Opioids in pregnancy and neonatal abstinence syndrome

Abstract

Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is a symptom of newborn babies, who are exposed to substance abuse in the utero and become physically dependent on drugs after they are delivered, infants with NAS, struggle to maintain body temperature, poor weight gain, extreme episodes of crying, hyperactivity, unpredictable motor movements and significantly reduced quality and quantity of sleep. The purpose and aim of this paper is to shed light on the struggles these infants go through and find resources that are available in caring for infants with NAS, and that nurses approach towards mothers should be more therapeutic and supportive rather than the parents having negative experiences during their postnatal care. The research questions in focused are;(1) What are the experiences faced by drug-dependent parents under healthcare care professionals? (2) What are the effects of NAS on infants and strategies in caring for drug dependent infants? Results indicate that infants with NAS face various challenges, in addition different care strategies emerge. Parents with NAS infants had negative experience from healthcare professionals such as judgment and inadequate information about their care.