How to Convince a Pregnant Woman to Seek Residential Treatment
It is incredibly hard to convince a pregnant woman to do anything, especially when it comes to her cravings but when she is suffering from a drug addiction, it is vital to convince her to seek the treatment she needs to save not only herself but also her baby.
Not only is it difficult to convince her to seek treatment, but once she does agree to it, it can be very difficult to find her the right treatment options. Luckily, there are a few tips to help loved ones convince her to seek residential treatment for her addiction. For more information on addictions in pregnant women, please call 800-481-6320Who Answers?.
Speak Calmly & Be Educated
Especially for the father of the child, it can be hard not to panic and grow angry when she refuses to seek treatment out of fear. Many times, the father will say or do something that can make the situation worse and encourage the addiction instead of urging her to quit.
Take a moment to think rationally and consider what will be said before a confrontation begins that pushes the loved one further away from her.
What some do not realize is that with certain substances, the withdrawal symptoms may increase the risk for the fetus as well as the mother when she tries to quit cold turkey, so it is important to learn everything the loved one can in regards to addiction and treatment.
Research and explain the benefits of attending residential treatment.
According to the NIDA, the prenatal use of drugs such as opioids can cause a severe withdrawal syndrome in newborns called NAS (neonatal abstinence syndrome) that put the baby at a higher risk for seizures, feeding difficulties, respiratory problems, low birth rate, and in some cases, death.
Express the Benefits of Treatment
Along with becoming educated, it may help to do some research beforehand so that when she brings up a fear of having no treatment options, the loved one will have a ready answer to assure her that it is possible.
Residential treatment will be able to help pregnant women become healthier and decrease the chances of the baby suffering from the withdrawal symptoms, though both the baby and mother may still have withdrawal symptoms after birth if therapeutic drugs are involved.
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, pregnant women are not only “eating for two” as they are so often told, but when they use illegal substances, smoke, or drink alcohol, they are also exposing their baby to it as though they were participating in the use whilst in the womb, which the loved one can express when explaining the benefits of residential treatment.
No Custody Battles
When a pregnant woman seeks treatment on her own, it increases the chances that she will maintain custody of her baby. If she does not, most hospitals are required to test the newborn babies and mothers for drug use, which is very likely to cause a temporarily immediate custody loss.
It is important to explain this to her because custody only becomes a concern once the baby is born and if she shows a commitment to becoming sober before delivery, the chances of others believing her to be an unfit parent or dangerous to the child are significantly reduced.
Being pregnant comes with its own set of insecurities and with cravings and hormones in the works, it can be very difficult to convince her to seek treatment but there are ways of talking to her that can convince her to seek treatment.
The loved one should speak calmly, rationally, and be educated on addiction as well as treatment options to gain a better understanding of what she is going through and how she can get help. It will also help greatly if she knows the benefits of seeking residential treatment and the risk of custody if she does not go through with it as well as the reduced risk if she does.
If you or someone you know is pregnant and suffering from addiction, please call 800-481-6320Who Answers? to speak with a caring specialist who can help.
