The NEST 

A caring addiction treatment program for expecting and new mothers

Pregnancy and motherhood aren’t always easy, and coping with a substance use disorder or withdrawal while pregnant adds an even greater challenge.

Reid Health has partnered with Meridian Health Services to create The NEST, an outpatient addiction treatment program designed to help support you in your sobriety goals while also providing the prenatal and postpartum care you and your new baby need.

You can request help from The NEST for yourself or on behalf of another person.

Help for women with substance use disorder

There’s a reason we chose “NEST” as an acronym. A nest is a comforting environment where a mother and her child feel safe. If you’re pregnant or have recently given birth and are worried about your substance use, The NEST at Reid Health can help. Our program is designed for:

• Nurturing mothers and children affected by addiction
• Empowering mothers to overcome their addiction
• Sustaining substance-free lives and developing supportive relationships
• Thriving in a life of recovery

We offer support for pregnant women and new mothers with addictions to alcohol, benzodiazepines, methamphetamines, opioids, and other substances.

We won’t judge or criminalize your behavior. We’re here to help you overcome substance use, heal from past trauma, and find fulfillment in motherhood. We also work to prevent neonatal abstinence syndrome in your child.

The NEST is not a residential program, but if you need inpatient treatment or are detoxing from drugs while pregnant, we can help you find additional care and family support.

Medical services The NEST provides

Addiction is a disease for which there is no single treatment. The NEST offers a range of scientifically supported options to address substance use disorders and support long-term sobriety, including:

• Individual and group therapy
• Medication-assisted treatment, such as methadone and buprenorphine, for up to 40 weeks after giving birth
• Peer recovery service delivered by people who’ve successfully recovered from addiction
• Psychiatric care

The NEST also connects women with our perinatal navigators who help women and their families before and during childbirth. We also coordinate with your OB/GYN and your child’s pediatrician to provide medical support with services such as:

• Breastfeeding support
• Childbirth classes
• Contraception counseling
• Nutrition education
• Prenatal and postpartum care, including screening for postpartum depression
• Testing for sexually transmitted infections

Unhealthy substance use can affect the entire family. The NEST also works to provide support for partners and children of women in the program, whether they need treatment for substance use disorder, therapy, or access to social services.

Emotional and social support available from The NEST

We want to prepare women in our program for a successful family life after medical treatment ends. The NEST offers services and education focused on:

• Budgeting and personal finances
• Car seat safety
• Domestic violence support  
• Infant CPR  
• Sibling and grandparent education and classes

Women receive points for participating in The NEST, which they can use to purchase items from the “baby store.” The store offers new and gently used high chairs, clothing, and other necessities for newborns. Women can also earn points for attending Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

We know recovery takes time, and The NEST works to support you during this journey from day one. If you don’t have insurance, our navigators will work with you to find payment options that fit your budget.