Essay On Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

An Exclusive Review of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is neonatal withdrawal that may result from intrauterine exposure to various substances, including opioids, such as heroin, methadone, oxycodone, and Demerol; alcohol; valium; caffeine; and barbiturates. (Durham and Chapman, p.468) This can lead to complications for the baby including respiratory distress, excessing crying, seizures, tachypnea, and many more serious medical concerns. According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, Neonatal abstinence syndrome has increased dramatically over recent years. Between 2000-2012 there has been a five-fold increase. Babies suffering from NAS have increased hospital stays with an average stay of 16.9 days compared to a normal healthy newborn stay of 2.1 days. With longer stays healthcare costs increase roughly $1.5 billion, in which 81% of these costs are covered by Medicaid programs. (National Institute of Abuse, 2015) The purpose of this study is to gain research understanding on NAS including the number of incidence, complications, evidence based practice, and how it affects nursing practice. With the dramatic increase …show more content…
Many studies were done on how breastfeeding impacts a neonate withdrawing. All of them concluded that if a baby is breastfed they experience less severe medical complications. Breastfed babies had lower Finnegan scores, and shorter hospital stays. (Terplan M.D., 2014) There are no medical contraindications of breastfeeding for mothers on drugs. Dr.Kocherlakita from Newburgh, New York had great success in treating babies with NAS because he discovered that most mothers want to be involved, he gave them the advice to do as much skin to skin contact as possible, and to breastfeed the baby. He said, mothers are relieved when they hear this advice because they enjoy being involved in the care of their