Treatment For Babies Born Addicted To Drugs

Other mothers are actively addicted to heroin cocaine or other illegal drugs.

Treatment for babies born addicted to drugs.

Prenatal drug exposure may impact the child s behavior language cognition and achievement long term. The number of babies treated at florida hospitals for drug withdrawal syndrome continued to skyrocket last year further evidence of the far reaching impact of the state s prescription drug epidemic. Sometimes methadone and other medications are used but doctors try to use as little meds as possible. Most cocaine exposed infants do not need any medication but if the infant is excessively irritable she may benefit from a short course of phenobarbital.

In most cases this medication is only needed for a few days. Babies who are born addicted to drugs can be treated either with or without medication and if medical interventions are necessary physicians typically use morphine. When the infant feels better the medication can be stopped without tapering. Understanding the risks and delays associated with prenatal drug exposure is one defense against many of the issues these individuals face.

These babies may need to stay in the hospital for weeks or months after birth. Some babies are born addicted because their mothers are receiving pharmacological treatment for drug addiction with methadone or buprenorphine. Drug use during pregnancy may also lead to miscarriage or pre term labor. Breastfeeding if the mother is in a methadone or buprenorphine treatment program without other illicit drug use some babies with severe symptoms need medicines such as methadone or morphine to treat withdrawal symptoms and help them be able to eat sleep and relax.

The severity of the learning or developmental milestones common to infants and babies will depend on the drug and the severity of drug use in the pregnant mother according to the american council for drug education. Babies exposed to drugs in utero may experience developmental consequences including impaired growth birth defects and altered brain development. In 2010 1 374 babies were born addicted to drugs because their mothers were users a 42 percent increase from the year prior 1. A baby born to a drug addicted parent can become a fully functional and successful adult though any exposure to the toxic effects of alcohol or drugs can make this process more challenging.