Your Baby is Addicted to Heroin | Chicago Med | MD TV

Doctors struggle to stabilize an addict's baby born with an addiction to heroin and try to encourage the mother to help them.
From Chicago Med Season 3 Episode 7 'Over Troubled Water' - Dr. Charles is pressured when Dr. Choi and Dr. Manning disagree with his medical decision regarding a baby born with an addiction to heroin; Dr. Rhodes deals with relationship issues; Goodwin helps Bert understand Lyla's sickness.
Chicago Med (2015) The doctors and nurses who work at the emergency ward of the Gaffney Chicago Medical Center strive to save the lives of their patients while dealing with personal and interpersonal issues.
Watch all seasons of Chicago Med here: www.justwatch.com/uk/tv-serie...
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[@harveym.glatman5955]

As a former heroin addict, the way she said “I made the baby sick, right? Theres no way more of me is gonna help it.” really hit me so hard. That really is what it feels like. It feels like no part of you is capable of making everything better, and that all parts of you make everything sick.

[@gendoll5006]

There are people who do things far worse to and truly hurt others than someone who is struggling with addiction could ever do. Meaning, there are tons of people out here who do things on purpose to hurt and weaken others, so someone sick with addiction is the last of my worries when it comes to people I look out for who I think aren’t good for my life.

[@vixianas8827]

That's exactly how it feels. I just hit my 5 year sober mark, but it still haunts me everyday. After I got past that oblivious stage, I started seeing how badly I was hurting the people around me. That was the worst part, and it still is.

[@ashleyanderson9742]

My mother used drugs with all of my siblings and I had to watch as all of them struggled. She couldn't get clean till I was 15, it hurt watching it because literally no matter how hard I told her I wanted my mom back she wasnt there.

[@arethaleatham1073]

Thank god u are ok

[@loveablelibby98]

I am proud of you for overcoming such an overwhelming situation 💕 you are so strong!! An so amazing!

[@jenniferbates2811]

My mom was a social worker for 29 years. This so common in the USA. It's heartbreaking for everyone involved. This amount of trauma thia causes for babies is so scary. The skin to skin plus the heartbeat really do help.

[@nellabozhko6941]

So was mine for 18 years

[@jenniferbates2811]

@@nellabozhko6941 Not an easy job. My mom was always helping someone.

[@MSW96]

@@jenniferbates2811 I’m a new social worker (6 months). It makes me wonder what I’ll see throughout my career. Some things I’m sure I couldn’t even imagine…

[@mightyobserver12]

@@MSW96 uL get thru

[@rayy__7630]

Me and all my siblings were born with some kind of withdrawals or issues from my moms addiction. And so were the majority of my friends.

[@dustienelson2179]

This is so sad! The same thing happened to me when I was a baby but my mom got her self together after I was born and now she’s an amazing person which I’m thankful for

[@TechTeacherGG]

So glad she was able to get it together. Happy for her and you

[@julesoxana3630]

So glad for you guys❤️

[@tatianaloff3079]

That's my story to. I feel for you Dustin. I'm 34 years old and I'm just grateful she is clean today even though. We have no relationship.

[@briarrose8631]

I'm happy for you. I wish that story was true for everyone.

[@cattayl960]

That’s wonderful to hear, hope you and her are both happy and healthy ❤

[@savine6628]

The woman who played the mother deserves an Oscar for this in my opinion

[@stephengregory404]

It would be an Emmy

[@savine6628]

@@stephengregory404 oh yeah it would since it’s a show not a movie

[@JazzFlop212]

This is the second time in an hour I’ve seen a comment saying a tv show deserves an Oscar. LMAO

[@savine6628]

@@JazzFlop212 I DIDNT KNOW WHAT AN EMMY WAS OKAY😭😂😂

[@samieparadise9316]

Agreed

[@love_gracie_joy]

I really feel for the mother. I’ve never done any drugs, but have struggled with other addictive self injurious behaviors. Stopping the behaviors isn’t as easy as just “choosing” to never do it again. When you’re the addict, it feels like the coping skill or control is being taken away from you. For some people, it feels like it’s all they’ve ever known. And stopping can cause even more trouble, as their body and mind go through withdrawals. Along with relapsing and trying to learn new ways to express themselves in a healthier way.

[@HelloHello-zf2sv]

Exactly.. It's extremely hard.

[@kim29817]

I hope she can be in het child's life and is able to overcome her addiction. Maybe the baby will give her the motivation and strength necessary to go through this process

[@sbishop8192]

Everything you said I feel that tremendously.

[@alexandramoyer8785]

Why? She’s the reason her baby could have died? I don’t feel sorry for her one bit

[@alexandramoyer8785]

@@kim29817 I don’t . She doesn’t deserve to be in that child’s life

[@shannoncimoli8771]

Sadly this happens way to often due to mental health it is so stigmatized and is a huge part of why people turn to drugs instead of help. We need to stop judging these individuals and get them true help so not only they get the help but having this horrible cycle break here in the United States.

[@dude12394]

the thing is it's not just the negative stigma, some drug addicts know and have the means to get help before getting hooked but choose not to because for them it's too hard. i agree mental health is often judged negatively in America (especially in lower class areas) but saying that it's a huge part of the reason a lot of people become addicted just causes the actual issues a lot of these people are facing go by thew way side. it's not just metal health that drives people to do dangerous drugs

[@RowanWarren78]

@@dude12394 let's not forget, as well, the thousands of addictions that began with a doctor's prescription.

[@shannonoconnel3828]

Ummmm NO!!

[@Vanessa-hu9iq]

Preach it

[@alexandramoyer8785]

Yeah feel bad for drug addicts who get their babies addicted 🙄

[@bunbacheso]

The actress who played the mother did an amazing job. Something about her voice when she said "So give him some medicine" captivated me so much that I rewound it a few times.

[@Tay-cg1pt]

And when she asked the doctor to help her at the end 😢

[@TheSirDominic]

That's lizzy declement, she's also in new amsterdam and she's amazing in that too

[@eprimeify2090]

She was also Gemma in New Amsterdam.

