Substance misuse: can midwives really make a difference?

Abstract

Substance misuse makes a woman vulnerable. During pregnancy, in particular, the issues surrounding Substance misuse and its treatment are very emotive. Pregnancy often prompts women who substance misuse to seek help for their addiction for the first time, but for some it is part of a cycle of failure and loss: failure at rehabilitation and facing the loss of yet another child, be it through child protection issues or from the medical complications of addiction. As a midwife only engages with a woman for a relatively short period of time, can their actions have a lifelong impact on the woman and her unborn child? This article aims to examine the stigma of substance misuse and the role a midwife plays, not just as a maternity care provider but also in the continued journey of the woman and her child.