Pregnant addicts to get support

A new support service is being launched for pregnant drug addicts

Women drug addicts in Edinburgh are to be offered a new pregnancy support service.

Action on Alcohol and Drugs in Edinburgh will establish a new pregnancy support team for women affected by drug addiction.

The team will have a midwife, community psychiatric nurse, two nursery officers and a senior nursery officer/project co-ordinator.

It will be based at the city's Stenhouse Children and Families Centre.

The new service, which will operate across the city, is due to be operational by July this year.

Maternal drug use in pregnancy carries a significant risk that it can lead to a number of complications affecting foetal development.

TNo woman will arrive at the hospital to give birth without her situation being known to staff and without support being available for her and her child Tom Wood Action on Alcohol and Drugs in Edinburgh

Injecting drugs during pregnancy can also result in the transmission of HIV and viral hepatitis.

Tom Wood, chair of Action on Alcohol and Drugs in Edinburgh, said: "The Scottish Executive in its recent Hidden Harm Report highlighted the issue of the unborn child and drug misusing mothers, and the need to develop an effective, non-judgemental care plan for both baby and mother.

"The expertise that the professionals in Edinburgh's pregnancy support team will bring to this project will ensure that no woman will arrive at the hospital to give birth without her situation being known to staff and without support being available for her and her child."

In Edinburgh, it is estimated that approximately 150 women with substance misuse problems give birth every year.

Commonly reported problems of maternal drug use during pregnancy include low birth weight, pre-term delivery, neo-natal abstinence syndrome and sudden infant death syndrome.

'Big difference'

Becky Cropper, senior nursery worker and project co-ordinator, said: "We are offering a holistic package of care to mothers, and will travel around the city to meet with pregnant mothers and help them through their pregnancy.

"Our aim is for the mother to deliver a healthy baby, and to assist her in addressing her drug issues. We will also work with her for a few months after the birth.

"I believe the approach and flexibility of our service will make a big difference to those we are targeting."

About 60 women should be seen by this service over the next year and this number could rise to 120 by next year.

Two nursery workers have already been recruited, and the other posts will be filled by the summer.

Aberdeen and Glasgow have already introduced a similar model for pregnant women who use drugs.