Pregnancy Choices and Opioid Use: A Compassionate Approach
Episode Overview
Pregnancy options counselling is vital for individuals with substance use disorders. Reproductive justice supports the right to parent or not in a safe environment. Collaboration across healthcare teams ensures optimal patient care. Curiosity and questioning protocols can improve patient support. Pain management and methadone use are critical considerations during pregnancy.
"No physician is an island...collaborating across teams is one of the most important things for these patients."
What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? This episode of Addiction Medicine: Beyond the Abstract offers a compelling look into the intersection of opioid use disorder and pregnancy options counselling. Dr. Blythe Bynum, an assistant professor at Thomas Jefferson University, brings her expertise in obstetrics and gynecology to the table. She discusses the importance of pregnancy options counselling for individuals with substance use disorders, emphasising the need for a compassionate approach that validates each patient's unique experience. Dr.
Bynum shares her journey into this field, inspired by witnessing transformative care during her residency. Listeners will gain insight into the complexities faced by pregnant individuals with opioid use disorder. Dr. Bynum highlights the role of reproductive justice, which supports all individuals in their right to parent or not in a safe environment. The episode delves into how healthcare providers can incorporate basic pregnancy options counselling into addiction treatment, addressing specific concerns like pain management and methadone use during pregnancy.
This conversation is not just about medical protocols; it's about building trust and communication between patients and healthcare professionals. Dr. Bynum advocates for collaboration across healthcare teams to ensure optimal care for patients facing these challenges. Her advice for upcoming professionals in both addiction medicine and obstetrics is to remain curious and question existing protocols to better support their patients. Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey?
Tune in to this eye-opening episode that blends personal stories with professional insights, shedding light on the crucial intersection of addiction medicine and family planning.