From Grief to Accusation: How Hospitals Are Adding Trauma to Mothers' Mental Health During Childbirth

For many mothers, the act of giving birth is a deeply emotional experience—a moment of joy, pain, and often, vulnerability. But for some women in America, the ordeal doesn’t end in the delivery room. Instead, it escalates into a nightmare of invasive investigations, accusations, and profound psychological harm.

Recent reporting from The Marshall Project, Reveal News, Mother Jones, and USA Today sheds light on an alarming trend: mothers being reported to child welfare authorities for drug use after testing positive for medications administered by hospital staff during labor. For grieving mothers or those in medical emergencies, the emotional and mental health toll is immeasurable.

Take the story of Victoria Villanueva, who was pregnant with her first child. During labor, doctors administered narcotics to help ease her pain. But when traces of morphine were found in her baby’s system, she was immediately reported to child welfare services.

“I didn’t even know how to function,” Villanueva told The Marshall Project. The overwhelming fear of losing her child compounded the already stressful experience of giving birth.

For Amairani Salinas, the heartbreak was even greater. She endured the tragedy of a stillbirth, her daughter born without a heartbeat. As she held her baby for the first and last time, Salinas was confronted by a social worker. The reason? Traces of a benzodiazepine in her system—a drug the hospital staff had administered during an emergency cesarean section.

The mental health impact on these mothers is undeniable. Instead of support during moments of grief or medical necessity, they are met with accusations that leave them reeling with anxiety, fear, and depression.

Experts warn that such practices exacerbate maternal mental health challenges. The overturn of Roe v. Wade has heightened scrutiny and surveillance of pregnant women, resulting in increased fear among mothers seeking care. Dr. Davida Schiff of Mass General Brigham voiced her concern: “How much harm to birthing people are we willing to allow? 1Our patients are being harmed until we can get our act together.”

The emotional fallout doesn’t end with hospital discharge. Mothers subjected to child welfare investigations are often left questioning their own worth as parents. They report symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a heightened sense of isolation, and difficulty bonding with their newborns due to the stress of ongoing scrutiny.

The blame doesn’t lie solely with overzealous child welfare authorities. Faulty drug tests and inconsistent hospital protocols compound the issue. Many tests cannot differentiate between substances administered medically and those stemming from recreational use. Worse, they often fail to indicate when the drug was taken, leaving mothers unfairly labeled as users.

This systemic failure perpetuates a cycle of distrust between patients and healthcare providers. For mothers already coping with the grief of a stillbirth or emergency, the added burden of being unjustly accused creates irreparable harm.

Mental health professionals and advocates are calling for a paradigm shift. Hospitals must adopt clearer policies that protect mothers from undue scrutiny and focus on providing emotional and psychological support during labor and postpartum. Drug testing protocols should be overhauled to eliminate false accusations, and social workers should be trained to approach cases with empathy and discretion.

Until these systemic changes occur, mothers like Villanueva and Salinas will continue to endure trauma that no parent should face.

Should hospitals face consequences for reporting mothers for drug use after administering medications themselves?

• Yes, it’s hypocritical and harmful!
• No, child welfare investigations are important.
• Not sure, but there must be a better way.