A descriptive survey was conducted with 31 pregnant women who were substance users enrolled in a perinatal treatment program. The purpose of the study was to determine the women's health behaviors by using open-ended questions. Most of the women were between 20 and 29 years of age, Hispanic, not married, unemployed, and had partial or completed high-school education. The women had multiple pregnancies with few living children. The majority of the women were 4 to 6 months pregnant and all had received prenatal care. The women made health behavior changes during pregnancy related to nutrition, substance use, self-care, exercise, lifestyle, and seeking counseling. Over 52% of the women reported they made these behavioral changes because they wanted a healthy baby.

No abstract

No abstract

The purpose of this research was twofold: to describe the types of drugs and alcohol abused by pregnant multisubstance abusers enrolled in a substance abuse and treatment programme, and to describe the types of changes in drug-taking behaviours during pregnancy. An exploratory study, including interviews and chart reviews, was conducted with 31 pregnant multisubstance abusers. Drug-taking behaviours, demographic factors of age, ethnicity, martial status, education, and pregnancy characteristics of gravida, living children, level of prenatal care and trimester of pregnancy were measured. Most of the women were in their Twenties, Hispanic, single and had some high school education. Most of the women were multiparas to grand multiparas, yet they had only one or two living children, and all were receiving prenatal care. Their self-reports were validated by urine screening. Generally, the women reported that they did change their drug-taking behaviours, and many women decreased their substance abuse.

This is a review of the literature regarding the clinical management of pregnant women maintained on methadone treatment. The prevalence of opiate use, definition of opiate dependence, common concerns regarding methadone use in pregnancy, and maternal/fetal harm are addressed. Recommendations for nurses are synthesized from the clinical literature, clinical experiences, and the empirical literature. These recommendations address: antepartum issues including treatment, dosage and pharmacological considerations, medical conditions and lab tests, intrapartum issues, postpartum concerns including breastfeeding, neonatal withdrawal, and developmental effects associated with methadone.