Spartanburg, South Carolina (WSPA) – In recent years, we have seen more and more newborns experiencing opioid withdrawal symptoms.
“Helping babies exposed to opioids in utero is one of the most common things we do in the neonatal unit, so we’re always thinking of ways to better help them.” Dr. Jamie Brown of the Spartanburg area said. Pediatrician.
Our constant focus on how to better help them has resulted in new and effective approaches to treating newborns with withdrawal symptoms.
Dr. Brown said that traditional techniques have typically included measuring the pitch of a newborn’s cry or tremors before determining whether medications such as morphine are needed.
“Once the baby is on medication to overcome withdrawal symptoms, it takes a long time to withdraw and a longer hospital stay,” says Dr. Brown.
Now, just by prioritizing breastfeeding and bed rest, infants’ need for medication has been greatly reduced, the Spartanburg Regional Office said.
“This rating system measures whether the baby can eat effectively, sleep effectively, be comforted effectively, and be able to perform the baby’s necessary functions as opposed to sneezing, etc. It’s different,” Dr. Brown said.
These function-based assessments further facilitated family involvement in care planning through breastfeeding and the need for skin-to-skin contact. Dr. Brown said the new approach is a constant reminder to mothers that they are not alone.
“We’re leaving the hospital a week early to see if there’s any difference in these babies who had a lot of parental involvement,” Dr. Brown said.
This ‘eat, sleep, comfort and care’ approach has begun to spread across the country, resulting in symptomatic newborns being sent home from the hospital a week earlier than usual.
The Spartanburg Regional Authority said it was thrilled to participate in such a landmark national sample for newborn care.
“I’m very proud of our system and really happy to work here,” said Dr. Brown. “The nurses and the administration saw the potential in this and they were all working on this change in the way they do their daily routines, but at the moment we think it’s really difficult and very promising. I’m sticking with it,” said Dr. brown.
The Spartanburg Regional Authority said there were 37 infants in the sample and they are currently being followed for a year and will continue to be followed next year.
