Receiving cocaine during pregnancy is not the same as receiving cocaine via
breastmilk after the baby is born.  The mother has free will to do any harm
she desires to her baby when it is a resident of her body, right or wrong,
and attempts to imprison pregnant women for abusing illicit substances have
not been successful in the US.  As far as I know, Methadone is not used as a
treatment for cocaine addiction as it is a stimulant/anesthetic, not an
opiate.  Social Services can indeed step in and prevent the mother from
breastfeeding if she is not in a drug treatment program and getting regular
urine screenings.  Cocaine can not only harm, it can kill, let alone the
mother being too impaired to care for the baby.  This is one of the
instances where breastfeeding truly is contraindicated.  The hospital could
certainly be liable for allowing the mother to breastfeed knowing that she
and the baby both tested positive.  That proves current use and use within
the last few days.  A baby can test negative if use occurred only close to
delivery.
Linda Anderegg, BSN, RNC, IBCLC, RLC  in Chicago

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