How honest are birth mothers about their drug and alcohol use while pregnant?
The caseworker will gather health and background information from birth mother clients, including use of drugs or alcohol during their pregnancies. We explain that gathering this information is for the best interest of the baby, not because we are just trying to be nosy or intrusive, and that it is very important for her to be honest with us. Having a proper health history helps assure us that we are matching her to a family that is right for her situation and is best for her child. In the majority of cases, birth mothers are honest about their substance abuse, but there are some situations where prenatal testing or testing at delivery reveals information that was not provided by the birth mother.