[@klaykiller1296]

Sad to say but ..when she said give him meds.. she ment. Herion

[@CA-bw9vw]

I feel like the child does deserve a more stable and nourishing environment to grow up in but the mother also deserves some support not just financially to get back on her feet, but psychologically and medically. It's very frustrating and infuriating dealing with addicts who end up hurting themselves and those around them. But it's wrong to treat addicts as if they're evil and weakness born in this world. In reality anyone can become an addict given certain circumstances. It is more productive and humane to treat this as a public health issue rather than a moral one.

[@WillianyAmill]

They make thier own choices like everyone else. It's not one mistake, it's multiples.

[@CaptainRockoBD]

@@WillianyAmill you’re extremely ignorant.

[@trinitylivingston1286]

@@WillianyAmill typically most of them already are mentally and others have some form of past trauma so they abuse drugs to self medicate usually. So we as a society need a better system to treat mental illness.

[@rihannahaiti5570]

Anyone can't become an addict, but certain circumstances can make certain people become addicts

[@coloredpencils01]

In Portugal when they decriminalized all drugs and made it a public health issue with free accessible treatment, addiction went down drastically and has remained there. People don't seek help when they know they could be sent to jail for stepping forward.

[@fastfoxbaselqawasmi8903]

The baby's acting is on POINT

[@superwhizz114]

Coming for EGOT status

[@doctorposting]

😂😂😂

[@peytonteague5965]

Addiction is such a serious disease and it’s shown right here. She’s not an evil person. She didn’t want to hurt him. But unfortunately the demon of addiction is impossibly strong and if she had no support before or during this pregnancy, theres no way she could’ve just stopped. Situations like this are so real and it’s so sad💔 neither baby or mom deserves to go through this.

[@emilyhedrick2851]

I agree. People want to blame the addicts and call them irresponsible when they are missing the point that addictions/addictive behaviors are neurological diseases that don't follow logic. I'm not an addict, but I do have anxiety, and when I'm in an anxious mindset, giving myself a super logical pep talk doesn't help make it stop. My mind doesn't gain back clarity until the anxiety goes away by itself. People can't think their way out of depression. They can't think their way out of addiction. I don't envy anyone in this situation. I feel for the addict mother because she clearly has some messed up stuff going on in her life that has caused her to turn to drugs to cope. I also feel for her because she wants the baby after bonding with him, but that can't be done. Either way, she needs help and doesn't feel like she's getting it and is afraid to take every step because that's how mental illnesses work. I feel for the baby, who is addicted as well and suffering from it but doesn't understand what's going on. The baby also didn't ask to be born. Lastly, I feel for the doctors who had to deal with this case, because they had to make so many difficult decisions. I know this is a long reply, I just really appreciate how empathetic your comment is.

[@NYD666]

​@@emilyhedrick2851 sorry, but as soon as you birth a baby addicted to drugs, you are the problem. I didn't choose any of the problems of being a drug baby; but I have to live with them, cuz someone was too selfish to care. Then I was tossed aside like garbage.

[@shaunagilchrist6530]

💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔

[@proudatheist2042]

Unfortunately, addicts can be selfish people who think nothing of seriously hurting others. Addicts do need addiction treatment. After seeing the horrible things that addicts do to others, I can absolutely see why people would think of addicts as "evil."

[@proudatheist2042]

​@@NYD666I am sorry for how brutual life is for you because your mother was an addict. I hope you have the resources to live your best life.

[@sjordan9355]

Realistically, it's more likely that they'd find a willing volunteer at the hospital to do some skin-to-skin with the baby for the withdrawal process. There's nothing else to do but wait it out and support the baby, those cries are unique and uniquely painful - nurses never forget those cries, so I've heard from some accounts. If you've ever wanted to help at a hospital and especially in the baby unit, you can offer to do some skin-to-skin!

[@ry.butterfly]

I was one of those volunteers. We want the mothers to get clean and sober, work their steps, and take THEIR babies home with them

[@annarainexo]

@@ry.butterfly Hi! I really want to know how you were able to find a volunteer position like that :) I want to go into pediatric nursing after college, and that sounds like the most amazing thing in the world. Thanks!

[@hematopoetic]

@Anna Raine Check to see if any of your local hospitals need volunteers! Give them a call or check online, maybe send an email. Or see if your school can hook you up with some volunteer work! Awesome idea, good luck!

[@ry.butterfly]

@Anna Raine it was the best thing! Unfortunatly my unit stopped after covid because we have so many tiny babes with bad immunity. But I would suggest reaching out to your local hospital or children's hospital and asking if they have a cuddler program or a therapeutic touch program linked to their NICU! It's an incredible experience and since I'm going to be a NICU nurse the stuff I learned was INCREDIBLE! I hope you find a place to give it a try, it's one of the most rewarding things I've ever done 💕

[@lostcastlefan]

Physicians never forget those cries either...it's been 10 years since my residency and my heart still breaks for one particular patient who was going through this same thing 💔 😔

[@Jack22024]

See now if they would've just gone to her and said "hey your son is addicted to heroin and so are you. You can't take care of an infant when you're in rehab so we have a foster family coming to take care of him until you can. But he needs his mother right now. You should get to know him so that you have a goal in rehab." This would've gone a lot better

[@KingNothing117]

Father of a 9 month old girl, hearing the baby cry like that hurts, it's like it cranks my empathy levels to 1000

[@bellaboo182]

I have four kids myself, the youngest being nine months, that cry kills me.

[@Rogue_Centurion]

How’s your little girl doing now?

[@swimfast724]

Sadly, this happens a lot. Withdrawal is so so so painful. The situation where a baby is born addicted is literally the biggest heartbreaking tragedy than any child could end up in. It completely shatters my heart 💔

[@trinitylivingston1286]

Very heartbreaking!

[@TheAlex7863]

It’s so sad to see NAS as well. When you have to give an infant methadone or buprenorphine so so young… it’s just heartbreaking. I mean that stuff stays in your bones forever. It’s so damaging for the baby but just unavoidable in order to save their poor lives. Those kids are such little champs. They deserve so much more.

[@matthew92604]

@@TheAlex7863 It doesn't "stay in your bones forever" LOL. Opiates are not heavy metals.

