Jessica Silansky is a Certified Methadone Advocate, a certified Hepatitis C Educator and a Substance Abuse Counselor. Jessica’s most recent position was in Springfield, Massachusetts as a Case Manager for clients with the Disease of Addiction. Jessica is a graduate of Westfield State College Addiction Counselor Education Program. Jessica resides in the Springfield, Massachusetts area where she is currently spending time with her family and is a full time college student working on her ultimate goal of a masters degree in Counseling Psychology
Jessica first came to MethadoneSupport.org/PregnancyInfo seeking advice about pregnancy and methadone for herself and she has been here ever since. Her special interest in methadone and pregnancy drove her to expand her knowledge and she attended the New England School of Addiction Studies where she took classes in methadone and pregnancy. Jessica has been studying under Sharon Dembinski (a well known expert in this field) and learning all she can while she filled the role of Pregnancy Support Specialist for the site.
After finding recovery back in January 2005 Jessica found her calling and discovered her passion- Substance Abuse Counseling. It was through the death of someone very close to her that she came to realize that she needed to seek recovery and change her life. Jessica has had two babies while in treatment on methadone and is grateful for her recovery and the lifesaving medication that assisted her in maintaining her recovery and assuring the healthy outcomes to both her pregnancies. Jessica felt so strongly about methadone maintenance treatment that she traveled to the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence (AATOD) convention in New York City in April of 2009 where she attended the course to become a Certified Methadone Advocate (CMA).
Jessica quickly realized that her true calling within her passion of substance abuse counseling was methadone and pregnancy. She loves working with all the women that find our site in need of support, education and facts. Jessica plans to be here for a long time to come and working on our pregnancy support forum is a tremendous joy for her. Sharon Dembinski asked Jessica to serve as site Administrator a few months ago and Jessica accepted that role.
Sharon remains on as Expert Consultant and is available to Jessica 24/7!
We at MSO are proud and grateful to have Jessica here!....
Carol Sholiton
Founder/CEO - Methadone Support Org.
**ONE MUST BE REGISTERED ON FORUMS IN ORDER TO POST!**
Posted March 12th, 2012 08:29 PM IPhi everyone - just thought i'd drop by and check things out. I'm from australia and i know a lot of differences around the world, but take heart everyone - i've been on methadone for 20years (decided a year ago to get off it and i'm nearly there) I've had 7 babies born on methadone and 1, i had come off during the middle trimester and what do you know, she was a heroin baby. So eight babies, one had severe withdrawals needing phernobarb and morphine, two weeks in special care and 6months medicated at home. One was a premmie and after her lungs collapsed they had her on morphine for pain for 7 days - even knowing my medical history the stupid doctor did not reduce it gradually and she went into withdrawal, which lead to other problems, seizures etc, but of course my methadone got the blame, which even NICU nurse said wouldn't have been the issue - in that case i had my urine, blood and breastmilk screened, a different doc apologised when they all came back clear. These two times i was on different doses, was clean, they were born at different times of the day, i was at different pharmacies. My last baby, the nurse scored her high on her finnigans chart when i don't think she needed to be. I don't know if they use finnigans in the states or europe? Anyway just wanted to let you all know that you are doing the best thing for your baby - if your methadone is keeping you clean and stable and looking after yourself, how can that be a bad thing!! Good luck ladies
risingsun75 Member
Posts: 117 Registered: Aug 2011
Posted March 13th, 2012 02:56 PM IPI can tell you from experience , when my daughter was born , i had to fight tooth and nail with the nurses , they tried scoring her high when i knew she wasnt in wd . Infact i had to fight for my rights to breastfeed , all in all the nurses scored her for things that were so mild and wrong she was sent to the nicu..... That was a godsend , It was there they told us she was only scoring 3 and 4s but she had severe jaundus and was put on a bili blanket for 5 days , they were very discusted at how the nurses in l and delvery scored all the babies leading them all to go into nicu , because ther not traind and asume all babies go thru w/ds ... Mine did come home without any treatment and fully breastfed , she is a hapy healthy 3 month old , hadnt i fought for her and disagreed with scores she was given she would have been started on morphine and had had to stay in nicu for up to 2 months... Make sure you are so involved with everything it realy helps...risingsun75
nessthomo Member
Posts: 10 Registered: Mar 2012
Posted March 13th, 2012 08:44 PM IPthere are always the nurses/midwives that ttry and score them higher - like before a fed. surely they has to be another way that doesn't rely on someone's opinion. I found nurses in special care and NICU obviously were a lot better because they are more experienced and not so judgemental. I was in hospital for 9 weeks with my fifth pregnancy and was able to educate the nurses and midwives a bit more about methadonians lol.
Shezza46 Member
Posts: 5 Registered: Mar 2012
Posted April 7th, 2012 06:42 AM IPHi Nesstho, just read yr post and I am very interested in it. You say you "came off" methadone in the middle trimester, but yr baby still withdrew?? How can that be if you were clean for 3 months?? I am currently on 26 ml and I am going to reduce in the 3rd trimester - how much did you withdraw (if at all) and what dose was you on, and how much was you reduced at a time?
