Recently, my experience made headlines: “Poppy seed bagel leads to woman’s ordeal at local hospital.” The story? I tested positive for opiates while in labor with my second child. I’m grateful for the attention, but there are vital details that a two-and-a-half-minute news segment simply couldn’t convey.
First off, let’s clarify: it was half of an everything bagel. Just half. With some strawberry cream cheese, but that’s irrelevant.
On that fateful morning, I was focused on a quick breakfast that my stomach, which had been sensitive during pregnancy, would tolerate. I was juggling thoughts about preparing breakfast for my three-year-old and how to keep her entertained during her day off. I was also trying to make it to my 40-week appointment with my midwife, all while my husband was getting ready for work and we had a repair crew fixing our air conditioner. Oh, and we desperately needed orange juice and those cute Trolls Band-Aids.
Drug tests? That thought didn’t cross my mind. Honestly, it shouldn’t have, since a more sensitive test conducted six days later showed I had a morphine level of 30 ng/mL. To put it in perspective, the hospital’s threshold for a positive drug test is allegedly set at 300 ng/mL, while most employers set it at 2,000 ng/mL and the Army at 3,000 ng/mL. These thresholds exist to prevent false positives.
But it became apparent from the vague, hand-drawn chart the head of the OBGYN department presented that the hospital’s actual threshold seemed to be 0 ng/mL. Dr. Sarah Winters, who spoke to WBAL-TV, suggested that while a higher threshold could overlook some drug users, it would also eliminate false positives. In other words, the hospital’s cautious approach turned my birth experience into collateral damage in the ongoing opioid crisis.
The hospital’s response to my situation has been dismissive and frankly insulting. I’m concerned that this could happen again to another new mother. “We typically don’t inform patients,” Dr. Winters admitted. “It’s a good point that people should know that consuming poppy seeds can lead to a false positive.” Since sharing my story, I’ve encountered numerous mothers who faced similar situations. We’re in the midst of a drug epidemic, and while it’s vital for families to receive proper support, the system’s resources often feel overstretched. Educating expectant mothers could significantly help.
However, this shouldn’t fall solely on mothers. Before this experience, I never considered questioning a hospital’s testing protocols. Even after the incident, I assumed it was an unusual error. But if my experiences are representative, many mothers are enduring unnecessary stress when they should be celebrating the arrival of their little ones. While I understand the hospital’s intentions were to ensure the safety of my baby, I firmly believe that a healthy and happy mother is foundational to achieving that goal. Hospitals need to improve their practices.
Why Does This Matter?
Let’s break it down: I was placed on a five-day state-mandated hold, separated from my three-year-old for a week. I spent one of the longest nights of my life in the pediatrics ward, caring for my newborn while still healing from labor and a C-section. I was alone, only one parent was allowed to stay overnight, and I felt completely overwhelmed. I even faced scrutinizing looks and comments from hospital staff instead of focusing on my new baby. To top it off, Child Protective Services got involved, generating the fear that my baby could be taken from me.
How could I trust a system that had prematurely labeled me a drug addict based on a flawed test? Now I have a closed case file that I’ll need legal help to expunge. It feels like an exorbitant cost for half of an everything bagel with strawberry cream cheese.
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In summary, my ordeal illustrates the urgent need for better communication and education regarding hospital drug testing policies. Expecting mothers deserve to focus on their new arrivals without the anxiety of being unfairly accused based on inconclusive tests.