Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) is a constellation of physiological signs and behaviors observed following in utero exposure to opiates (Backes et al. 2012). In laymen’s terms, NAS is a group of withdrawal symptoms newborns experience after birth due to drug exposure while inside mother’s uterus. I chose this topic because NAS has increased 300% among newborns since the 1980s (Backes et al. 2012). Mothers need to be aware of possible complications to their newborn if they are consuming opioids or other drugs. This paper will cover drugs that can cause NAS, infant complications, prevention and treatment of NAS. By the end of this paper, the patient should be able to explain learning objectives (see appendix). NAS occurs from the consumption
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This calls for abrupt interventions to prevent serious complications from occurring. McKinney, James, Murray, Nelson, and Ashwill (2013) describe numerous complications that can occur from NAS, including breathing problems, the infant will appear restless, with excessive activities, and increased muscle tones. Low birth weight and feeding problems including: excessive sucking, frequent regurgitation or vomiting, diarrhea, and weight loss can also appear. Tremors may be present and seizures from the drug withdrawal may develop causing even further damage to the newborn. Congenital anomalies may be apparent at birth: respiratory distress, jaundice, or sudden infant death syndrome (McKinney, James, Murray, Nelson, & Ashwill, 2013). Because of the severity of these signs and symptoms your newborn may need ongoing monitoring requiring a longer hospital stay. If you are discharged from the hospital before any indications of NAS, contact a health care provider if any of these symptoms appear. NAS can last from 1 week to 6 months after birth (“Neonatal abstinence syndrome,” 2015). According to Szalavitz (2012) far less is known about the long-term outcomes of drug exposure in utero, however research suggest increased risk for developing disorders including ADHD and cognitive
This calls for abrupt interventions to prevent serious complications from occurring. McKinney, James, Murray, Nelson, and Ashwill (2013) describe numerous complications that can occur from NAS, including breathing problems, the infant will appear restless, with excessive activities, and increased muscle tones. Low birth weight and feeding problems including: excessive sucking, frequent regurgitation or vomiting, diarrhea, and weight loss can also appear. Tremors may be present and seizures from the drug withdrawal may develop causing even further damage to the newborn. Congenital anomalies may be apparent at birth: respiratory distress, jaundice, or sudden infant death syndrome (McKinney, James, Murray, Nelson, & Ashwill, 2013). Because of the severity of these signs and symptoms your newborn may need ongoing monitoring requiring a longer hospital stay. If you are discharged from the hospital before any indications of NAS, contact a health care provider if any of these symptoms appear. NAS can last from 1 week to 6 months after birth (“Neonatal abstinence syndrome,” 2015). According to Szalavitz (2012) far less is known about the long-term outcomes of drug exposure in utero, however research suggest increased risk for developing disorders including ADHD and cognitive