Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS)
When a mother uses drugs like opioids during pregnancy, the baby tends to get dependent on the drug. After birth, they experience withdrawals because of no more exposure to the drug. This condition is called neonatal abstinence syndrome. The babies with NAS get better in a few weeks when the drugs pass out of their bloodstream. According to the best pediatrician in Agra, babies with NAS may experience long-term development and health problems along with behavioral, vision, or hearing problems.
What is Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome?
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome is a group of symptoms caused when the baby has no longer been exposed to the drugs that it had in the womb before. NAS is commonly caused by opioids but can even be caused by the use of drugs like antidepressants (used to treat depression), barbiturates, or benzodiazepines (sleeping pills). When the mother takes these drugs during pregnancy, they can seep into the baby's bloodstream through the placenta and can cause serious problems.
What are the symptoms of NAS?
As per the child specialist in Agra, signs of NAS in babies differ and can even appear a week after delivery or right away. Some of the signs of NAS in babies are:
Fussiness and excessive high-pitched crying
Tremors, seizures, or overactive reflexes
Breathing problems
Feeding problems with slow weight gain
Fever, sweating or spotted skin
Trouble sleeping and lots of yawning
Diarrhea and pukes
Stuffy nose and sneezing
Babies with NAS sometimes may need NICU care. According to the best baby doctor in Agra, NAS complications sometimes can be very severe like low birth weight, jaundice, or seizures, and can even lead to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
How To Soothe A Baby With NAS?
The babies with NAS need constant care and love. Something you can do for your baby to soothe them is:
- Hold your baby close to your baby and provide them skin-to-skin contact.
- Gently rock and cuddle them.
- Sing softly to them.
- Swaddle and give them a pacifier.
- Feed your baby when they are hungry in a quiet place.
- Never agitate or shake your baby.
How is NAS treated?
The treatment for NAS in babies include:
- Medications to manage and treat severe symptoms of NAS. The dosage of drugs is to be lowered with time.
- Administering fluids intravenously to prevent babies from getting dehydrated because of diarrhoea and puking.
- Feeding higher calorie baby foods to help in growth.
How Can NAS Be Prevented?
The best way to prevent NAS in babies is to stop using any drugs if you are planning to conceive. If you are pregnant and still on drugs, speak to the best gynecologist in Agra about the best way to quit. Your doctor may also recommend medication-assisted treatment (MAT) as abruptly stopping on drugs can cause serious problems to the health of both the mother and the baby. The best child hospital in Agra has all the major facilities and technologies to support all major and minor treatments and to assist the best healthcare for you and your baby.
References:
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/nas.html
https://www.marchofdimes.org/complications/neonatal-abstinence-syndrome-(nas).aspx#:~:text=Neonatal%20abstinence%20syndrome%20
