New MO report shows number of babies born addicted likely under reported

(KY3)
Published: Jun. 22, 2018 at 11:47 AM CDT
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The number of babies born in Missouri addicted to opioids is rising, but the number of pregnant or postpartum women misusing opioids is even higher.

At Preferred Family Healthcare treatment services in Springfield, they see pregnant and new moms fighting addiction all the time, and they know by helping those mothers, they're helping their babies.

"I was about a month and a half, almost two months along. I was still using, heroin, meth, I was a polysubstance abuser, so I pretty much used whatever," says Debra Lindsey.

Lindsey says early in her pregnancy, her parole officer sent her to Preferred Family Healthcare. "I admitted to her that I was dirty, you know, and that I wanted change in my life, so she gave me the chance to come to inpatient, and that was back in December," Lindsey says.

She isn't alone. In Missouri during 2016 and 2017, more than 3,700 pregnant or postpartum women had at least one hospital visit for opioid misuse. That's according to the Missouri Hospital Association.

"This is a disease, and because somebody gets pregnant doesn't mean it stops," says Casarah Peng, Preferred Family Healthcare Treatment Services clinical supervisor.

But the report says during that same time, only 1,083 newborns were born in withdrawal. "I think that it has been under-reported and that it still is," says Peng.

But she believes doctors and mothers are becoming more aware. Awareness is good, but the damage done can be painful. "Guilt, shame, all of the above, just completely come out when they realize that those symptoms are probably directly related to their use. And we really try to empower them and give them education and the tools to move forward instead of focusing on what has happened in the past," Peng says.

"And it did have an effect on the baby," Lindsey says. She is sober now, and her baby boy, Ronan, is almost a month old. He spent a week in NICU withdrawing from the medication she was prescribed as part of her treatment.

"But as far as I know, he's healthy and he's growing, and everything's going good," Lindsey says.

She calls Ronan her lifesaver. Lindsey says, "I wasn't doing anything to change, but as soon as I realized I had a life growing inside of me, and that this was going to be my child, I didn't want to risk losing him."

If you or someone you know needs help fighting an addiction, you can reach Preferred Family Healthcare treatment services at (417)862-3455.

Peng says they have new grant funding for treating pregnant and postpartum women.

She says PFH also has a new state grant that allows medication assisted treatment free of charge to men and women who have no insurance or Medicaid coverage. Peng says that new program does not require a lengthy commitment.

During the legislative session this year, Missouri lawmakers approved a law to provide Medicaid coverage for postpartum substance abuse and related mental health treatment for up to 12 months after the baby is born. Peng says that is very important, because the postpartum period is one of the most difficult and a time when many women can relapse.