[@mimi.dixon.b]

I hate stigma towards addiction but I also hate that we don’t have resources to make sure people with a dependence on substances are on birth control. I’m sure plenty of people who suffer from sud are able to address it BECAUSE they want to be a good parent-but I think for those who aren’t ready to go through withdrawal/don’t address their addiction and would pass that withdrawal along to a baby should do everything to keep from getting pregnant/terminate the pregnancy if they do get pregnant(recognizing that isn’t all that simple nowadays)

[@rayy__7630]

@@matthew92604 it’s been proven that babies born of addiction have a super high chance of developing addictions later on in life. I’ve seen it firsthand.

[@DoYouLikeMyVest]

I see a lot of comments saying how absurd this treatment is but it's a thing. In real life, it's a thing. Much more common than you'd think. Not only with the "drug addicted mother" scenario but also with mother's who were taking legitimate, legal, needed, prescribed medications while pregnant, resulting in neonatal withdrawal. Depending on the medication, it's also sometimes encouraged for mother to breastfeed bc the milk helps the baby through the withdrawals.

[@HelloHello-zf2sv]

Yes it happens all day long everywhere unfortunately. Its a really hard thing to go through..

[@jenniferhigber595]

Um no. Babies who are addicted are in the NICU on a morphine taper. If the mother breastfeeds and continues to take her "prescribed" medication the baby stays addicted. That would be beyond messed up as a long term plan.

[@DoYouLikeMyVest]

@@jenniferhigber595 Nope. Not all addicted babies are put on a morphine taper. You're thinking specifically. It goes differently according to the medication. This is very much a thing.

[@hematopoetic]

A mother taking legitimate, legal, prescribed medications can also be a drug addict

[@DoYouLikeMyVest]

@@hematopoetic Absolutely correct

[@mariamarshall6120]

The lady who played mum in this did brilliant I bloody cried at this

[@blueturtle3623]

Does nobody on this show realize that the goal of foster care IS reunification? Yes, it's WAY too soon for that, but she will 100% be able to work towards getting him back. She even gets to name him.

[@jaileneramos8411]

You do realize they are just actors right

[@foolslayer9416]

Reunification isn't always the right course of action. Making a baby or giving birth to one doesn't make you a parent, raising and loving the child is. That lady is mentally unstable and is in need of recovery, and her gaining a form of emotional attachment that isn't yet love won't help.

[@blueturtle3623]

@@foolslayer9416 reunification isn't always the right course of action, but it is the goal whenever possible. My point being if she got clean and stable, she could get custody of the baby. Its worth mentioning to her "The courts will get with you about the possibility"

[@angelicasmodel]

I would have thought so too. Something like 'you've got from not acknowledging your baby tu wanting to bond with him? Good. You can stay with him while he's in hospital. Then when he's well enough to leave, he goes to foster care while you do rehab or something? ' I don't know precisely how it would work, but this doesn't seem to be it.

[@blueturtle3623]

@@angelicasmodel Oversimplified (wasn't this woman trying to kill him at one point?), but yes that's roughly how it would shake out IRL.

[@annama.cecillegonzales4617]

Painful scene..when you realize that you started to care then suddenly is taken away for a reason. A mother's love is always strong and will always remain that way.

[@Rat_Queen86]

I came from an abusive home where my mother beat me So, no, a mothers love isn’t always strong

[@TimberlakeTigerGirl]

She obviously didn't care about the baby enough to stop using drugs and get help. Not to mention she tried to kill her baby while he was still in her womb. Because of her, he will have to deal with lifelong health problems. Frankly that woman should of been under arrest the second the baby was born. And once she recovered from childbirth, she should of been hauled to jail. Her having a sudden change of heart because the doctors practically guilt tripped her into doing it doesn't earn her any sympathy points from me. Frankly, I don't understand why the nurses weren't taking turns holding and cuddling the baby? All he needed was love and attention, anyone can see that. And they were treating it as just a job. What was even the point of letting that sorry excuse of a mother hold the baby once when she's probably going to lose him for good anyway? It was like they were basically making her feel guilty for being a drug addict by reminding her what she's losing. Not that I care if she feels guilty or not: actions have consequences. She originally said no, so they should of just left her alone and found volunteers to care for the baby like a mother until the foster parents arrived.

[@Zephanir]

@@TimberlakeTigerGirl Did you even watch the damn thing? The nurses already tried doing everything. It's even explained why the mother needs to be there for the baby. The baby can recognize who the actual birth mother is the same way a mother can recognize her baby in a ward full of tens of babies.

[@vyctordraco948]

Yes, a mother's love that has currently proven itself worthless for 62 million babies since Roe v Wade was instated.

[@TimberlakeTigerGirl]

@@Zephanir That makes no sense. The baby's going to foster care anyway, so won't that mean they'll end up right back to square one? How are they going to prevent the baby from getting sick like that again once he's with his foster parents? Lots of babies are taken from their birth mothers after they are born and given to a couple. And they turn out just fine without having any contact with their mother. I think the problem is intent vs action. The nurses may of been coddling him and feeding, but they weren't loving him; not in a way that a mother would. They weren't making him feel loved. Whereas many foster/adoptive mothers are able to get the baby to accept them by acting like a real mother. Kissing the baby, holding him/her close, talking to the baby in a soft manner, etc. I know nurses can't kiss babies as that could get them sick but my argument still stands.

[@shivasdhuna]

This happens... I was born addicted to heroin, 2 months premature... thankfully I was incubated and I had no deformities or issues, at 4 months I was adopted by the most amazing and loving family. ❤

[@Ariana-wv4pf]

Have you ever met your biological mom?

[@reqping]

hfff

[@angelbaby8789]

I feel so bad for this woman, addiction is such a horrible disease that affects so many

[@rayagranum2780]

Yeah but then think about people like me who can never have a baby and how much adopting that little angel would mean.

[@dogboyirI]

@@rayagranum2780 pretty selfish to say that.

[@vyctordraco948]

Horrible "disease", yes, the framing that is done to protect the addict from the fact that everything that is happening is their fault and that if left to their own devices they will continue to kill themselves slowly. Anything to avoid having to hold yourself accountable for you own actions.

