The North Alabama mother who lost her children briefly after a false positive drug test did not know she had agreed to any sort of screening, according to advocates fighting on her behalf.

Rebecca Hernandez gave birth last week at Crestwood Medical Center and lost custody of her newborn and toddler after a drug test came back positive.

Kirsten Clark, representative of the Alabama Cohosh Collaborative, said staff at Crestwood Medical Center did not ask for permission to test Hernandez before running her urine through a quick screen for controlled substances. Hernandez, who had eaten poppy seeds right before her admission, tested positive on the initial screen, triggering a call to DHR.

Clark said Hernandez might have unknowingly signed a consent form when she entered the hospital. Crestwood Medical Center tests all mothers for drugs, according to policy documents provided to Al.com.

Crestwood was one of several hospitals that declined to participate a survey of drug testing policies conducted by Al.com and ProPublica in 2015. Results indicated that few hospitals in the state seek permission from mothers before initiating drug tests that can lead to loss of custody and even criminal charges. Alabama leads the nation in charging women with felonies for drug use during pregnancy, with hundreds of cases since 2012.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2001 that pregnant women could not be involuntarily drug tested if the results could be used for criminal prosecution. Hernandez was not charged under Alabama’s chemical endangerment law but did suffer several hours of separation from her child.

“She suffered a lot of trauma from being separated from her child,” Clark said. “Especially because she is a breastfeeding mom.”

Clark said her organization has since heard from other women who had false positive drug tests after birth.

“What we’re hearing from other moms in the community is that a lot of moms don’t know that they’re being screened,” Clark said.

A spokeswoman from Crestwood did not answer specific questions about the case, but did give the following statement:

“Crestwood Medical Center is committed to following the law and regulatory requirements as well as ensuring the health and safety of our patients. Our hospital also incorporates patient care practices that are established by credentialed members of our medical staff so as to further insure safe and quality care for all of our patients.”