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My hubby and I are getting re-certified to take in babies and I know that the majority of them will be newborns that are born positive for meth (that's what we mostly have around here)
I know that often they wont sleep and cry constantly, and am wondering if anyone has found any helpful tricks? I heard that sometimes swaddling helps, any other tips?
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have all the tools at your disposal and know that some or all or none may work for any particular child :)A swing, a vibrating infant chair, a sling, a snugglie, swaddle, a white noise machine, a dark room, a light room, a quiet house, a noisy house, soft blankets (fleece etc), scent (lavender or some other calming smell), a car to drive around in endlessly, gripe water, lactose free formula, regular formula, alementum formula, round nipples, square nipples, fast flow, slow flow, low gas bottles :) lol
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In addition to Jen's list, I found the 5 S's (google it on youtube) worked really well for Chubbs, who was addicted to Heroin. One thing for sure, Cry it out does NOT work for most drug babies. There will be a point of no return in their crying that if you don't get to them, they will be inconsoleable. Be prepared to just put them safely in their crib and go to another room to recompose yourself. I was pretty lucky, Chubbs' longest fit was just about 2 hours. I have read of some babies that went for hours and hours. If you can't block out the crying when you go to your "happy place" to recharge, get ear plugs or headphones. You can usually regather yourself in 5 minutes and 5 minutes of crying isn't going to hurt the baby any more. One thing, in the swaddling, my Chubbs didn't like his arms swaddled, but the rest of his body. They tend to have more GI issues so go straight to the better bottles. I had good luck with Avent, but some need to get Dr. Brown's. They produce less gas.
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Swaddling AJ worked wonders. He also had to sleep slightly propped, because he would scrunch up and scream flat on his back, so he napped in swings and bouncy seats and at night I had the mattress to his bed propped (rolled up blanket underneath one end, so nothing actually in the bed with him). After a while, he also really seemed to like me wearing him in a wrap.
[url=http://www.amazon.com/4Moms-Mamaroo-Classic-Classic-Black/dp/B007UK1CBY]Amazon.com: 4Moms 2012 Mamaroo Classic- Classic Black: Baby[/url]
If you have the funds- or could justify using your stipend for this when you get a placement- these are amazing. The NICU where we picked up Squeaks had rows of them and they use them on drug exposed NAS babies. We came REALLY close to getting one for Squeaks, but her NAS symptoms were almost gone when we brought her home (she was 5 weeks in the NICU being treated for withdrawals) and then it turned out a milk allergy and colic were the culprits to her crying.
Seriously these are amazing- they move in EVERY direction- a lot of times side to side isn't helpful for NAS, they need and up and down or circular motion. They also have a lot of sound soothing options.
Definitely swaddling- love Halo swaddling sacks that give you the arms in or out option.
I am also a big fan of the fisher-price newborn rock & play sleeper. [url=http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Newborn-Rock-Sleeper-Yellow/dp/B00C2KW3FG/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1388612230&sr=1-1&keywords=rock+n+play+sleeper]Amazon.com: Fisher-Price Newborn Rock n' Play Sleeper, Yellow: Baby[/url]
The angle is perfect for babies suffering from reflux. A lot of drug exposed or preemie babies have GI issues and exhibit reflux symptoms- squeaking and stretching and gagging but not always spitting up. This thing is light and super easy to move around room to room.
I would also get bottles that eliminate air- like doc browns or vent-aire playtex ones. And get everything for sensitive skin- wipes, lotions, etc. NAS babies can have toxic poo that leads to rashes and they can have a lot of skin sensitivities.
Good luck!
I had a very heavily addicted infant to meth. He broke all the rules for soothing so don't be afraid to think outside the box.
Did not sleep much at all...EVER! Cried a lot and was very hard to sooth.
He likes soft touch vs firm touch. He loved that slow soft tickling of the back and legs and he loved to be naked! If he was in a fit (even as a brand new baby) if we took off his clothing he would stop fussing on the spot. Did not matter if it was warm or cool, he would sooth if his clothing was off.
HATED to be tight and swaddled! Would not take a pacifier or his thumb.
Just sometimes think of all the normal things a baby would like and then go the other direction :) sometimes it works!
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The Therpeutic Handling Website is spot on, in our experience! Thanks for posting.
Also, babies can have delayed symptoms. One of our sweet newborns slept and slept (in the C position described) for about a month. We thought she was not going to exhibit symptoms. But from about 4 wks to 8 wks is when she had severe symptoms (cocaine exposure). She could not handle stimulation at all; for example we couldn't look into her eyes when she was drinking her bottle or she would get uncoordinated with her swallowing - and gasp and choke. She had to be swaddled tight and held most of the day and night. She had explosive stools. etc, etc, etc. Poor little thing.
Best wishes as you begin this journey which is more exhausting, yet more rewarding than anything you've ever done. hugs
We've had a couple severely addicted infants. Some showed no symptoms, some were downright awful. The worst was our little girl who screamed nonstop for a solid month. She didn't stop unless she screamed herself unconscious then would wake up in half an hour to scream some more. There was nothing we could do for that one. Occasionally we would just have to strap her into a carseat, put her in the closet with the light off, and let her cry until we had the energy to try again. She had this awful shrill, piercing cry, too. Probably because she was in pain. Good news was that, once a month was up and she decided she was no longer in pain, she was the best baby in the world. So happy. All the time. :)Anyway, good luck to you!! I burned out from that 'job' very very quickly, but there is definitely a need.