What are the signs and symptoms of infant with a drug dependent mother?
What are the signs and symptoms of infant with a drug dependent mother?
Infant of a substance-using mother
- Short-term withdrawal symptoms may consist only of mild fussiness.
- More severe symptoms may include acting irritable or jittery, feeding problems, and diarrhea.
- The diagnosis for babies with signs of withdrawal may be confirmed with drug tests of the baby’s urine or stool.
Are all babies born with NAS?
Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is a withdrawal syndrome that can occur in newborns exposed to certain substances, including opioids, during pregnancy. A new CDC article looked at laws enacted in six states that make health departments or hospitals report all babies born with NAS for public health monitoring.
What happens when a baby is born with NAS?
Babies born with NAS are often smaller than most babies. They can have more health problems. A baby with NAS may be fussy, irritable, or cry a lot, usually with a high-pitched cry. Many babies have trouble sleeping, eating, and gaining weight.
What happens if a newborn tests positive for drugs?
Exposure to maternal drug use during gestation may adversely affect neonatal development and may lead to acute adverse events, including neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) and infant mortality. Prenatal drug exposure may also contribute to long-term behavioral effects and developmental deficits.
How long do NAS symptoms last?
How long does NAS last? A. Symptoms related to NAS can last from one week to six months. Most frequently babies are hospitalized for two to four weeks.
How long do newborns go through withdrawal?
Newborn drug withdrawal can last for as long as 6 months, be very troubling for parents, and cause many health problems in a newborn baby. If a woman is pregnant or planning to be pregnant, she should avoid using addictive drugs or alcohol to help keep her baby safe.
How do I take care of my newborn with a NAS?
Doing these things can help calm your baby:
- Room in with your baby.
- Give your baby skin-to-skin care (also called kangaroo care).
- Be gentle with your baby.
- Swaddle your baby (wrap him snuggly) in a blanket.
- Keep your baby’s room quiet and the lights dim.
- Breastfeed your baby.
- Give your baby a pacifier.
Do hospitals automatically drug test newborns?
Because of the opiate epidemic, many hospitals are routinely drug testing newborns. Fifteen states, including Massachusetts, have laws requiring health care workers to report to authorities if they suspect a woman is abusing drugs during pregnancy.
How far back can drugs be detected in a newborn?
The detection window for most drugs of abuse in meconium and umbilical cord tissue testing is up to approximately 20 weeks prior to birth.
How can I help my NAS baby?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eP5EnFSG0c
