Primary Care Perspectives: Primary Care in the Opioid Epidemic: Supporting NAS and NOWS Babies and Their Moms - Episode 119

Summary: Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) and neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) have skyrocketed as a result of the ongoing opioid epidemic. Celina C.S. Migone, MD, attending neonatologist, CHOP at Einstein Montgomery, discusses inpatient management of NAS and NOWS, including a new scoring system (replacing the Finnegan) and a move away from pharmacologic management (morphine dosing), and how the changes have had downstream effects that may require a new approach to supporting babies and families in primary care. She reviews: withdrawal symptoms providers may see; which substances are safe for breastfeeding and which are contraindicated; plans of safe care, which are begun during pregnancy and should be in place for a year after the baby is born; developmental monitoring; the CHOP NAS/NOWS inpatient clinical pathway and why it’s helpful to outpatient providers; and more.