There are several illnesses that can appear when a baby is born. Some are easily treatable, while others require more intensive treatment. There are also those for which nothing can be done to cure them. So, the best thing to do is learn to live with this condition. But regardless of the severity and type of illness, none seems to resemble what we call neonatal abstinence syndrome. This condition may seem surreal to some, but it is the reality for many in the world. Do you want to better understand how this condition manifests and how it affects the lives of the baby and the parents? Then, first, we need to better understand what this disease is.

What is Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome?

This is a condition that occurs when a baby is born with withdrawal symptoms due to the mother’s use of certain substances during pregnancy1. Some of the main drugs that cause neonatal abstinence syndrome are methadone, opiates, and heroin. Alcohol can also cause the condition, as it can cross the placenta and cause the baby to ingest these substances as well2. There is a debate about whether or not marijuana causes the condition. While it cannot be confirmed, it is important to remember that marijuana use causes several other harms to the baby as well. That is, it does not matter whether this substance will or will not cause neonatal abstinence syndrome; the recommendation is that women should not use it during pregnancy, or during breastfeeding, or near the baby. It’s important to remember that drug intake does not always occur because of addiction or bad habits on the mother’s part; this problem can also occur because of a medication treatment that the woman needed to undergo. However, in these cases, it is important to be careful and always remind the doctor about the pregnancy so that this does not occur. Anyway, these cases are rarer. It is estimated that between 55% and 94% of babies born to mothers who used this type of substance during pregnancy develop neonatal abstinence syndrome worldwide. The average in Brazil is 76 cases per year. High and alarming numbers.

Symptoms of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

It is not easy to identify when a baby has neonatal abstinence syndrome, especially when there is no input from the mother. But the main symptoms are:

  • Incessant crying;
  • Skin blotches;
  • Tremors;
  • Difficulty breastfeeding;
  • Easily irritable.

The problem is that these symptoms can also indicate other things, which can make diagnosis and treatment difficult. Symptoms can begin to occur only 2 or 3 days after the baby’s birth. When talking about neonatal abstinence syndrome, we are talking about a social problem that can often be a taboo. Getting mothers to admit they used certain substances during pregnancy can be difficult for doctors, even for legal reasons. That is why conversations with mothers who are reluctant need to be calm, without a judgmental approach, and with the intention to help the baby get better. It is important to warn them that the longer the baby goes without treatment, the worse the symptoms will be. In the last resort, there are hospital tools that allow doctors to detect neonatal abstinence syndrome. Prevention of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Prevention of neonatal abstinence syndrome is achieved through raising mothers’ awareness of the habits they should maintain during pregnancy. However, when we talk about addicted mothers, the issue becomes more serious, because hospitalization of these women is often necessary so that the baby does not face greater risks, such as miscarriage or malformation of organs, for example. In poorer countries, this problem becomes much greater since there are many other social issues involved.

Treatment of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

We can divide treatments for this condition into two categories: pharmacological and non-pharmacological. This way, we can more accurately point out what each one offers to improve neonatal abstinence syndrome.

Pharmacological Treatments

Drug treatment is usually done with morphine or buprenorphine, with the latter having shown better efficacy for symptom relief. Buprenorphine can also be used in the mother so that the baby is not born with the condition and has shown good results in recent years.

Non-Pharmacological Treatments

Initial treatment in babies should be non-pharmacological, always carried out with care and a lot of affection. Massage, use of volunteers for touch contact with the baby, and adequate nutrition can help the baby overcome the condition. However, this only succeeds in 40% to 60% of cases, and when it is not successful, pharmacological treatment is necessary3. Although this is a condition far from the reality of many mothers, it is important to know that neonatal abstinence syndrome exists and that it is very dangerous. Using illegal substances during pregnancy can cause very serious harm to the baby, or even miscarriage. Of course, when the condition manifests itself, it is not always linked to the use of a drug, but it is necessary to pay close attention to any substance use during pregnancy. Remember: the life you are generating is extremely fragile and any unnatural substance can cost that life, either through death or through problems that arise later. So be very careful with medications during pregnancy and whenever you have questions, consult a trusted doctor. Also Read: Is My Pregnancy Progressing? Photo: Joffi