[@angelbaby8789]

@@vyctordraco948 it's really sad that you lack basic empathy and compassion for another human being. yes an addict starting drugs is a choice, however, addiction IS a disease. I'm not saying an addict shouldn't be held accountable for their actions, but they shouldn't be treated as less than human because of their addiction. Everyone deserves to recover. Everyone deserves to get better. I hope you figure out how to be a decent person one day.

[@vyctordraco948]

@@angelbaby8789 I have empathy for the people that take responsibility for their actions. It isn't a disease, it is a choice. It is on them. Empathy for those who become addicted and do not help themselves only becomes a drain on you. They steal from those who try to help, they can never be trusted and are always one bad day from starting up again. Fell as sorry for them as you like, but stay away. They made the wrong choice and it doesnt help to remove blame by claiming its a disease.

[@starlingswallow]

8:21 her whole demeanor changed...look how happy she is when she's holding him! 😭😭😭

[@victoriapineda11]

I feel so sorry for her she going through it 😭😭🥲🥺

[@Barakon]

I’m pretty sure the monster comment was said out of fear & the physical pain of birth, but once it was over, the instincts rightfully kicked in.

[@xx_azura_xx8899]

Motherly instincts, which normally kick in. I’m not a mother but I can tell her motherly instincts kicked in when she realized this her baby.

[@desertpack9580]

I feel so sorry for that baby he's so small and innocent and when he was born she was afraid of holding him at first but when she held her son she wanted to keep him. But when they took that baby away I can imagine that she's never going to see her baby ever again

[@butterbear4964]

Consequences sadly have actions sometimes when uu don’t take an opportunity it can be gone forever

[@tessasutherland9233]

Not true. Social services will give her supervised visits and a plan of how to get her baby back. If she follows the plan, she will get him back. If she evem does a little of the plan, she may be given years before her parental rights are terminated. Foster parent here!

[@TimberlakeTigerGirl]

@@tessasutherland9233 She should never be allowed anywhere near that baby again. She obviously didn't give a fu*k about her baby since she never bothered to get help. Not to mention she literally tried to kill him while he was still in the womb; hence why the birth was so bloody. And she rejected the baby; said she wanted nothing to do with him. The only reason she had a change of heart is because the doctors basically guilt tripped her into holding him which is a problem in of itself. What they should of done is, upon her saying she didn't want the baby, have her sign a form saying she's initiating the Safe Haven law. Where she gives up any parental rights to the baby and surrenders him to the hospital. And after that, once she's recovered from childbirth, be hauled to jail for her drug addiction.

[@jenniferromero571]

Drug addicts don't get to keep their babies. Don't really think they deserve to.

[@prettyevil6662000]

Nah, parents are given years and years to get themselves together with supervised visits in the meantime before they lose full rights to their children. The ones who never get themselves together do tons of damage in the meantime though, popping in and out their kids lives on a whim to 'try getting clean again' instead of letting them stay with/be adopted by a foster family. Watched some of my cousins cling to the hope their bio families would come get them someday, if only mom could stay clean for a few more weeks. Years of that before finally having their rights removed. It was like the kids were just never allowed to move on and heal from their bio family's abuse because the mom would show up to heap false promises on them again. Don't get me wrong, I think parents deserve to be reunited as often as possible. But I do think the courts drag it out too long. Some people are hopeless and it's obvious from the start that they have no intention of really doing the program to get clean and get a house in order for their children. Letting them emotionally abuse their kids for years on end only makes the parent feel better, not the children who should be more important at the end of the day.

[@yxngpo]

hearing a baby cry for drugs is the most heart wrenching thing you can ever hear.. And yet they want to take away abortions? cases like this will skyrocket in the real world.

[@HelloHello-zf2sv]

EXACTLY.. It's about to get extremely scary..

[@420-H]

Fr..

[@niyasunique853]

@@ashebennett7726 all you anti abortion ppl say this until a kid needs help or a pregnant woman with mental(any) disease needs help. You don’t care about that baby after they’ve been born. Baby’s rights don’t change the moms rights. Most people wouldn’t go through with an abortion for no reason or just to do it again.

[@pregnantleggies3696]

@@ashebennett7726 you care so much about abortion but yet I don’t see you helping children already born and suffering

[@Imnotacreativeperson393]

@@ashebennett7726 Every anti-abortionist I've met doesn't give one flying damn about babies like this once they're born. So y'all are really just okay with babies suffering in severe physical pain 😒😒

[@xan918]

That girl was a damn good actress, I was tearing up. I understand she is not capable of caring for herself or her baby the way she needs to, but the pain of seeing her start to care for something when she holds him and then having to know he needs to be taken care of by a foster family and seeing her cry.... 😭😭

[@StephLillibet]

19yrs ago I was pregnant, going to a drug clinic, I reduced my Physeptone/methadone to 5mg from 50mg during my pregnancy and he was in SCBU for a week! They based his withdrawal on numbers from 1-10, and if he got high numbers he would've been weaned off the drug! Luckily the most he suffered was a 5! After a week he was discharged! To this day I still feel guilty for what he went through! My advice is for any mother pregnant addicted to heroin is Tell your dr, they will quickly get you into a program and keep reducing till you get to a low amount! That's what I did!

[@meco6309]

Moze da se smanji,ali problem je sto kad zavidnici izadzu u drustvo. I dileri i poznaninici su ljubomorni zato sto ste se Mozda izlecili. I na svaki način zele da vam uvale prvu dozu besplatno samo kako bi vi ponovo postali zavicnici. I vi potkleknete i opet se drogirate. Zalosno.

[@Elbug46]

The crying at the end of “dr.Charles please tell them that’s my baby” made me cry

[@arylveonreyes1659]

Babies developing while a mother is addicted to substances and taking them while pregnant WILL develop an addiction to that substance the mother took. It is SEVERLY common

[@LoganJackson]

I know there was a purpose, but it seems cruel to place the child in her arms only to take him away moments later.

[@ry.butterfly]

Agreed 100%. This video made me sick to my stomach

[@alexandramoyer8785]

She did it to herself

[@allthingscandles4053]

Yeah as sad as it was that baby needed even just a moment of skin to skin contact. She can take this and learn from it. This is what happens when you give birth to a baby with drugs in your/their system.

