I've always known that CPS was a complete fraud. That more harm was done by their hand than good. But lately I've been hearing of more and more abuse at the hands of doctors and agents that don't even have court sanctioned documents or the support of the government, beyond payment. And it frightens me to think that if *anything* were to happen and some doctor got an itch up their butt, they'd call CPS. I mean, am I to lie about what happens to my child or in my home, teach my child not to trust anyone? This is just a silly little rant, almost more of a random thought. But since I came so close to losing Moire once already (will write more on that at bottom of the post), I just am paranoid about losing her again. Day of Moire's Birth: Even though my COMPLETE medical record was faxed over to the L/D ward, they still felt it necessary to ask me all of those "history" questions. During Contractions, no less. So, during a contraction, they ask me "Have you smoked any marijuana during this pregnancy." And because I was in pain and not thinking straight enough to lie, I said "yes, before I knew I was pregnant." Labour goes, baby born, skip to next day: Among my numerous other visitors that can't seem to let a new momma/daddy/baby sleep was a social worker with the pediatrician, who told us they would have to do a urine sample on Moire to make sure that she was clean. Well, I freaked out silently. Because of how much I had hurt the past few weeks with my hips seperating and the baby sitting so slow for so long, I wasn't able to sleep. And if I desperately needed to sleep, I'd take ONE tiny little hit. I did it a handful of times. But it was enough to help. And now, it might be enough to keep my baby away from me. So, this is at one pm. We're trying to get out of that hot and miserable hospital ASAP. They don't put the urine cup on her until 4 pm. And then, it totally misses her pee altogether, so they replace it and it doesn't catch enough. So I ask if I can give her some water to maybe make her go sooner. And the nurse goes to ask. The Peditrician says no, to give her formula. Well, I Hold off. But as hot as it is and as miserable as we all are, I finally ask for a bottle, even though I know I could give her water and her be fine. Well, I put the bottle to Moire's mouth, but she was not about to eat it, and I didn't want to let her. So she got formula running down her face, but none in her. And at 8 pm, I'm ready to send Brian and mom home to sleep and shower. I've resigned myself to another night in hell, I mean, the hospital. Well, I hold Moire and all of a sudden, she pees. YAY! And the nurses, who loved to talk to us, and thought we were going to be GREAT parents, let us leave the hospital immediately. No waiting for the test to process. Over the next week, I'm paranoid that I'm going to get a knock on the door telling me that I'm losing my baby. But nothing ever happens, and so far, I'm happy.
I am so sorry that this is happening to you! I can't really offer any advice, just wanted to express my understanding with your feelings. Its sad that hospitals can be so different... I am sorry that the one you went to acted the way that they did. Sending you all love... hang in there.
Oh, I didn't mean to sound as if this is still going on....By the time she was a week old, it was clear CPS wasn't going to come....But that, plus my childhood and things I've read recently about washington state CPS, has left me quite paranoid. I mean, I feel like I *have* to take her to well-baby visits, like eventually I'll have to vax her if I still take her to the doctor, stuff like that.
Yea, I remember when I went in for my initial consult when I was pregnant with my daughter they had asked me if I had done any illegal drugs and I told them I smoked pot, (thinking they were concerned about the baby). Well 9 months later while I was in labor, a nurse came in and said, "Since you have had a history of Marijuana use, we are going to have to give you a urine test. I was like, wtf! I was so annoyed that they only wanted to know so that they could give me a drug test while I was in labor! And to top that off, after I had the baby a nurse came and did a home visit and I just happened to notice that she had written on her little chart "Has a history of marijuana use". It's crazy! So this time when I had my initial consult I told them I hadn't done anything. I wouldnt be surprised if they gave me another drug test, though, because of my "history" lol.
My doctor knows of my history of drug use but never has tried to test me. I guess there is something nice about having the same doctor for 18 years! I am glad that it is over!
That would probably make a difference. Fortunately my Dr didn't ask me that, but I know that I'm not going to tell them Yes. It's none of their business. I'm not smoking now, nor do I intend to while I'm pregnant, and definitely don't want to deal with the drama once the baby is here. It would be different if I was some crack-head, but I'm not. Glad for you both Hippy and Happy that they didn't pursue anything after you left the hospital!! It was awful that you even had to deal with it at all.