Sorry for all the questions but hope you can help me )
nessthomo Member
Posts: 10 Registered: Mar 2012
Posted April 7th, 2012 07:47 AM IPShe withdrew because i had a relapse - i was told, then, that i could only detox in the middle trimester - 1st could end in miscarriage, 3rd in premature birth - that was 16 years ago so things may have changed, but i'd double check on that one. to tell the truth shezza if anything i wouldn't be reducing at the end, all my pregnancies since that one i've had to increase my dose (after the baby is born then i've been able to drop the increase straight away as it surplus to what my body needed) your body and baby take everything from you in the third trimester, and your body is working harder, most pregnant woman here have an open script to increase when they want. Keeping you stable is what's important for the baby - i've seen babies go into withdrawal on 6ml while others on 25ml are fine. it's just 'pot luck' there are studies happening about split dosing stopping withdrawal, about time of last dose to time of birth making a difference - truth is it's an unknown - what is known is that there is no danger to the baby and if you are healthy your unborn and then newborn will be too. Good luck
Shezza46 Member
Posts: 5 Registered: Mar 2012
Posted April 7th, 2012 08:10 AM IPThanks Nessthomo for your quick response, I meant to say I was going to reduce in the second trimester (not third), it was a typo. But it is going to be very gradual - 2 ml a fortnight - so I will still be on it when the baby is born, I mentioned to my keyworker about this forum and that I have read that people may have to increase their dose in the 3rd trimester, she had never heard of this, so I will speak to the actual Dr (as I am having to see him every month) and see what he thinks, although I can't see why they would agree to reduce you in the 2nd trimester if you then have to go up in the third? I suppose everyone is different. Thanks again for your help and advice.
Divinity- Member Posts: 817 Registered: Oct 2008
Posted April 8th, 2012 08:17 PM IPeeew yikes how scary i am so glad that i have such an educated wonderful hospital and i have had a great experience so far with both of my kids heres to hoping 3 times a charm
Jessica1381 *ADMINISTRATOR* Posts: 1898 Registered: Mar 2008
Posted April 14th, 2012 09:05 AM IPThank you for sharing your experience with us and no matter what I hope all my wonderful moms here know that there is no shame in being on methadone and that they are doing the best they can for themselvs and their babies!
Hugs to all of you!!!
JessJessica (Jensen) Silansky, CMA
Primary Pregnancy Support Specialist
Substance Abuse Counselor
Certified Methadone Advocate
Certified Hepatitis C Basic Educator
Member of NAADAC, AATOD & MOAR
Passed CADAC1 exam
Jessica@MethadoneSupport.org
1-860-798-5785
Deesssyy Member
Posts: 14 Registered: Feb 2012
Posted April 24th, 2012 07:45 PM IPI have switched ob's. May not sound Right but I switched from a Dr that had lots of methadone knowledge to one who has none. But I want to deliver at the hospital that has a nice with private baby rooms where I can stay 24/7 once I'm discharged. She's great though and she went to school with my former Dr and in contact. And she's letting me help educate her. I aw also planning on tapering and went back and forth on it and had lots of guilt over it but have finally decided to stay. I use it for pain control. I missed one nights dose because I fell asleep and was in horrible pain and m only 1wks now. I have a family member who doesn't agree with my decision but she hasn't met with nice drs and perinatologists like I have and doesn't have the info I have. She can keep her opinion to herself or not be around as far as I'm concerned. You can say anything you like about me but if you start talking about how I'm not doing the best I can for my daughter you need to stay away. I let her get me so upset and can't do that anymore.
Deesssyy Member
Posts: 14 Registered: Feb 2012
Posted April 24th, 2012 07:45 PM IPI have switched ob's. May not sound Right but I switched from a Dr that had lots of methadone knowledge to one who has none. But I want to deliver at the hospital that has a nice with private baby rooms where I can stay 24/7 once I'm discharged. She's great though and she went to school with my former Dr and in contact. And she's letting me help educate her. I aw also planning on tapering and went back and forth on it and had lots of guilt over it but have finally decided to stay. I use it for pain control. I missed one nights dose because I fell asleep and was in horrible pain and m only 1wks now. I have a family member who doesn't agree with my decision but she hasn't met with nice drs and perinatologists like I have and doesn't have the info I have. She can keep her opinion to herself or not be around as far as I'm concerned. You can say anything you like about me but if you start talking about how I'm not doing the best I can for my daughter you need to stay away. I let her get me so upset and can't do that anymore.
Deesssyy Member
Posts: 14 Registered: Feb 2012
Posted April 24th, 2012 07:45 PM IPI have switched ob's. May not sound Right but I switched from a Dr that had lots of methadone knowledge to one who has none. But I want to deliver at the hospital that has a nice with private baby rooms where I can stay 24/7 once I'm discharged. She's great though and she went to school with my former Dr and in contact. And she's letting me help educate her. I aw also planning on tapering and went back and forth on it and had lots of guilt over it but have finally decided to stay. I use it for pain control. I missed one nights dose because I fell asleep and was in horrible pain and m only 1wks now. I have a family member who doesn't agree with my decision but she hasn't met with nice drs and perinatologists like I have and doesn't have the info I have. She can keep her opinion to herself or not be around as far as I'm concerned. You can say anything you like about me but if you start talking about how I'm not doing the best I can for my daughter you need to stay away. I let her get me so upset and can't do that anymore.
Deesssyy Member
Posts: 14 Registered: Feb 2012
Posted April 24th, 2012 07:45 PM IPI have switched ob's. May not sound Right but I switched from a Dr that had lots of methadone knowledge to one who has none. But I want to deliver at the hospital that has a nice with private baby rooms where I can stay 24/7 once I'm discharged. She's great though and she went to school with my former Dr and in contact. And she's letting me help educate her. I aw also planning on tapering and went back and forth on it and had lots of guilt over it but have finally decided to stay. I use it for pain control. I missed one nights dose because I fell asleep and was in horrible pain and m only 1wks now. I have a family member who doesn't agree with my decision but she hasn't met with nice drs and perinatologists like I have and doesn't have the info I have. She can keep her opinion to herself or not be around as far as I'm concerned. You can say anything you like about me but if you start talking about how I'm not doing the best I can for my daughter you need to stay away. I let her get me so upset and can't do that anymore.