[@jaynehogue2459]

Cruel to her who cares about her she's the one who got herself addicted and the baby on top of that. That baby needing her in order for him to start healing

[@njgiggles100]

She was selfish from the beginning. She did drugs and put her child at risk.

[@SteveWOAH]

This is a difficult situation. It’s heartbreaking. But at the end of the day, the child having foster parents doesn’t mean permanent home. If the mother could get clean and gain stability she has a chance of being in the baby’s life. Sometimes a single blessing can inspire overcoming your demons.

[@SnowStormxo]

What a fantastic actress omg the lip quivers and everything

[@idiotrat2698]

as a former addict this really hits close to home. it's hard for me to comprehend that this is just acting; the emotions were all over the place, but spot on. this episode made me cry.

[@TheNaexis]

The medical drama status of this is getting more absurd with each episode. Drug addicted women in the Hospital, or parents in general, are rarely allowed if ever to see their withdrawaling children. Those babies are kept in NICU and specifically treated away from the relatives. IV Fluids, Food, various sedatives, and even in some cases medications or drugs designed to wean them off of the addiction itself. Nobody in their right mind just goes: "Give the baby to its Mother, that will fix everything."

[@Juliet_Capulet]

I don't think medical dramas are meant to be instruction manuals or anything. It IS for the drama, and to make people think. JMO.

[@Thrub.m]

Good thing it's just a TV show and a drama at that. It's not meant to exactly replicate real life

[@joycemtaula4728]

@@Juliet_Capulet my thoughts exactly

[@ChaoticPeace357]

Actually, not always and I have seen many drug addicted mothers be given their children and allowed to see and hold their children thru this difficult time and sometimes even sent home with the baby and with some of that weaning off specially designed medicine you spoke about and then Dfacs puts a case plan in order usually to try and help the mother get clean and stable -sometimes the plan works and sometimes it doesn’t and if it doesn’t then they come and reevaluate and take the children. And it makes since to think the baby might want it’s mother-it’s used to her and her heartbeat,she embodies everything the baby knew on the inside which is why she is comforting when the baby is the in the outside

[@arieltaylor3046]

Actually, as a foster mother, we are allowed to sit with and hold and help with the cares of withdrawing babies all the time. Their biological parents are also, sometimes, allowed to do the same depending on their status. Research shows these babies do better when given skin to skin time and being held as much as possible.

[@foolslayer9416]

About the part where Manning brought up the idea of the biological "mother" holding the baby, it doesn't have to be the biological mother. Skin-to-skin contact with any adult in a calm environment with the infant would help. All that woman cares about is her next fix, the best thing to do is get the baby away from her. And make sure the infant never lives the life his mother lived. It's for the best. Not everyone is could and should become a parent.

[@kispel]

actually babies prefer their mothers voice and heart rhythm to others, while anyone can do skintoskin babies do better with birth mothers

[@witch_in_a_wheelchair3050]

Fathers can do it too! Wouldn't apply in this case, but it's helpful in cases where mom can't do skin to skin right away.

[@penguino4251]

Nah she cared about the baby in the end, she looked and sounded happier than before when she was being extremely defensive when anyone tried talking to her

[@butterbear4964]

Quick question soo! What does skin go skin contact do EXCATLY?

[@nathanbozeman399]

@@butterbear4964 It helps calm newborns down, so their breathing and heartbeats regulate, it's also really calming for the mother. There isn't exactly a specific scientific reason for it, but it's been documented and seen for so long it's accepted. One thought is that, after 9 months, the baby is so used to its mothers heartbeat and her hormones that they can recognize it, like when people talk to their babies before they're born and the baby calms quicker when they hear their voice, it's recognition. Again, not sceintically proven, but a significant observation.

[@swimfast724]

The baby would get the same benefit from being held by anyone, not just their birth mom. Let him be held by a nurse or the foster parent with skin to skin contact and it definitely would calm him down and help his pain away

[@CD-tc8dz]

Wrong.

[@mathnerd3364]

Unfortunately, that's not true. He's spent nine months hearing her heartbeat, her voice. Babies can tell their mother apart from anyone else from before they're born. They can tell their mother's smell apart from others within moments of birth.

[@margaret8114]

Yes. There could be a foster mom doing skin to skin who is a childcare expert. No reason to torture the mom. She should have some space to think about adoption.

[@thecarvalhome261]

Researchers have proven through MANY studies that it’s biologically crucial that babies know their mother. This is true in nearly any mammal on the planet. We are biologically programmed to know our mothers voice, our mothers smell; our mothers heartbeat even. It releases chemicals in the body that help both baby and mom navigate the next chapter and keeps them bonded. While you can absolutely still do skin to skin and even induce lactation, you cannot recreate the biological signals the baby is programmed to bond to. Eventually you create this bond with care, and trust and familiarity but you simply cannot recreate the codes that make up a mother and child bond. And this has been proven TIME AND TIME AGAIN. Wealthy, poor, 1 side of the world or the other; the conclusion is the same.

[@subratanandy2142]

That's not the way it works . I wish it worked this way , but it doesn't .

[@lulusue99]

It should’ve been explained to her about reunification. Statistically, it’s best for that child if momma gets clean and they can be together- As well as gives momma life direction out of her situation. Imagine how different that interaction would’ve been if instead of “You can’t have your baby.” They said, “You can’t have your baby right now, but you should know that…”

[@firetech700]

I am that baby, was that baby, in 1980. Happily adopted for good at 5 years old. I was with my adoptive mom for 4 years before she went thru the legalization of my adoption. Very grateful.

[@samanthalynn9569]

i’m over here holding back tears. i’m 6 months pregnant and i couldn’t ever imagine putting my baby through something like that let alone someone taking him from me.

