Hi Lactnetters!
I was nomail for quite awhile (getting ready to start graduate school in
the fall towards a masters in social work), so excuse me if I'm totally off
the current subject.
I just saw the following policy regarding mothers with a history of drug
use  who deliver at one of our local hospitals and want to breastfeed. What
do you folks think about it?


Maternal Substance Abuse During Pregnancy/Breastfeeding
In the NICU
1. No use by history or positive urine screens after 20 weeks gestation
2. Positive screen at first visit only
3. Negative screens, preferably monthly, but at least three negative
screens separated at one-month intervals prior to delivery (implies ongoing
prenatal care)
4. Negative screen at delivery in both mother and infant
5. Mother agrees to have historical aspects of her substance abuse verified
through involved social service/law enforcement/treatment facility agencies
6. Mother agrees to submit to urine drug screens at unannounced times while
the infant is in the NICU
7. Mother agrees to submit to urine drug screens if there is any evidence
of abnormal behavior on her part at any time while her infant is in the
NICU

After Discharge

Continue breastfeeding if mother agrees to submit to urine drug screens at
unannounced times at least monthly for the first six months of infant's
life. (This will need to be coordinated with outpatients followup).


Any comments are welcome either to the list or privately. I would
especially like to hear how it compares to other hospitals' policies.
Thanks,
Laurie Theodorou Jackson Co. WIC  Medford, OR