On a blistering day in Portland’s Old Town, Stephanie stands at a street corner, counting down the days until her fifth child is due.
Homeless and facing challenges that seem insurmountable, her pregnancy is unplanned and compounded by her addiction to fentanyl.
As she reflects on her situation, she shares, “Nine months. I’m getting later and I’m slowing down, and I have to keep us safe… that’s just the biggest part, just keeping us safe and out of harm’s way.”
Pregnancy can be daunting under any circumstances, but for Stephanie, the streets bring additional dangers.
She acknowledges her drug use, revealing that she typically uses fentanyl about every fifteen minutes.
“I’m not really worried about it,” she states. “It seems like a lot of people who have delivered with fentanyl seem to be OK; their kids seem to be OK.”
However, research indicates that exposure to fentanyl during pregnancy can lead to serious health issues for babies.
Potential consequences include birth defects, growth issues, stillbirth, preterm delivery, C-sections, and neonatal abstinence syndrome, which occurs when babies are born in withdrawal from the substance.
Having been homeless for about a year, Stephanie lost her housing following a divorce.
“I was actually married and had kids, and I’ve been a stay-at-home mom, so like, I’ve always had a place to live (in Portland),” she recounts.
Once a member of society who contributed in various ways, she now finds herself on the streets.
“I was like a normal society member — I went to school, I graduated, I took care of kids… and anybody could end up here, I guess.”
Despite her circumstances, Stephanie expresses a sense of pride in her pregnancy’s progression.
“I feel almost accomplished, I guess. I feel like close to a point of where I want to be, and that’s giving a healthy delivery,” she shares.
She notes the presence of other women giving birth in similar situations.
“There’s been quite a few pregnancies out here, but everyone else has taken it pretty well. Like, there has been a lot of people having babies and going to, like, rehabs and things like that.”
Recognizing the potential for change in her life, Stephanie hopes that giving birth might provide her with a turning point.
During the oppressive heat of Wednesday, volunteer outreach workers engage with Stephanie, offering to take her to Project Nurture, which assists pregnant women struggling with addiction.
“I feel OK about it,” she says, a mix of emotions evident as she prepares to go with them.
“I feel a little overwhelmed, but I feel excited to see what’s next.”
Yet, as the moment unfolds, her enthusiasm appears to wane.
“Yeah, I don’t know about Project Nurture,” she admits, grappling with her feelings.
“I just feel like I’m just overwhelmed right now… like, I don’t necessarily want to go and, like, do or just… I don’t know.”
After a brief hesitation, Stephanie chooses to accept the help being offered.
As she weighs her options, she ultimately gets into the car, but not without asking to be dropped off at Delta Park first to return some cans for money.
Finally, they arrive at Project Nurture.
The outreach workers wait with her outside the clinic for about two hours, providing support until she feels ready to enter.
During this time, Stephanie smokes meth with a few individuals in the park, only to feel “motivated” afterward to go inside the clinic.
Once inside, she is seen by doctors who will likely provide resources and support for her ongoing struggles.
Afterward, it seems that Stephanie will end the day where she started — on the streets.
As maternity shelters generally prohibit substance use, the prospect of a stable place to stay remains uncertain.
Stephanie’s journey through Multnomah County’s deflection center has not yielded lasting treatment, indicating that the path to recovery is fraught with challenges.
image source from：kgw