[@agentburningbutters3655]

I remember being like 9 years old, and my parents decided to show off a new Tv they bought. The moment we turned on the TV, we got greeted with this scene

[@victoriabarendregt3790]

A friend of mine was bad into drugs and thenshe got pregnant and got her life together and now she has a beautiful baby boy and I’m so proud of her ❤

[@Bluefrog757]

Just because she birthed him, they KNEW he wasn’t going home with her. Yet they let her bond AND referred to her as the mother…before the inevitable end

[@aaliyahhoward5070]

She’s saved her baby’s life 🥺😭❤️

[@nitreonandfunchannel5678]

A good friend of mine went through something almost exactly like this- She was her mom’s first baby, and her mom did nothing but do heroine the whole pregnancy. Then when my friend was born, they let her bio mom take her home with her. Until a sheriff went by the house and found her under a pile of clothes, the sheriff took her and rushed to the hospital where my friend began to go through withdrawal and have seizures. Luckily she already had adoptive parents ready to take her home after she got better. But it messed her up even to now as an adult, and she despises her bio mother for that and I don’t blame her. Her bio mom has had 4 other kids who are all also messed up.

[@laurakantner4904]

That made me cry 😢. I had my son taken at 3 weeks old by my parents because of drugs and being an unfit mother. Now I am working on myself to get my son back!

[@pamelaj.betz-baron2420]

((LOTS OF HUGS))

[@MadameN5]

You can do this! 🤗

[@shannonburrell1424]

Praying for you girl! It's one step at a time and even one step is progress!!!!

[@BlazeDupree1525]

You got this, it's a long and difficult process. But don't give up!

[@fabianifigueira]

Hey, I wish you the best, you can do this for your baby. I don't know if you believe in GOD, but, if you put your faith in HIM, HE can make the impossible, so HE can give you the strong you need.

[@20money17]

I can't imagine the pain that baby feels having withdrawal symptoms from heroin OMG

[@diamondbentley7469]

I actually started crying while watching this. 🥺😭

[@squeet6831]

As soon as they said the baby was addicted to heroin, I started to get teary eyed.

[@emilyhedrick2851]

I cried a bit as well.

[@hmshood9212]

Me too

[@machazychaz]

You always hear that you have to hold a baby properly or their neck will break or something, so if you never even entertained the idea of actually holding one... when she said "I don't know how to hold a baby" it seemed more fearful than like a excuse

[@antonygoodman8595]

Damn that was a tough watch, like 1 doctor watching the mother and baby bond like a magic and the whole society that provides all the tools for the mother to wreck/save her own life scoop the baby away because she didn't understand her tools,, damn brutal..

[@kaciek6893]

No I haven’t heard a lot of babies crying but I think regular crying is different from oh my God I’m in horrible pain screeching

[@cupcakeprime559]

Well they can't really make a baby cry like that on set for obvious reasons

[@HelloHello-zf2sv]

Withdrawal crying is something you will never forget. It's a horrible sound.

[@supershepherd]

I wish they could help her. Put her in a program to help her get better so she can earn her baby back. It's terrible that they really just take the child away without even giving the mother a chance to get better.

[@airsoul366]

And by the end of the clip,you see why she endangers almost all of her patients

[@Sunny-gt5tq]

No person who does that to their baby deserves to keep them, period. She very clearly doesn’t care about him at all

[@marciebigley1820]

The way docs treat addicts like trash is unethical and disgusting. They should be compassionate and offer support.

[@Sniperboy5551]

I agree and disagree. They should be empathetic, but they need to hold them accountable. Telling an addict that it’s not their fault and coddling them will just let them rationalize using even more. They are not “powerless,” like AA/NA likes to say.

[@spookymiraclepreacher6037]

What she did to the baby was unethical and disgusting. Drug addiction is a CHOICE.

[@schleepy6362]

Medical shows don't get me to cry often but GOD the mom is such a tragic character in this. The actress really sells the heartbreak.

[@SamHaeger]

Fun fact: In some states, child services won't take custody until the baby's discharged. Also in cases like that it's usually not the first chance the parent gets to meet the social worker

[@sp00kyg1rl]

Breaks my heart, if given the chance she could change her life around and be a good mum 😢😢

[@milly7843]

When I was 17, I spent 3 months in-patient on a Pediatric ICU floor due to weight complications from cancer treatment. I was the oldest person there, the next oldest was about 10 or so, but the majority of the rest were little babies ranging from newborns to two/three years old. When I say that I *rarely* saw *any* biological family for those littles, I mean, I saw them once or twice *ever* in my stint there. 99% of the time it was volunteers who came and sat with the babies, rocking them or playing with them. I became incredibly close with my nurses there and they knew that I was interested in working in the pediatric medical world someday and that due to my experience, I was already very well versed in that knowledge. Sometimes they would let me go into the healthier babies' rooms and spend the afternoon rocking a fussy baby to sleep. They actually had a list of who was allowed to visit and who wasn't, and if you were on the list of being unable, they would double-lock the doors down so you couldn't get into the unit and would call security to remove you if you refused to leave. This happened twice. The first time was some mother cracked out of her mind, screaming like a banchee as she tried to ram through the doors. Security didn't want to touch her with a 10ft pole, so they ended up calling the Police who arrested her. The second time was about two or three hours later when the chain-smoking grandmother decided to try her hand at ramming through the doors, but this time it wasn't to see the baby. It was to fight the nurses who called for security and the police.... She was also arrested for threatening the nurses' lives, saying that she would be waiting for them when they get off of their shift. Basically, all of this is to say that giving a cracked out mother her baby because it is magical medicine would never fucking happen in the real world lmao 😂

[@wheelsndealz]

For a psychologist he really let her down. The simple and less traumatizing thing to do would have been to prep her. He could tell by her language what type of psyche she has. She felt worthless, guilty, etc. Being able to help the baby gave her something to feel worthy again. Suddenly taking that away would of course be traumatizing and send her backwards. I think they said in the beginning she was refusing drug help. Well, taking care of the baby could have been the turning point. it is for a lot of addicts. So taking that moment of helping the baby he should have prepped her for the hand off and explained that the best thing she could do is to get herself better. That the best thing for the baby is to let him go to a healthy home so she can focus on getting better. That it's a long road and every day is a step either in the right or wrong direction. So everyone could start getting better. That she is doing the right thing by giving the baby up. Basically so much more than what they just did in the show.

[@ry.butterfly]

I just wanna hug Leanne. So so heartbreaking

[@fbbWaddell]

If this was real life, I would be hopeful that the mother's love for her baby would be enough to give her the strength to overcome her addiction. Then again, just because you love your baby doesn't mean you will be a good mom.

