Recently, I found myself at the center of a local news story that gained national attention: “Poppy Seed Bagel Behind Woman’s Ordeal at Towson Hospital.” As the headline indicates, I tested positive for opiates while in labor with my second child. While I am grateful for the media coverage, there were several crucial details about my experience that a brief report simply couldn’t capture.
To clarify, it was actually half of an everything bagel with strawberry cream cheese that I consumed. Just half. On that fateful morning, my thoughts were consumed by the need for a quick breakfast that my sensitive stomach could handle after nine months of pregnancy challenges. I was worried about preparing breakfast for my three-year-old, keeping her entertained during her day off from school, and ensuring I made it to my 40-week appointment with my midwife so my husband could get to work. I was also dealing with an air conditioner repair crew who arrived at 8 a.m. and making sure we had orange juice and Band-Aids for my little one, who loves the Trolls movie.
The last thing on my mind was the possibility of a drug test or a false positive because of poppy seeds. In fact, I shouldn’t have been thinking about it at all. A more sensitive test conducted six days later revealed a mere 30 ng/mL of morphine in my system, far below the hospital’s stated threshold of 300 ng/mL for a positive result. Most employers set their thresholds at 2,000 ng/mL, while the Army uses 3,000 ng/mL to prevent false positives.
The chief of the OBGYN department defended the hospital’s stance with an unlabeled chart, indicating that any trace of morphine would be considered a positive result. “If you set the bar here,” Dr. Jessica Thompson explained during an interview, “you might identify true positives but miss others who used drugs.” In essence, the hospital’s practical threshold appears to be 0 ng/mL. I now believe that my experience was a casualty of excessive caution in response to the opioid crisis.
The hospital’s reaction has been frustratingly dismissive. I fear that other new mothers might face the same ordeal. Dr. Thompson admitted, “We usually don’t educate patients on this, but it’s an important point that many should be aware of.” Since sharing my story, I’ve heard from numerous mothers who have endured similar false positives. While I understand the gravity of the ongoing drug epidemic, this leads to overextended resources and unnecessary panic among families. Providing education to expectant mothers could alleviate much of this stress.
However, the responsibility shouldn’t rest solely on mothers to monitor their diets. Before this incident, I would never have questioned a hospital’s testing protocols. I trusted the system. Yet, if the mothers I’ve spoken to represent a trend, far too many women are left anxious when they should be focused on welcoming their newborns. Although I believe the hospital’s intentions were good, they must prioritize the mental well-being of mothers to truly support healthy births.
What’s the Big Deal?
You might wonder. Beyond being placed on a five-day state-mandated hold and separated from my three-year-old for a total of seven days, I endured one of the most stressful nights of my life in the pediatrics ward. I struggled to care for my four-day-old daughter while recovering from a two-day labor and a C-section, feeling utterly alone with only one parent allowed to stay overnight. My feet, swollen from edema, caused the skin to crack, and I sobbed in solitude.
Instead of focusing on my newborn, I felt compelled to defend myself against judgmental glances and comments from hospital staff. There was even an investigation by Child Protective Services, and the threat loomed that my baby could be taken away from me. How could I trust a system that had already labeled me a drug addict based on a flawed test? I now possess a closed case file that I’ll have to consult a lawyer to expunge. It all seems like an absurd price to pay for half of an everything bagel with strawberry cream cheese.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it’s vital for hospitals to improve their protocols and educate patients about the potential risks associated with certain foods, especially during pregnancy. This knowledge could help prevent future misunderstandings and ensure that mothers can focus on what truly matters—welcoming their little ones into the world.
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