The massive opioid addiction wave has cast a scary cloud over many individuals, including pregnant moms. Opioid addiction poses a serious threat to babies, and Spectrum Health is taking a stand to help both mothers and infants combat the crisis. Dr. Cara Poland stopped by to fill us in.
Five to 10 percent of pregnancies are facing an opioid use disorder. There was a five-fold increase from 2000 to 2012 in babies born facing opioid withdrawal, and every 25 minutes a baby is born with neonatal abstinence syndrome.
Neonatal abstinence syndrome symptoms include irritability, poor feeding, slow weight gain, stuffy nose, sneezing, trembling, sweating, vomiting, increased muscle tone, diarrhea, excessive sucking, excessive or high-pitched crying and more.
Spectrum Health is helping moms battle opioid addiction with the GREAT MOMs program, which serves pregnant women with an opioid use disorder who are either currently not in treatment or on buprenorphine.
For more information on Spectrum Health’s GREAT MOMs Program, visit spectrumhealth.org or call 616-391-3681.
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