[@krissyworth508]

No hate or shame, but as a mother i could never imagine in my wildest dreams loving something more than my children. Heroin must be so evil to make someone choose it over their child. I hope everyone struggling gets the help they need. Life is beautiful and I hope you're all able to see that one day. Hugs and Prayers

[@NH-tb2sm]

This was heartbreaking on so many levels.

[@tabithalincicome8621]

That smile the moment she held him.. I want to experience that so bad. Lord.. please let me have my miracle..

[@breecegriffith5896]

I love how absolutely absurd and unbelievable this scenario is. At least with House MD the situations are unlikely but played straight and the actors are competent at their jobs.

[@tigerfang6063]

It's actually far more common than you would think, it happens repeatedly especially in today's society where people would rather find comfort in a needle than finding comfort in the people around them

[@gregjenkinson7512]

I wouldn't really hold up House as a less absurd show. Seriously how often would House have been sued / fired for his actions?

[@peke100]

@@tigerfang6063 I think they're talking about the treatment being unbelievable, not the drug addicted mom

[@tigerfang6063]

@@peke100 Surprisingly enough that is also accurate, the baby has become attuned to the mother's heartbeat and warmth as it develops so that same warmth and heartbeat brings with it the feelings it had before being born where it knew it was "safe" whether it was full of drugs or not

[@HelloHello-zf2sv]

Actually this situation happens every single day all over the place. Sometimes the NICU has multiple babies in withdrawal They actually call them the "withdrawal babies" They need a lot of care and the mothers heartbeat and even breast milk is preferred in many situations. It all depends on the case.

[@haleynicole5166]

I was also addicted to Heroin when I was born. Unfortunately, she never got unaddicted

[@feraltaco4783]

As an adult who has gone through withdrawal and knew what was happening, it breaks my heart to see a baby suffering like that.

[@MultiPain101]

When you know show secrets and know that they slathered the baby with some grape jelly LOL

[@chantellegattrell7073]

My twins were in necu and during there stay there were two addicted babies. Every three hours they had to be shot up they had to have volunteer huggers hold the babies it was heart breaking

[@crescentedwards851]

I honestly love the actress that played the mother, she was always a patient on the spectrum on another show called New Amsterdam and she's great there too.

[@MusicLoverMN]

Wow. This whole video was hard to watch but. The ending. Literally broke my heart and killed me. I couldn't even imagine. This is a hard situation. The birth mom is not evil. She was addicted and you cannot understand addiction until you have been through it yourself. Especially withdrawal symptoms. The worst thing ever. Torture. Like someone is peeling your skin off slowly. You just want to die. Your whole body is on fire. Etc. I can't even put it into words. On the other hand. It obviously is not the baby's fault and as torturous as withdrawal already is, I cannot imagine going through that as a baby. A newborn. The whole situation just sucks. I could talk about this forever but at the end of the day it just seems to be one of those rock and a hard place situations where nobody wins. Unfortunately. No matter what there is no good perfect outcome. Just tragic all around. Heart breaking. 💔😭

[@quamiyahtucker591]

I know what you're talking about my brother is addicted to opioids and when he doesn't have them he goes crazy

[@xx_azura_xx8899]

I get what you’re saying. I think for the safety of her until she gets help and the child, this had to be done. Both are unwell. But I am no doctor nor I have been through this. So I don’t know.

[@djsaidez271]

@@xx_azura_xx8899 You still know more than the people I see in the comments that call the addict evil for not "choosing" to stop taking drugs, as if they've ever gone through addiction, withdrawal and detoxing before and know what it takes and what it does to you, but they only see the "choices" they make.

[@kendawyatt3219]

My heart just breaking uncontrollably!!!!! She fell in love and was ready!!! ❤❤❤

[@sunflowerlover5640]

As a fentanyl addict I totally understand both sides

[@jen-a-purr]

I teared up when the baby stopped crying when the mother held him 😢

[@mattgerrish908]

I had a childhood friend that I fell out of touch with when we got to high school in 2009. Then, in 2015, I found out from his father that I ran into at a pizza place that he had died from a heroin overdose. I didn't even know he had a problem. So this made me feel sad for a while.

[@Mamaaudri]

My Mother spiraled out of control with her drug of choice and my sibling was born with her addicted to the drugs. I'm so glad that my sibling wasn't born addicted.. but, he ended up taking his life while serving overseas. My mom often felt for the Mothers who had babies born addicted, and she herself told me she's always felt guilt. I know from an addicts mouth how difficult this is to kick and I get what they are saying, but, I never took one ounce of medication even when I was in severe pain and spent days on the couch suffering knowing my baby's neurological health was developing. I know addiction is hard, but, they should at least get clean FOR their unborn child. Get help. And I know they have to want it, but I will always feel two ways about it. I believe her drug use affected his serotonin levels later in life, and nothing can convince me otherwise.

[@pollyannaprinciple5860]

That actress who played the mother was so convincing. She had me tearing up for her.

[@gabysoto7663]

Oh my heart 😭💔 Nobody wins in these situations 😭

[@bridgettestacks291]

Had a friend that this happened with her baby boy my poor nephew suffered so much but he is doing well now he has a new family and is 7yrs old seeing this in person and not being able to calm that baby down killed me especially me being a CNA

[@Seers2you24]

No child needs an addict or alcoholic in their life, I know personally.

[@CaptainMorgan_CommanderPotts]

Addicts need support just like children need their own kind of help as they grow up... remember that

[@kshirelle]

This actress is really good. I was completely captivated.

[@jasmine9581]

3:40 _hurts_ the "more of me isnt gonna help" part hurt sm 7:49 I cant tear up rn I cant tear up rn welp

[@EG-kx4vp]

You know...its better just to avoid this life as a baby, than going throu this torture in that life

[@maryclark6661]

He should’ve told her before she held the baby. She may have denied but at least she’d be informed and drug user or not she deserved to know that even though she’d be helping him she couldn’t keep him. So sad. Addiction is complicated.

[@soxpeewee]

Wah wah. Poor mother. The law is pretty clear about it. If she has her head up her ass enough to harm an unborn child, I have no sympathy.

[@akshayevaid.]

