What is Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome?
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) describes withdrawal of the newborn from drugs that the mother was taking during pregnancy. Newborns can withdraw from many different types of drugs that they may be exposed to in uterus.
What causes NAS?
Opioid use can cause placental abruption, which can lead to severe bleeding, preterm birth, fetal death, NAS, and sometimes maternal death.
What are Complications of NAS?
Researchers are finding that exposure to opioids in fetuses may lead to significant deficits in children as they grow. These include behavioral issues, namely, difficulties with self-regulation, and a lack in cognitive performance, information processing, and sustained attention to tasks—abilities that are vital for the realization of a child’s full potential. Some deficits persist into the later years teenagers who were prenatally exposed show increased risk for subtle deficiencies in language and memory. Brain scans in adolescents point to differences between them and non-exposed peers: at-rest, the functioning of some brain regions—including areas involved in attention, planning, and language—may differ. More research is required on the long-term behavioral and physical effects of prenatal opioid exposure in adults.
What is Failure to Thrive Syndrome?
"Failure to thrive (FTT) is a common condition of varying etiologies that has been associated with adverse effects on later growth and cognitive development.” About 25 percent of normal infants will shift to a lower growth percentile in the first two ears of life and then follow that percentile; this should not be diagnosed as failure to thrive.” Babies that are born prematurely, with down syndrome, intrauterine growth retardation are known to follow different growth patterns than normal children.
What are Current Treatments of NAS?
Babies suffering from withdrawal are irritable and often have a difficult time being comforted. Swaddling, or snugly wrapping the baby in a blanket, may help comfort the baby. Babies also may need extra calories because of their increased activity and may need a higher calorie formula. Intravenous (IV) fluids are sometimes needed if the baby becomes dehydrated or has severe vomiting or diarrhea.
Some babies may need medications to treat severe withdrawal symptoms, such as seizures, and to help relieve the discomfort and problems of withdrawal. The treatment drug is usually in the same family of drugs as the substance the baby is withdrawing from. Once the signs of withdrawal are controlled, the dosage is gradually decreased to help wean the baby off the drug
Some babies may need medications to treat severe withdrawal symptoms, such as seizures, and to help relieve the discomfort and problems of withdrawal. The treatment drug is usually in the same family of drugs as the substance the baby is withdrawing from. Once the signs of withdrawal are controlled, the dosage is gradually decreased to help wean the baby off the drug