By Lauren Wanko
Correspondent
At PSE&G Children’s Specialized Hospital Dr. Sharon Burke examines a month-and-a-half-old infant boy. He’s being treated for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome or NAS.
“That was a term that has been applied to infants born to mothers who were using drugs or on prescription medication of the opioid class during the pregnancy,” Dr. Burke explained.
When an infant’s umbilical cord is cut, that cuts off the flow of drugs the baby was getting from the mother. Withdrawal kicks in anywhere from 24 to 96 hours after a baby’s born. Symptoms can vary from gastrointestinal issues, problems eating and breathing. Often times they’re inconsolable.
“They may have high blood pressure, their bodies may get very tight, rigid, spastic,” Dr. Burke said.
The clinicians use a scale to grade the degree of withdrawal the babies are going through.
“Which helps the clinician manage them with the appropriate medications,” said Dr. Burke.
The doctors wean the babies off the drug by administering that same class of drug the mother was taking while pregnant.
“And take the baby through a titration process every two to three days of decreasing that drug by 10 percent. It’s done in a slow and efficient manner so the baby doesn’t rebound and have worsening withdrawal or seizures,” Dr. Burke said.
This baby boy is now completely detoxed.
“He’s very engaging, very social. When he first came to us all he did was cry at the time. We found that we had to give him a lot of medication to help him through his withdrawal,” said Dr. Burke.
He was given methadone for three and half weeks.
“It’s not just enough to treat the babies with medication. You also need to bring in the therapy components,” Dr. Burke said.
Babies with the an entire medical team at PSE&G’s Children’s Specialized Hospital including feeding therapists, to make sure they have the right skills to feed safely so they don’t choke. They spend a lot of time in the pool to relax their muscles and they work with occupational therapists to ensure they’re alert and aware of their surroundings.
Dr. Burke says the number of babies born nationwide with NAS has dramatically increased.
“In 2002, it was about 1.2 babies per every 1,000 live births who had NAS. In 2009-2010, the most recent reports are showing us that number jumped to four babies per 1,000 births,” she said.
Babies aren’t born at Children’s Specialized Hospital, they’re referred. The staff started treating five babies a year. That’s since grown to 15.
“I believe that underscores the true need that’s out there,” said Dr. Burke.
This little boy shouldn’t need any other early intervention services. He’s scheduled to go home on Friday.