From drifting on hills to delivering babies, My man DK has come a long way !

[@chillbilly2517]

The best way to help a child is to help it's mother.

[@WeedGrandma]

So I had broken my tooth when I was roughly 6 months pregnant and had to wait until after birth to get it removed. My face swelled up and I had an infection moving towards my brain. The OBGYN I had gave me hydrocodone and had me fill out a packet that I am taking class 1 narcotics. My baby girl was born perfectly fine (minus the infection of E. coli I had in my womb, they still don’t know how that happened. But if it wasn’t for the drugs me and my daughter would’ve died before 9 months

[@queenjanee6290]

Omggggg my tooth broke and was so swollen and in pain I had to take a Advil which I know it’s good. I’m only 12 weeks and my next appointment isn’t for 3 weeks. I know it’s a infection and don’t know what to do.

[@nataliemcmillan2605]

@@queenjanee6290 are you in the US? I'm in the UK and it's usually a course of antibiotics they give for 5 days. There is dental repair kits that you can mould around your tooth if its sharp or if air getting to the nerve is painful. Also swishing cool boiled water with a teaspoon of salt dissolved in it helps with the infection . Clove oil dabbed on the gum has anaesthetic properties and so gives a bit of pain relief. Hope this helps.

[@suikerkahuure5753]

@@nataliemcmillan2605 Life saver 🙌 ❤

[@nataliemcmillan2605]

@@suikerkahuure5753 any dental pain is hellish! I had so many issues and had to try many coping strategies since it was so long between appointments. I had a wisdom tooth infected and the infection was in my neck and face too, the swelling was so bad. I used something else called oragel which helped numb too and didn't taste as bad as clove oil. The Clove oil nips at first but then provides relief thankfully. I also used a face numbing menthol type thing that's meant for headache relief but I used it all over my face and it really helped to let me sleep. X

[@WeedGrandma]

@@queenjanee6290 they can give you certain antibiotics! I went to my primary doctor after the dentist because the dentist wrote explaining why he can’t do the surgery and gave the okay for my primary to write a prescription for the hydrocodone. I had an exposed nerve so even sleeping on that side of my face would make it swell and throb. I still had to do one cps visit afterwards but my doctors tried to coordinate with them as to why I would test positive for a certain drug. Basically just had to prove it was medicine and not heroin

[@lenaschweizer8382]

My Heart bleeds for these women. God knows what they must be going through

[@NYD666]

So many people feel bad for the mother and not the baby. You do realize we grow up right? A lot of us will always be behind.

[@LifewitNaez]

They made her bond with her child just to rip the child away is crazy.

[@riomitsuru425]

Looking at the baby having seizure is so scary. 😰

[@MissHolliday3110]

I took care of these babies for over a year. While the show got some things factually incorrect, it is a good topic. This happens all too often and many hospitals don't have staff that are adequately trained to work with these infants. The facility I worked in is the only in the country.

[@MsStephanieJane31]

That baby and her have a special bond ❤❤❤❤❤

[@justinweeks6608]

The ACTING is so good omg

[@12345Micki]

Skin to skin doesn't need to be with the biological mother. Anyone could hold a baby and improve NAS symptoms.

[@violetsmokes5815]

The mother could get the baby back. It would take time and work she would need to go to rehab and therapy and get a stable job and set up a good environment. Overall it would be a lot of work but she could get the baby back.

[@ashleydunham6957]

the " I told you so." look at the end.

[@sydizzle5212]

I was the hospital for a month after I was born because my mother was a heroin addict. This is a serious issue. 😭 💯

[@DisneyFanatic2364]

My mom was born addicted to my grandmother's meds. In that case, it wasn't due to grandma being addicted, but she was epileptic. The good news is that Mom recovered (I mean I wouldn't be here today if she didn't). But I also have a cousin who's adopted and his biological mom was an addict. He had to go to rehab in his teens. These cases can have long-term effects on babies.

[@jayvee7482]

I have an anxiety disorder and I'm also a single mom (left my abusive ex boyfriend when I was 5 months pregnant). I feel the physical pain almost everyday. He's my entire world. It would kill me if my son ever gets taken away from me.

[@Heather-4444]

I don’t know if you’ll see this, but I hope you’re doing okay 💛 anxiety is a horrid thing to live with, but it can get better. Sending love 💛

[@fparker8088]

@@Heather-4444I FEEL AND KNOW YOUR PAIN BECAUSE I SUFFER WITH IT AS WELL IN REAL LIFE!!! I DO TAKE MY MEDICINE AND EVEN THEN IT DOESNT GO AWAY 💯💯💯 NOT HOLLERING JUST LIKE CAPS LETTERS ❤ I PRAY THAT WE BOTH GET WELL AND GET OFF OF THE MEDICINE BECAUSE ITS A NASTY DRUG AND IT’S NOT ALWAYS A HELP!!! I DONT KNOW ABOUT YOUR FAMILY BUT MINE IS NOT VERY SUPPORTIVE AND MY MAMA THREW MY MEDICINE AWAY ONCE AND I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE FOR REAL BUT I’M THANKFUL TO GOD HE KEPT ME AND IS STILL KEEPING ME ❤❤❤ MY NEPHEW SMOKES WEED FOR HIS AND SHE SUPPORTS HIM 💯 BUT NEVER ME AND I TAKE A PILL AND HE SMOKES LIKE CRAZY 😢MY MAMA AND I HAVE NEVER EVER HAD A DECENT RELATIONSHIP AND I AM 55 YEARS OLD IN 2023!! SAD BUT SO VERY TRUE 🙏💜💯😇

[@ashleymarks3726]

as a pain pill addict, this is the exact reason why I don't want to have kids. I know in my bones that I would be an unfit mother. I can't do to my kids what my mom did to me.

[@kovu9880]

My older sister was a heroin addict, and she got one of her kids taken away from her. Her second they kept the first one with her, and I feel like that was the worst decision that they ever made. My sister made no attempt to make herself better for herself and now her four kids. One who is taken away from her, has been adopted by my uncle and aunt and he is the sweetest and happiest kid I have ever met, and all of his siblings deserved to be saved the way he was. All of them are the sweetest kids I’ve ever met and they don’t deserve what happened to them.