Smoking pot while breastfeeding?

Question

Someone asked a question earlier that said, "would you report someone for smoking pot while breastfeeding".
I said no I wouldn't, only because a) I would talk to her first about the dangers of what she is doing to her child, how the pot is in breast milk and she will get her child taken away if anyone was to drug test her. I personally think that anyone who would do that is the most selfish person and shouldn't be breastfeeding anyways. b) I wouldn't hang around anyone who smokes pot or does any type of drug for that matter.
I only said I wouldn't report them because I think they have a right to know they are going to get their child taken away. I would never and have never smoked pot or done any type of drug while pregnant or breastfeeding or ever. I also think that drinking while breast feeding is wrong too! Taking any kind of illegal or prescription drug will have a negative effect on a child.
Would you not talk to them first? Maybe I am just too compassionate and I feel for others.

Stopdamadness2003 said he feels bad for my poor helpless child because I said I would talk to the mother before reporting her. How is that fair? I am a wonderful mother and I am very responsible, so I think thats unnecessary to say to me. I would never be in that situation in the first place.
Anyways, I am not trying to rant and rave, but I am just wondering would you report them right away or try talking to them? What if it was a sister or aunt? You would be the one who got their child taken away.
what if the situation was reversed? What if someone saw you spank your child and turned you in? Wouldn't it have been better if they would have come to you first?
I just want some imput, it bothers me when people who don't know what they are talking about say things like that.

Rural thoughts- I know spanking is not illegal and drugs are!!!!!! You are obviously NOT getting my point! Some may think its child abuse to spank, just like smoking pot while pregnant is child abuse. Sorry I had to spell it out for you!

Answer 1

I would still confront them first. Like you. I see that as a respect thing. But just because I confront them... doesn't mean I won't report them should the behavior continue.

To be honest... how another woman deals with her child is her business. To say that you would turn in anyone who harms their child is ridiculous because we don't even know everything that harms a child. *Especially* in pregnancy. The "cry it out" method could be harmful to a child emotionally... or the opposite route, the over nurturing could be. What about women who don't eat healthy during their pregnancies? Many of these lines are difficult to cross, because it's opinion. Or just lacking in proof.

I think a brief education to the woman who's using pot... couldn't be harmful. It could only help.

Answer 2

I guess in my opinion I should not have to talk to the person first. It is no secret that drugs are not good for anyone let alone a child. I don't think I should have to remind anyone of this. I think that any parent the is naive enough to think this is OK is naive enough to believe anything and should be reported because I guarantee this is not the only line she will cross.

On another note spanking is not illegal drugs are! Big differnce there!

Oh I do get the point. If someone reports me for disiplining my child, go ahead I have nothing to hide. My point is that some things should not need reminded.........their is no gray area with drugs!!!

Answer 3

Honestly, CPS (whatever it is in your state) would do absolutely nothing. They might come visit, but that's about it. My mother is/was a heavy drug user. When I was in middle school, I reported some very bad things going on at home, including drug use. My brother and sister were 1 and 3 at the time. I told them about her staying out for days and leaving the children home alone, bringing drugs into the house, etc. She told the social worker, "Yes, I smoke pot. What are you going to do about it?" She failed to mention that she also smoked crack and snorted cocaine. Burt apparently, the social worker's actions spoke louder than words -- NOTHING!

Try to talk to the person, but honestly most pot smokers think their abuse has no effect on the people around them. Their families suffer.

Children who ingest the drug either while in utero or via breast-feeding have problems with chemicals in their brains. They have attention (ADD) problems, chemical dependency later in life, bi-polar and other mental/emotional disorders. As well, there are generally underlying issues that the parent(s) have that are not being treated properly that contribute to the child's improper development.

My brother and sister are now 25 and 27. Neither has put any significant effort towards becoming a contributing member of society. I have cousins who work menial jobs and spend their extra money on MJ, rather than on a nice family-vacation or down-payment on a house. They would rather live in squalor than quit the drug lifestyle.

Answer 4

i totally agree with you. people are too fast to call childrens services. sometimes for nothing. all it takes is a good talking to. you explain the cons of smoking weed/doing any medication not prescribed for you/alcohol while breastfeeding is viable grounds for having your child taken away. if this person continues this behavior then i would call someone. people are too fast to pull the trigger. the kids that need to be taken away, are usually the ones that dont. i mean the ones getting abused, i live in the hood. and some of the things i see here would make your normal american go bonkers, you just have to weed them out. i like the fact you are compassionate and do not call childrens services on a whim without talking to parent first. kudos. you rock. someone called childrens services on me i would whoop they ssa and go to jail.

Answer 5

you are not too compassionate,
you are seeing the big picture
I personally think, and you may agree with me,
that yes all drugs are wrong, especially while nursing,
but I will honestly probably go your route, unless it was meth or something, which I think merits immediate action, regardless of the moms rights.
I think you would be dealing with this one correctly, all of these kinds of things are case by case there is no cookie cutter right and wrong answer

Answer 6

U would think that anyone in there right mind would already know the dangers of doing stupid stuff like that while pregnant or breastfeeding and they wouldn't need a warning!

Answer 7

Just do not do it, do it after your baby will stop breastfeeding ;) I love weed too but do not do it when it can affect your baby, do it a bit later seriously...

Answer 8

I agree with you. I would talk to them first. I know a person (I'm not friends with) who smoked with all 3 of her children and no one has said a word. I thought about saying something to someone, but that's her choice. It's her kids.

Answer 9

Anyone who would smoke pot while pregnant or nursing should barely be permitted to own a dog, let alone have a baby...Makes me afraid for this generation of kids coming up......

Answer 10

You would think that someone would have enough common sense to not do stupid things like that when their body feeds their child. I would definately report them, whether they were my friend or not. That child deserves food that is not tainted.