Major Effects of Using Opiates During Pregnancy (Part 2)

In Part 1 of our two-part guest series on the Major Effects of Using Opiates During Pregnancy, we discussed health risks to an unborn baby. Learn More here to know about usage of opiates by pregnant women and its consequences. As mentioned in that post, the health risks and consequences, unfortunately, do not end once the baby is born. In Part 2, we go over the challenges a newborn can face as the result of opiate exposure in the womb, including the risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). We also will explore some positives – like what support is available for a mother who is dealing with an opiate addiction!

SIDs or Crib Death: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDs) is the unexplained death of an infant younger than one-year-old. Drug use by the mother during pregnancy increases the chances of SIDS, even while the child is still developing in the womb.

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS): When a baby is developing while the mother uses opiates, it is most often born with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). NAS is a set of physical and behavioral side effects shown in a newborn caused by the baby’s sudden “abstinence” of opiate exposure. Just as opiate users go through withdrawal when drug their is stopped, babies who were exposed to drugs while developing in the womb also feel withdrawal symptoms once they are born and are no longer receiving drugs via the umbilical cord. Studies have shown that 48%-94% babies exposed to opiates in the womb will experience some withdrawal symptoms upon birth.

The amount of opiates, the duration of use, how quickly the mother’s body clears the drug, and how far into term the baby was born all impact the effect NAS will have on a child. The main symptoms generally become apparent anywhere from one to three days after birth. However, some may not appear until about a week later. Typical signs include:

• Blotchy skin

• High-pitched and incessant crying

• Tremors

• High fever

• Inability to gain weight

• Poor latching or nursing

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

In the most severe cases of NAS, babies can have potentially fatal seizures. These newborns need to be hospitalized and treated with opioid medications to help ease the pain and discomfort of withdrawal. The dosage of these medications is tapered off as the amount of opiates in the child’s system begin to decrease.

Many studies have been conducted on the lasting effects of opiate use during pregnancy on a child, and there has been evidence that children who were exposed to opiates early in life often have behavioral issues including ADHD, aggressiveness, and other antisocial behaviors.

Effects of Opiates on Pregnant Mothers

While the negative consequences of misusing opiates are widely known, pregnant mothers are at particularly high risk of complications. The nature of opiate drugs causes users to prioritize drug use over almost all other facets of life, especially health. When a woman becomes pregnant while misusing opiates, she may not know she is pregnant for many months because drug use often obstructs a regular menstrual cycle. Drug use may also come along with hepatitis, HIV, STIs, malnutrition, respiratory failure, and preeclampsia (an often fatal condition).

Abruptly ceasing the use of opiates during pregnancy can cause intense withdrawals that can force the body to reject and terminate the pregnancy early on. This is why it’s important for potentially expectant mothers to seek medical help as soon as they think they may be pregnant. Pregnancy is an opportunity for women struggling with addiction to seek help and change the course of their lives and the lives of their future children.

Those who do seek out medical help are often recommended to seek MAT, or medication-assisted treatment. The use of methadone to help pregnant mothers cease or decrease their use of opiates has been prevalent since the 1970s and is considered the Gold Standard of care. However, doctors are now using other medications like buprenorphine and naltrexone to combat opioid addiction as well.

Treatment for pregnant mothers is possible, and women who are dealing with substance use disorders have been able to have successful pregnancies. Women with addiction who find themselves pregnant do not have to go through this alone. There are many local programs and treatment centers that are ready to help them stabilize their health and drug use in order to experience a healthy pregnancy.

Prevention is also key, and the WWHF’s Annual Dialogue event on October 11th will be discussing opioid prevention with two family experts. For more details, visit our website: http://wwhf.org/dialogue/

Sources:

https://www.marchofdimes.org/pregnancy/heroin-and-pregnancy.aspx

http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/69529/e74558.pdf?ua=1

https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007313.htm

About the Guest Author: Holly is the Digital Content Coordinator for MedMark Treatment Centers. She works to help spread awareness and end the stigma of addiction.