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.
What is a substance exposed infant?
Substance-exposed infants, or SEIs, refers to infants exposed to AOD ingested by the mother in utero, whether or not this exposure is detected.
How can you tell if a baby is addicted to drugs?
Signs of newborn drug withdrawal depend on the drug and include blotchy skin, diarrhea, fussiness, fever, vomiting, tremors, and slow development. Substances that can cause newborn drug withdrawal include illegal drugs like cocaine, heroin, and marijuana, as well as a number of prescription medications.
What is it called when a baby is 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.
How long does a baby go through withdrawal?
At home. Your baby’s withdrawal symptoms may continue for longer than a week and possibly up to 6 months, but over time they will gradually decrease. Once at home, your baby may continue to experience: difficulty with attachment during breastfeeding.
What are the signs and symptoms seen in an infant of a substance abusing 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.