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Alcohol and Drugs in Pregnancy

Mothers Using Methadone and/or other Substances (MUMS)

MUMS is a service for pregnant women who are in methadone treatment or who misuse alcohol and other drugs.

This service is provided by a team of doctors, midwives, nurses, drug and alcohol counsellors, and social workers form Lismore Base Hospital and the Community Health Service.

The aim of the service is to help women to reduce any harm that may occur to both themselves and their baby during pregnancy and after the birth.

These workers are an accepting team of people who will not make judgements about a client’s drug use.

WHY DID WE START MUMS?

It has been shown that babies born to mothers who misuse alcohol or other drugs during pregnancy can have a number of problems. These include babies going into withdrawal after the birth, and babies having lower than usual birth weight. Low weight babies get sick more easily than normal weight babies.

WHAT MUMS OFFERS

• A Midwife who will make sure that you get the care you need. The midwife will help you to arrange appointments with anyone you may need help from; this could include a local doctor and services listed in this Web page.
• A Child and Family Health Nurse can visit you before and after your bay is born. They can visit you at your home, in hospital or you can see them at Baby Health Clinics. They will check that all is well with your baby and help you to sort out any problems you may have.
• A Drug and Alcohol Counsellor is available to give you support and counselling to help you stop or reduce your alcohol or other drug use.
• Ante-natal Health Checks (medical checks while you are pregnant) for you and your baby. This will give you the chance to have any questions answered.
• For those mothers on the Methadone Program, a nurse at ‘Riverlands’ can provide support and advice.
• A Paediatric Registrar (baby specialist located at the hospital) will see you at the antenatal clinic to answer questions you may have about your baby.
• A Social Worker is available for support and counselling for accommodation, relationships and other personal problems.
• An Obstetrician (pregnancy specialist doctor) will see you to make sure all is well with your pregnancy.
• A Paediatrician will check your baby when he/she is born.
• Referral to other services that may be able to help you, for example the Department of Housing and Centrelink.
• Post Natal Checks (medical check-ups and support) for you and your baby after the birth.

Please call (02) 6620 2244 from 9am to 4pm weekdays, for this FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL SERVICE.

Women’s Referral and Access Program (WRAP)

Contact: (02) 6620 7596

WRAP is an integrated care trial for drug (illicit) dependent women and their families. It targets women in methadone treatment, pregnant women and/or women with young children, women in Nimbin, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. Through a case management model, it involves the assessment, referral and linkage of women to a range of services that may include health, housing, employment, education, legal advice, child care, child protection, living skills, parenting skills, and financial advice. There is no cost to the client.

Location: agencies in Lismore, Nimbin, Tweed, Grafton