“Not only are we wanting you to become healthy, but we want your baby to be as healthy as possible too.” - Sharon Gallagher
Prevention is key Staff at the Mansfield UMADAOP make sure to offer screenings to every pregnant woman who comes through their door, saying they also put an emphasis on holistic prenatal care. But they say there’s only so much you can do once a baby is born, or if a woman is unable to abstain from substance use while pregnant.They say the real focus is on prevention and education. “The prevention is everything, it’s the key to success,” says Sharon Gallagher, a licensed practical nurse (LPN) at the Mansfield UMADAOP. “Not only are we wanting you to become healthy, but we want your baby to be as healthy as possible too.” Neonatal abstinence syndrome is entirely preventable. Mothers who learn they have become pregnant should stop using drugs and alcohol immediately, according to Stanford Children’s Health.
Making a change For pregnant women and new mothers struggling with substance use, discussing possible birth defects and complications can be an extremely difficult conversation to have. And while it may be unpleasant, Gallagher encourages women to use those emotions as a motivating force in their recovery. “To me, it’s good when I see emotion,” Gallagher says. “I know that you’re caring, maybe it’s hitting home, maybe all this information is making a difference in changing your behavior and drug use.” Mansfield UMADAOP staff offer their full support to new and expecting mothers, opening lines of communication between medical and treatment staff to make sure all of a client’s needs are being met.They will also make referrals to outside organizations when they don’t offer a particular service in house. While opioid abuse continues to negatively impact the lives of people across the country, UMADAOP staff know it’s the smallest citizens who may be the most vulnerable. As they continue to address the root causes of opioid abuse in all clients, they will pay particular attention to new and expecting mothers, and will continue to push for increased education and prevention measures. “Education and knowledge is power,” Gallagher says. “Hopefully they have more of that, then they’ll be able to make better decisions.”
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