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HERO ID
8427851
Reference Type
Journal Article
Subtype
Review
Title
Breastfeeding Considerations for Mothers of Infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Author(s)
Holmes, AP; Schmidlin, HN; Kurzum, EN; ,
Year
2017
Is Peer Reviewed?
1
Journal
Pharmacotherapy
ISSN:
0277-0008
EISSN:
1875-9114
Publisher
WILEY
Location
HOBOKEN
Page Numbers
861-869
Language
English
PMID
28488805
DOI
10.1002/phar.1944
Web of Science Id
WOS:000405928200012
URL
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/phar.1944
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Abstract
Breastfeeding offers many benefits to both mother and baby. Breastfeeding is generally recommended for mothers of infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) unless some associated risk outweighs the benefits. Evidence indicates that infants with NAS who receive human milk require less pharmacologic treatment and have shorter hospital lengths of stay. Perhaps the greatest barrier to breastfeeding for women with opioid dependence is the inaccurate and inconsistent information they receive from different sources, including health care professionals. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Academy of Pediatrics, and Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM) have published statements that support breastfeeding infants with NAS. The ABM has a dedicated protocol to guide clinicians in deciding which mothers should and which mothers should not breastfeed their infants. In this review, studies evaluating the effects of breastfeeding, professional organizations' protocols and recommendations regarding breastfeeding, and barriers to breastfeeding infants with NAS are discussed, as well as the dangers of illicit drug exposure and avoiding rebound NAS in a breastfed infant. Clinicians can play an important role in in identifying, supporting, counseling, and advocating for mothers who wish to breastfeed their infant with NAS.
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