Benefits of Methadone Treatment for Pregnant Women

Opiate addiction knows know bounds, affecting people of every age from all walks of life. Pregnant women in particular face an added burden in terms of the guilt that comes with knowing one’s drug habit is harming an unborn child.

Methadone treatment exists as one of a handful of medication therapies that’s safe to undergo during pregnancy. In effect, methadone treatment for pregnant women provides both physical and psychological benefits for the mother and creates a safe, healthy environment for a developing baby.

Methadone Treatment for Pregnant Women

Using methadone helps expecting mothers carry the fetus to full term.

According to the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration, since 1998, methadone treatment has remained the recommended standard of car for treating opiate addiction during pregnancy. In effect, methadone offers the same benefits for pregnant women as for anyone else battling opiate addiction.

Methadone treatment for pregnant women offers added benefits to a developing fetus by increasing the likelihood of carrying to full term and delivering a healthy baby. As the effects of opiate abuse can cause immediate harm to the fetus as well as long-term problems for a newborn, methadone’s therapeutic benefits offers women a safe means for overcoming addiction during pregnancy.

Not sure if your insurance will help cover your treatment costs? Call our helpline at 800-678-5931(Paid Advertiser) for more information.

Benefits of Methadone Treatment

Improved Physical Health Status

Opiate abuse not only impairs brain and body functions, but also predisposes users to developing serious medical problems, such as:

Malnutrition
Increased blood pressure
Mental health problems
Liver problems
Heart problems

Any one of these conditions can interfere with normal fetal development while placing an incredible strain on a woman’s body. Methadone’s ability to stabilize brain and body functions helps sustain a healthy living environment for a developing fetus.

Side Effects of Methadone in Pregnant Women

With opiate addiction, addicts eventually reach a point where no amount of the drug can ward off withdrawal episodes. For pregnant women, withdrawal episodes not only endanger the mother, but also the fetus. According to the American Council of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, as much as 4.4 percent of pregnant women were reported opiate users in ….

Eliminates Withdrawal Episodes

Whether a woman opts to stop using opiates on her own or continues abusing drugs, the effects of withdrawal in both instances pose a considerable threat to the health of a fetus. Ultimately, opiate abuse has the same effects on the fetus as the mother, so withdrawal episodes not only jeopardize the health of the fetus, but increases the risk of miscarriage.

According to Princeton University, ongoing opiate abuse during pregnancy can also cause a newborn to be born with neonatal abstinence syndrome, which is a state of withdrawal than can last for as long as two months. Since methadone’s effects eliminates withdrawal episodes, methadone treatment for pregnant woman eliminates these risks.

Developing New Coping Behaviors

The methadone treatment approach includes a behavior-based component that’s designed to help recovering addicts replace addiction-based thinking and behavior with healthy ways of coping with daily life pressures. Behavior-based interventions work to help a person develop the type of mindset that can manage the affairs of everyday life without the need for drugs

This aspect of methadone treatment goes a long way towards equipping an expectant mother with the skills needed to raise a healthy, happy baby.

If you or someone you know are considering methadone treatment and need help finding a program that meets your needs, please don’t hesitate to call our toll-free helpline at 800-678-5931(Paid Advertiser) to speak with one of our addiction specialists.