Maternal Addiction and Recovery

Our specialists are specifically trained to care for pregnant women who are undergoing treatment for addiction. All doctors in our program are authorized to prescribe buprenorphine to treat opioid addiction.

Many patients qualify for our Firefly program, a new program that seeks to improve care for pregnant and postpartum women with opioid use disorder and their infants, who are covered by Medicaid. Firefly is a partnership between VUMC, TennCare and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. If a patient qualifies for the Firefly program through the state, their care is state-funded, and patients will not receive a bill.

We offer care from many specialists, including OB-GYNs, psychiatrists and addiction counselors, in one place. We partner with Team HOPE, which cares for new mothers and infants exposed to opioids. If appropriate, we can also refer you to Recover Together, a program that helps pregnant women prepare for parenting while dealing with the stresses of pregnancy and recovery.

Each patient is paired with a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, a woman in recovery with lived experience who helps patients navigate their recovery journey. Peers connect with patients weekly to provide support and assistance. Additionally, patients have the opportunity to connect with peers in free weekly group therapeutic sessions, either in-person or online.

Recovery looks different for each woman, and so does pregnancy. We work with you to create a care plan that’s right for you.

As the only academic medical center in Middle Tennessee, we offer our patients the chance to participate in studies of new treatments for substance abuse disorders, and new strategies for treating women who are pregnant during recovery. You may have access to new treatments before they’re widely available elsewhere.