While recently reading the prenatal development and birth article, the section on perinatal nurses caught my attention. These nurses are there, by request, throughout a mothers entire pregnancy; supporting, guiding and teaching the soon to be mother of all the importances during her nine months and after the baby's birth. I find these women extrodinarily helpful to all women; but especially for the first time and drug addicted mother. What if these nurses were required to provide assistance to both of these women? I realize the perinatal nurses assistance with the drug addicted mother would be more difficult so lets me begin my theory there.
A woman enters a low income community clinic because she believes she is pregnant. The doctor assesses the woman and confirms she is in deed pregnant. While performing her test he concludes this woman is doing meth, he then contacts authorities. This woman, in turn, is then required by law ( because drugs are illegal and she is pregnant) to attend a rehabilitation center where perinatal nurses are present. Along with a drug counsler, a nurse would be assigned to her. The nurse would teach and assist the soon to be mother in healthy habits and growth during her pregnancy as well as support her after birth. As for the first time mother-to-be, a perinatal nurse would be required during all of the woman's doctor appointments and check ups. She would be a constant presence at every doctor visit. The nurse would also provide a way of contact for all the mother's questions and concerns outside the office.
I am fully aware this procedure will not help all mothers abusing substances, but I believe the presence of such a nurse: her constant attention, knowledge and support would lower the risk of babies being born addicted to drugs and/or with defects, and also assist in helping the mothers overcome their addictions.
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I really like your theory. I worked in a treatment facility for people with addictions and we did have pregnant women admitted and in such cases for the duration of their stay the facility nurses would do weekly checks and make Ob appointments along with appointments with other programs that would be of assistance to the expectant mother. However this was only for the duration of their stay in the facility and most times the expectant mother would be discharged before the delivery. In your theroy the nurse would be present for the duration of the pregnancy and I also believe that it would not only help the health of the mother and baby but also be support for the mother in her recovery.
ReplyDeleteLet me start by saying that I like the idea, I just wish it were that simple. The first thing that jumped out at me was the third and fourth line of your scenario of the pregnant woman on methamphetamine. Urine samples of pregnant women are often false-positives because the chemical changes in a pregnant woman's body throw off the tests. I found this information, along with much more, here: http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle_blog/2008/jul/02/drug_testing_pregnant_women_prod. Second, I don't think it's even legal for a physician to call authorities if a pregnant woman tests positive for any substance and I know you can't send a woman to a rehabilitation center because she has drugs in her system. If it did get that far, it would be a huge violation of individual liberties to make it mandatory that a woman confer with a perinatal nurse at any time during or after her pregnancy. We don't even make it mandatory that a woman seek any kind of care during pregnancy. If we open the door to allowing these kinds of stipulations, we open the door to so many more violation of our individual freedom, autonomy, and liberty. Not to mention, if we make this mandatory, do we also make it free? How many people would go into the perinatal nursing field if they would never make any money doing it? We can't just demand that women seek a perinatal nurse that is going to add considerable amounts to their expenses, which are already outrageous, during and after a pregnancy. Also, criminalizing pregnant woman that have an addiction may deter them from ever seeking care in the first place.
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