant women abusing or depenant on all sorts of drugs! Makes me absolutly CRAZY!! I hate to judge and try really hard not to but that is one case where it is extra hard. I figure it's ones own choice to **** up ones own body and life but to force this on an unborn baby is sick and I think these women should be charged with the same charges they would be charged with if they...say got a newborn baby drunk, or shot it up with heroin or held THC or crack to the baby's lips......that would be...what? child abuse, endangering the welfare of a child, providing illegal drugs to a minor, where does it end?!? I think they should be locked up till the babies born so they can't use then the baby taken away. If the mom can do rehab and is successful she gets one shot in a controlled environment....to get that baby back.

Its hard to say what they will do because it's different per state like others

have said and even a case by case thing.........CPS (Child Protective Services) is definately called if + at the time of birth.......Social Work handles these things really, not nursing so they know this stuff better..........you can call the CPS agency near you and ask these questions. Maybe they can give you more clear answers........that's what I would do.

nkochrn, RN · Feb 2, 2009

Thanks for your input. Our social worker has been working with the patient. We kept her in for an extra day so that Catholic Charities could come see her and partially just so we knew she wasn't out doing it again, but we can't really keep her hospitalized until the babe is born, unfortunately. I completely agree that she should be charged with a lot of stuff. She was thinking about giving the baby up and hopefully she will. I don't know if she's used any other drugs but alcohol throughout pregnancy, but her drugscreen was clean when we saw her.

nkochrn, RN · Sep 26, 2009

I just spotted this old thread in my subscribed threads and wanted to give a little update! This mom did NOT give the baby up, she did have a family lined up, but they backed out due to fear of fetal alcohol syndrome. I was her nurse all day when she was induced and took care of her and baby the following day.

She did AWESOME with the baby. I kept telling everyone you never know how having the baby in her arms might change her life and I was right! She is still doing great:) Her mom ended up being a great support system for her.