God, if you haven't used in the month before you delivered, DON'T tell your doctor or anybody else in the Health Care Field. Some will be cool with it, but HIPPA is a bunch of shit, and ANYBODY who wants, from the President of the US on down (I am not kidding) can get your chart. Unless there is no way you will test clean, say you ARE clean. Young mothers, womyn of color and poor womyn, and those on WIC or Public Aid will be tested more frequently. I used stong pain killers while I was pregnant with Sage (prescribed by my neurologist and chart was read by the OBGYN and the Ped, none of them had any objection, with the type or pain I am in all the time) , and I was not tested, or threatened with it, but we're white, "upper" middle class, and not on any government programs. You can bet, if I was a poor mama or a womyn of color, and I had the same diagnosis and was using the same meds, they would have tested the hell out of the baby and me. Unless it has an impact on your immediate health (say, you did some crack and went into Cardiac Arrest) don't say anything. If it was only occasional recreational use of weed, there is little to no danger, but DON'T uise close to appointments, or within several months of deliver, if you can help it. Blessings.
No doubt. I wouldn't admit any drug use unless it was something that might endanger the baby. I had a scare when my oldest was 3. She was getting into the back sit of my truck and was trying to squeeze by the seat. I moved the seat forward without realizing that her other hand was on the bracket. It cut her hand. So there is blood everywhere, my wife is freaking out. We wrap it and head for the hospital. I went in with her and after the intial hour of waiting see the doctor and he is asking a bunch of questions about how it happened. Towards the end of this he makes a statement like " Man, thats a big cut to be caused by a truck seat". As he walks off he says he will be right back. So about another hour later he shows back up and bandages it, it didn't need stiches. As he is doing this two cops walk up behind him and say something to the effect of "you called us". My heart was beating so fast. I was like crap I have got a lot of explaining to do. Turns out they were there for a unruly patient but it scared the crap out of me. The other side is just as scary though. I have a step brother and he and his wife are bad into meth. At one point they had 5 adults and 7 children in a trailer with no heat in the middle of winter. My wife called CPS. The children were not even removed from the home. In the next couple of years they actually took the kids away from them 3 times. They even refused to go to their drug testing every time but still got the kids back. The fourth time they took the kids for good but I hate to think of what their three kids went through for three years.
but she didnt mean to admit it either. Its not like they asked her at a time when she was cool, calm and collected.
that's really mucked up. my obgyn asks me at my checkups, if i do any drugs, and i alway say yes, cuz i'm on the pill and i think maybe it could be important, ya know, just in case anything happens, and i know smoking cigs is dangerous on the pill..... so should i lie? will this come back and bite me in the ass when i start having babies soon?!!? i mean, i don't PLAN on smoking once i get pregnant, but if my pregnancy is like hippieFreak's or something, i don't see anything wrong with the occasional hit. scary shit. i don't want my newborn drug tested! damn irrational laws. i bet they didn't ask you if you DRANK during your pregancy, which IMO, would be worse. --rant over-- peace. LP
My memory might be messed up because I was in labour at the time, but I don't remember being asked about alcohol...hmm....
Always deny marijuana use to anybody official,who knows where those records will end up. It's extremely unfair for them to grill you while you are in labor but unfortunately I suppose all pregnant woman should expect that from a hospital birth, and maybe try and be mentally prepared for it. It's definately sad how screwed up the so called "child protection" agencies are.
I had an appt with my OB on Wednesday and we had to do all of those questions...have I done any recreational drugs with this pregnancy, had any alcohol, etc...I felt guilty lying, but as of right now my baby looks great so there was absolutely no need for her to know what I did or do on my own time as long as the baby is okay.
Oh, they sure do. Every appointment, I was asked, and I don't drink at all, ever. As for telling your doc, I can't figure out if you are talking about pot or cigarrettes. Cigs, I would admit to, as they are crazy dangerous, and they NEED to know, weed, I wouldn't, as it will just get a label on your chart. Cigs won't do that, although they are more dangerous than weed. Go figure. A couple of hits off of a joint once in a while, while on the Pill isn't a huge danger, not like tobacco. That being said, no one gets TESTED for nicotine, although we know all the dangers for pregnant womyn, fetuses, labor complications, Pill users ect.
