Removal of a Newborn Due to THC in the Meconium

My question involves child abuse or neglect in the State of: sc.
I recently had a baby early. I was cisitin my family in NC when they did an emergency c- section.
His cord was negative of illegal drugs. He did have the drugs from hospital in his system. My husband and i were there for 5 days before he was transported to Baptist across state lines. He is still there never been home yet.
Well recently richland dss said my baby merconium tested positive fo thc. Mind you my drug test was negative. Apparently mission hospital of asheville nc tested his meecernium but results took 2 werks because not only did they not say anything. They allowed my son to be transported across state lines. Now dss will not retest him. Nor can they explain how he was postive and i was negative. They are sayin he cant come home because its a risk that my family would expose him to weed even tho i dnt smoke. Idk what to do but even tho somethings not adding up they still want me to send my newborn to a family member and do a safety plan.

You appear to be stating that you had a child in North Carolina, the child's meconium was tested for drugs, the test came back positive for THC, and as a result the child has been removed from your custody in South Carolina.

If you need an explanation for how your baby would test positive for THC even after it has passed out of your system, it's really simple: Meconium is basically your baby's first poop -- and it builds up over the last five months of your pregnancy. Thus, any use of drugs during those five months can potentially show up in the baby's meconium. You can't get more meconium from a baby for a retest at a later date, as the baby has already pooped it out.

If your child has been removed from your custody and you cannot afford a lawyer, you have the right to a court-appointed lawyer. Your lawyer can review the records to find out the levels of THC in the meconium, and whether that might plausibly be explained by a lot of passive exposure, a small amount of THC consumption by you, or a large amount of THC consumption by you. The lower the levels, the easier it should be to argue that exposure to marijuana is not a serious or ongoing issue.

If you have refused to work with protective services to formulate a safety plan, that may be the only reason your baby is not at home with you.

I didnt refuse. They are allowing my mother in law to be his gaurdian. Dss is not really investigating anything. He didnt poop until 3 days after birth due to the magnesium they hospital hhad me on. I dont smoke at all. They are not answering any questions because they dont really know why this is happening. The fact that his first poop was 3 days after birth there are many things that couldve happened. Because he was preemie i had to pump my breastmilk. So anything could have made his poop negative within that time frame but they arent investigating it.

Quote:

---

Quoting Boogie Nikki

---

So anything could have made his poop negative within that time frame but they arent investigating it.

---

The only thing that is going to make his meconium test positive for THC is exposure to THC. They aren't going to investigate for anything that may have made him test negative because he didn't test negative -- his test was positive.

Where you around anyone that smoked marijuana ? Did you eat anything containing marijuana ?

You write that YOU do not smoke ... what you are not writing is a denial that you are around people who smoke marijuana. So, is it safe to assume that while YOU were not smoking it, people around you were? That might explain things.

I meant to say anythibg could make him test positive since his first poop was 3 days after birth. My mother smoked but i moved back to Sc after giving birth. They say the reason he cant come home is because he MIGHT be exposed to marijuana. But im in another state now away from my mom and i dont smoke. They arent trying to do anything like investigating all possibilities

He still is in my custody by the way. He just has to be with a family member for 45 days but it seems like they just picking on me and my husband now cuz neither of us smoke. My mother does but i no longer live with her

Sweetheart, the meconium is composed of what he ingested WHILE HE WAS STILL INSIDE YOU. When he pooped it out is irrelevant.

Did you tell them about your mother and that is where it came from ?

No they havent giving me a chance to explain anything. Even the case worker said my results contradict everything but his supervisor wont back off

You need an attorney.

You cannot afford to NOT have an attorney.

I contacted one just waiting on call back. Will the fact that im no longer staying with my mother make a difference. She was the only person who smoked. Im in another state