In Atlantic City, drug dependent babies don't go "cold turkey", they get
morphine and are gradually weaned off by outgrowing their dose. (ie: dose
doesn't change but baby gets fatter).  Frequently mom's behavior/lifestyle
is so dysfunctional that baby goes into foster care.  There are very few
mother/baby facilities for rehab.  That would be ideal, getting straight,
learning basic parenting.  Frequently these moms were not parented in  any
sort of appropriate fashion and this just keeps being repeated generation
to generation.  On the other hand I see young women and their mothers, who
I know did a good job of parenting and it all went out the window when
drugs came in.  I don't think the average suburban person realizes what
drugs have done to families in the inner city.  It is so sad.  And the
children are such victims, being raised by tired, over stressed
grandparents and GREAT grandparents, because a generation or two have been
lost to drugs.  And the mom wafts thru occassionally, and throws their
lives into turmoil, claiming she has rights to her children......
Clinically I've observed that some babies in  loving, stable foster homes
seem to progress with few sequelae.  I wonder  how much the good parenting,
responses to baby's needs etc. changes the outcome.  Another problem is
that these babies and children are in limbo land because no one has the
guts to sever parental rights and let these kids get into a permanent home
and get on with life.  It's a blight on childhood and the outcomes aren't
going to be pretty to deal with 20 years from now.

Coca cola soda and syrup are time honored methods of calming an upset
stomach/vomiting. As for being a sole diet???????? but used appropriately
they do work.  Why I can't tell you, because it is opposite of everything
we are told today about rehydrating etc.  ie: coke syrup is high sugar.

The comments on babies being readmitted with mom, oh my, I'd love to have
to justify that admission to an HMO!  I see mothers and babies as
inseparable duo's.  Unfortunately many others in power do not.  I like the
idea of mom in private room with baby and a helper person, cot provided,
but US hospitals/medicine in our part of the country is just not THAT baby
friendly.  We are still fighting for rooming in on a regular, not special
basis, in the part of the hospital where mothers and babies belong
together!!!

Sincerely, Pat in SNJ