The radiant Rebecca Williams with her son Elijah (10) and daughters Elizabeth (2) and Evalyn (1). Rebecca had a healthy pregnancy with Elijah and an uncomplicated birth. Sometime after he was born, she had a back injury and her doctor prescribed pain medication for her. Rebecca took it as directed and over time, realized that she had become addicted. She didn't buy it on the streets, only took what she needed as it came from her doctor but was addicted nonetheless. When she got pregnant with Elizabeth, she spoke with several doctors looking for someone who would help her wean off it during her pregnancy for her daughters benefit and her own. She even sought the help of her OB and he too was unable to find help for her. She was at one point offered methadone which she knew was not an option at all. Rebecca was left with the choice to decide whether to continue taking the medication and risk her daughter being born addicted to it, or stop taking it and risk harming herself and her baby. Her doctor helped her to safely lessen her dose but she continued taking it throughout her pregnancy. The day after Elizabeth was born she began to show symptoms of withdrawal and needed to be taken to NICU. She was given Morphine and spent the next 10 days weaning off pain meds before Rebecca was able to bring her home. Thankfully she has been happy and healthy ever since.
Rebecca was able to begin a different medicine regime after Elizabeth was born but found out when she was just three months old that she was pregnant with Evalyn. This pregnancy went well and Evalyn was born without complication. Rebecca had hoped to breastfeed this time and initiated without complication but learned soon after that her daughter had lost two pounds. She started supplementing but by five months the demand of pumping and nursing and feeding and keeping up three kids was enough and she was ready to stop. Rebecca loves being a mother and hopes that sharing her story will help other women who have been there, know she's not alone.