The nexus between pregnancy and addiction is usually studied from the perspective of the fetus, quantitatively examining the risks associated with in utero substance exposure. With the focus on the fetal effects of maternal substance use, there has been little regard, in the literature, for the mother and her experiences. Addiction during pregnancy is complex and drug use represents only part of the problem. Issues of stigma and victimization are common with women describing alarmingly high rates of mental health disorders and traumatic life events. With an awareness of some of the challenges pregnant women with substance use disorders may face, I wanted to redirect my focus to the experiences of the women, as voiced by the women themselves. I wondered how pregnancy and addiction were situated within a much bigger picture of life experience and how perceptions of the women could be shifted so that more supportive care could be offered. Narrative inquiry was used as the methodology for this research. I relationally engaged with three women who self-identified as being addicted to alcohol and/or drugs. Formal and informal conversations, field notes, and a research journal were used to collect field texts. Narratives of pregnancy and addiction were co-constructed between myself and each woman. The women’s experiences suggested that pregnancy represents only a small glimpse into a substance using woman’s life. Narratives extended beyond pregnancy into a period of conditional motherhood where sobriety was fragile and motherhood was precluded by a social narrative that viewed drug using pregnant women as incapable mothers. This placed the women under the surveillance of social services where they were forced to meet state mandated conditions or risk loss of motherhood. The findings of this research have implications for practice, education, research, and policy. The time individual health care professionals spend with women is relatively short within the

context of the woman’s life. Professionals do not necessarily know the story each woman is living but must be aware of the possibilities so that more supportive care can be offered.