Glenn County Observer
A woman called 911 Monday morning, telling the dispatcher she believed she was overdosing after smoking fentanyl.
She was eight months pregnant.
Orland police officers responded to the Blue and White Laundromat at 1018 South Street, located in the same strip mall as the Dollar Tree and the Grocery Outlet, at about 9:42 a.m. on Oct. 23.
After the officers “cleared the scene” (made sure it was safe for other emergency responders to enter), Orland Fire Department volunteers and ambulance personnel entered to render aid.
The woman had self-administered a dose of Narcan.
Still experiencing symptoms of overdose, a second dose of Narcan was administered.
Orland Fire Chief Justin Chaney was heard on the scanner saying the woman was eight months pregnant.
A K-9 was brought to the scene to make sure there was no leftover fentanyl or paraphernalia.
The woman was transported by ambulance for additional medical treatment.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), substance abuse by pregnant women has been linked to maternal death, poor fetal growth, preterm birth, stillbirth, birth defects, and NAS, or neonatal abstinence syndrome (withdrawal).
Signs of withdrawal usually begin within 72 after birth and may include tremors (trembling); irritability, including excessive or high-pitched crying; sleep problems; hyperactive reflexes; seizures; yawning, stuffy nose, or sneezing; poor feeding and sucking; vomiting; loose stools and dehydration; and increased sweating.
Neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) is a subset of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). NOWS is specific to opioid withdrawal and manifests itself within the first 28 days of the infant’s life.
According to the CDC, the signs a newborn might experience, and their severity, depend on a variety of factors, including the type and amount of the opioid to which the infant was exposed before birth; the last time the mother used an opioid; whether the baby was born full-term or premature; and whether the newborn was exposed to other substances, such as alcohol or tobacco, before birth.
Suddenly stopping opioid use during pregnancy is not recommended, the CDC says, as it can have serious consequences, such as preterm labor, fetal distress, or miscarriage.
Current clinical recommendations for pregnant women with opioid use disorder include medications rather than supervised withdrawal, due to a higher likelihood of better outcomes and a reduced risk of relapse.
The Glenn County Observer 