lil angel15
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Ice is mum's new little helper
November 14, 2007
AMPHETAMINES and even ice are the new "mother's little helper", with Valium being pushed aside by mums as they struggle to cope with domestic demands.
Of the 5500 mothers requiring help from a Perth hospital this year, 400 would have substance-abuse issues, and of those a third would have taken amphetamines or ice, according to a report delivered to a women's health conference in Adelaide yesterday.
"The sort of women we are dealing with are not women who use methamphetamines or ice in nightclubs on a Saturday night," Claire Henderson, of the Women and Newborn Drug and Alcohol Service at Perth's King Edward Hospital, said.
"The women we see use amphetamines to get by in their day-to-day lives, to get up (in the morning), to function, to take the kids to school. It's taken over from mother's little helper, Valium."
Ms Henderson said the mothers taking drugs had "complex social problems".
"They are often victims of abuse, with poor education. Their peers are using, it's a part of the culture, with people with low socio-economic backgrounds," she said.
The risks of drug-taking in pregnancy included bleeding, premature delivery and fetal growth retardation.
Sharyn Stonely, a clinical midwife at King Edward Hospital, said it was crucial to have multi-disciplinary care to help deal with drug issues.
"Drug use is just one of the things going on - there are relationship issues, homelessness, contact with police or even jail," Ms Stonely said. "These issues may have been going on for years, they can't just stop with pregnancy."
Ms Henderson emphasised the hospital's message was not punitive. "We are absolutely supporting women to make positive changes in their lives," she said.
The Australian