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For babies born addicted to opioids, hospitals recruit volunteer cuddler
Philadelphia Inquirer ^ | 01/13/2017 | Marie McCullough

Posted on 01/15/2017 9:41:45 AM PST by Kid Shelleen

---SNIP--- "They" are the most helpless, hapless victims of the opioid epidemic:babies born addicted to the prescription or illicit drugs their mothers took. Many of them spend weeks or months in the hospital, gradually being weaned from opioid dependence by getting decreasing doses of oral morphine or methadone.

Even mothers who are in recovery may not be able to visit their babies every day over such a long period, so many hospitals have enlisted helpers — volunteer cuddlers like Schultz.

"These babies going through withdrawal need to be held for extended periods," said Jane Cavanaugh, the nurse who created Jefferson's cuddler program a year ago. "They need human touch. They need soothing. They need talking.

(Excerpt) Read more at philly.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: addiction; opioids
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1 posted on 01/15/2017 9:41:45 AM PST by Kid Shelleen
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To: Kid Shelleen

Fix mommy so she can’t do it again.


2 posted on 01/15/2017 9:42:45 AM PST by OKSooner (www.greatagain.gov <= Go here to put a note in the suggestion box!)
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To: Kid Shelleen
Many of them spend weeks or months in the hospital

And then what?

3 posted on 01/15/2017 9:47:30 AM PST by Buttons12
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To: Kid Shelleen
"Sometimes the moms feel stigmatized," Cavanaugh said. "They feel the nurses are judging them."

These wretched women should be happy to feel judged. It means they still have a conscience

4 posted on 01/15/2017 9:49:07 AM PST by Menehune56 ("Let them hate so long as they fear" (Oderint Dum Metuant), Lucius Accius (170 BC - 86 BC))
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To: Kid Shelleen

Poor little ones. Maybe one day I will foster babies. I’m done having my own.

I did know a few parents who adopted through foster, babies born addicted. The kids often had ADHD and learning differences. Makes life so much harder.

I agree, fix all drug addicts. BEFORE the babies show up. Semi permanent inserted hormonal birth control.


5 posted on 01/15/2017 9:50:20 AM PST by Yaelle
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To: Kid Shelleen

My wife volunteers to do this at a local hospital. It is difficult some days, but also rewarding.


6 posted on 01/15/2017 9:50:52 AM PST by Senator_Blutarski
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To: Kid Shelleen

We did something like modified holding therapy. Lots of contact and eye contact even when the baby/toddler is screaming.


7 posted on 01/15/2017 9:55:34 AM PST by Mercat (Men never do evil so fully and cheerfully as when they do it out of conscience.” (Blaise Pascal))
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To: Yaelle

My wife and I found out “maybe one day” about 3 years ago, adopted a little boy with significant mental issues and born to a drug-addicted mother. I would not change a thing for all the world!


8 posted on 01/15/2017 9:55:44 AM PST by Spacetrucker (George Washington didn't use his freedom of speech to defeat the British - HE SHOT THEM .. WITH GUNS)
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To: OKSooner

Exactly........


9 posted on 01/15/2017 9:55:47 AM PST by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
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To: Kid Shelleen

Volunteer Cuddlers will be in top demand in a decade or two, should certain scientific breakthroughs develop. In Sept. 2016 issue of Tomorrows World, there was an article about scientists at the University of Bath who discovered a method for creating offspring without the need for a female egg.
They use skin cells. This is being conducted with mice right now. Ten, twenty years down the line, they may be ready to produce human beings in the same way.


10 posted on 01/15/2017 9:56:29 AM PST by lee martell
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To: Spacetrucker

Stay strong for adolescence and the teens
It is tough


11 posted on 01/15/2017 9:57:02 AM PST by silverleaf (Age takes a toll: Please have exact change)
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To: Kid Shelleen

This has been going on for years. I volunteered to hold babies born addicted to crack in the 90’s. One of the best things I ever did in my life.


12 posted on 01/15/2017 9:57:33 AM PST by connyankee (#MAGABEGINS)
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To: Kid Shelleen

I worked with a curmudgeonly old man that few folks liked. We were all shocked when a new hire came in and told us her cousin ran this kind of program at the county hospital, and the old man was one of the longest serving volunteers.


13 posted on 01/15/2017 9:58:02 AM PST by jttpwalsh
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To: Spacetrucker

Bravo!!! I already raise kids with special needs so I would be ready. Though not sure I would adopt any more, but we would love to help out and I love and totally understand attachment parenting. I have so much knowledge and experience, I could be of help including to the child’s eventual adoptive parents. Enjoy your son!


14 posted on 01/15/2017 10:01:59 AM PST by Yaelle
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To: lee martell

You do understand they still use someone’s egg, unless you are speaking of actual cloning. I don’t know which study, but reproduction is only healthy when two gamete sources are used.


15 posted on 01/15/2017 10:05:18 AM PST by Yaelle
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To: Kid Shelleen

Drugs are a victim-less crime and drug users are only hurting themselves...

oh, wait... nvm.


16 posted on 01/15/2017 10:06:35 AM PST by Noamie
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To: OKSooner
Fix mommy...

Interesting choice of words. Operation or hot shot?

17 posted on 01/15/2017 10:07:00 AM PST by Poison Pill
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To: OKSooner

Right because it’s totally mommy’s fault she did what her doctors told her.


18 posted on 01/15/2017 10:12:33 AM PST by discostu (Alright you primative screwheads, listen up!)
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To: Kid Shelleen

Nothing is sadder than to work the NICU and see a drug addled new-born die. I watch as the wife and a team of nurses just lose it when nothing else ever seemed to.


19 posted on 01/15/2017 10:14:22 AM PST by CodeToad (If it weren't for physics and law enforcement, I'd be unstoppable!)
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To: Kid Shelleen

But but but....victimless crimes! Legalize all drugs!

Anyone who has ever held a drug addicted, spastic infant, or observed the classroom learning and behavioral difficulties of these children, would never say that.

A big part of the solution is to BUILD THAT WALL and increase penalties for distribution.

What a lot of people who are pushing marijuana legalization don’t realize, is that the competing retailers are lacing the marijuana with all sorts of other vile substances to increase potency, thus, sales. So you’re not just getting weed, you’re getting weed dosed with paregoric, crack, ammonia, or who knows what else.
We will soon begin seeing the effects in helpless babies of pothead mothers.


20 posted on 01/15/2017 10:40:49 AM PST by mumblypeg (Chicago called. They want their village idiot back.)
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