Can I Bring My Newborn Baby To Drug Rehab?
Medically reviewed by
Brittany Thompson, MSMFTFebruary 1, 2019
Entering treatment is difficult enough without having to worry about the well-being of one’s children. Many rehab facilities now allow mothers to bring their children with them to treatment so that they can recover knowing their children are being taken care of.
When you’ve made the admirable decision to seek treatment for drug addiction, you will be facing many challenges. You will be going through a process that will help free you from dependency. Throughout this process, you will learn new ways to deal with life that can be hard to master, requiring much effort and dedication.
If you’ve just had a baby, you will be facing additional, unique challenges. So it is important to know what options are available to you when it comes to obtaining treatment, particularly residential rehabilitation, with a newborn.
A Variety Of Treatment Options Are Available For Drug Rehab
Prior to becoming pregnant, you may have already reached the decision to make a change in your life, and free yourself of drug dependency. Whether you have already started treatment, or have made up your mind to do so but haven’t actually done it yet, you should be proud of yourself for realizing change is necessary to better your life.
One of the first steps in seeking treatment for drug addiction is to determine how you will obtain therapy. There are many options available:
- Outpatient – This can encompass a wide range of treatments such as one-on-one counseling or group therapy such as Narcotics Anonymous.
- Medicinal Detox Treatment – Medications such as Methadone and Suboxone can help alleviate the symptoms of withdrawal. These can be obtained through some assistance programs and your physician.
- Inpatient/Residential – Residential rehabilitation consists of staying full-time at a facility for a longer period of time, often 30 days or more.
- Wilderness/Outdoor – Long-term, full-time treatment generally done in a wilderness setting.
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There Are Unique Benefits To Therapy In A Residential Program
When you’ve just had a baby, one of the best options for treatment of drug addiction is residential rehabilitation. Residential rehabilitation has many benefits other types of treatment don’t offer. It is a program which involves continuous support, which helps eliminate stress and uncertainty so you can focus on recovery.
Benefits of residential rehabilitation may include:
- Being removed from an environment that enables drug use
- Direct medical supervision, particularly important when going through detox
- Freedom of distraction from the therapeutic process
- Structured daily schedules which include therapy sessions
- Around-the-clock support system
- Beneficial activities such as yoga and acupuncture
Rehabilitation Is Particularly Important For The New Mother
When you’ve just had a child, the impact of drug abuse affects not only yourself but also your baby. You’re now responsible for the quality of your child’s life, in addition to your own. Rehabilitation from drug addiction is never easy, but the residential method of therapy offers benefits that can make the process much smoother than other types of treatment.
This kind of environment not only can be greatly beneficial to the individual going through drug addiction treatment, but it can also greatly benefit their baby or child(ren). Specific benefits for both may include:
- Reduction of risk from environmental factors that led to drug addiction in the first place
- Peace of mind that you and your baby are receiving the attention you both need
- A healthy, stress-free environment for both you and your child
- Parenting training
- Proper nutrition, particularly important for the nursing mother or a baby who can’t nurse
- Perinatal medical care, including detox if necessary
- Schooling
Through residential rehabilitation, not only the mother but the baby receives a type of care that may not otherwise be available to them. So not only is residential treatment possible for a new mother and her baby, it is in many ways better than other types of rehabilitation therapy.
The Joys Of Rehabilitation And A New Baby
Residential programs that accept babies and children are plentiful across the United States. Amenities and programs vary, you will need to find out ahead of time what an individual facility allows. For instance, some allow more than one baby or child. RehabCenter.net can help you find out if residential rehab is accessible for you and your baby. Contact us to find out how to make this time one of the joyful new beginnings for you both.
Amy C
February 5th, 2017
Hi. I am nearing the end of my very first pregnancy and I am wanting the best for my baby and I. I had been a recovering meth addict when I relapsed last summer, even when I had sooooo much going for me. During my relapse u made e poor decisions and became pregnant. I also have some legal issues that I am trying to avoid until the baby is safely born. I know I need support to stay sober. The courts ordered treatment as well. I am just living in very little and have no stable home for me and baby and still need help dealing with trauma of losing an ex boyfriend to a very horrible death and shortly after my most precious person to me, my Dad. I turned to meth when he got sick and have never really healed. I am scared and isolating myself and I have always dreamed of having a baby and it saddens me that this is absolutely the opposite of what I thought being pregnant would be. I am 36 yrs old and am very spiritual as I found God through my Dad’s death, although I have grown so far from the way I should be living, the way that pleases God. I have great potential, am educated, and really just need some honest to goodness help and support to get my life back on track. I have been through a short treatment program and transitional living program that really set me on a great path. I was attending a Bible college as well. I fell when I tried to help someone else that fell and I was using in no time. This was last July. I really do not want to be separated from my baby when he/she is born. Can you help? I believe I will need to also stay in the state of Minnesota, although all of my family is in Nebraska. This is also a deep struggle. Thank you for any assistance! These programs really and truly help sooooooo many! So thank you for all you do! Wether you can help me or not.
RehabCenterNet
February 7th, 2017
Amy, we are here to get your life back on track! One of our treatment specialists will contact you as soon as possible via the email address you provided.