What happens to babies who are born addicted to drugs?

What happens to babies who are born addicted to drugs?

Once the supply of drugs (delivered through the mother’s umbilical cord) goes away, babies can experience painful withdrawal symptoms and other health problems. In newborns, this type of withdrawal is called neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). NAS can be caused by exposure to many different drugs.

How does maternal drug use affect the newborn?

Effects on the infant include decreased birth weight, birth length and head circumference; increased neonatal CNS and ANS signs and an increase in referrals to child protective agencies. Patterns of substance use during pregnancy impact on fetal growth.

What is it called when babies are born addicted to drugs?

Neonatal abstinence syndrome (also called NAS) is a group of conditions caused when a baby withdraws from certain drugs he’s exposed to in the womb before birth. NAS is most often caused when a woman takes drugs called opioids during pregnancy.

What happens when 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.

What are the long-term effects of NAS?

NAS may lead to long-term health and development problems, including hearing and vision problems and problems with learning and behavior. If you’re pregnant and taking opioids, tell your provider right away.

How do I prevent NAS?

Can NAS Be Prevented? If you’re pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant, the best way to prevent NAS is to not use drugs. If you take drugs and are planning to get pregnant, use birth control during sex until you quit the drug. This will help give you time to get off of any drugs that could harm a baby.

How do you know if a baby is born addicted to drugs?

Babies born to substance-abusing mothers may have short- or long-term effects. Short-term withdrawal symptoms may consist only of mild fussiness. More severe symptoms may include acting irritable or jittery, feeding problems, and diarrhea. Symptoms vary depending on which substances were used.

What happens to baby NAS?

Babies with NAS may have health conditions that need treatment in the newborn intensive care unit (also called NICU) after birth. The NICU is the nursery in a hospital where sick newborns get medical care. In addition to having withdrawal signs, babies with NAS are at increased risk of: Low birthweight.

What is NAS in a newborn?

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.