Addiction Drug Use Opioids What Is Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome? By Wendy Wisner Wendy Wisner Wendy Wisner is a health and parenting writer, lactation consultant (IBCLC), and mom to two awesome sons. Learn about our editorial process Updated on August 03, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE Medically reviewed by John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE is board-certified in addiction medicine and preventative medicine. He is the medical director at Alcohol Recovery Medicine. For over 20 years Dr. Umhau was a senior clinical investigator at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Isabel Pavia / Getty Images Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Symptoms Diagnosis Causes Treatment Coping Neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) refers to the withdrawal symptoms that newborns experience at birth when they’ve been exposed to opioids in the womb. When a person uses opioids during pregnancy, the drugs can cross the placenta and affect infants. Babies are then born dependent on these drugs and experience withdrawal symptoms. As the opioid crisis in America has worsened, more and more infants are born to parents who experience opioid addiction. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of women experiencing opioid addiction rose by 131% between 2010 and 2017. In 2019, 7% of pregnant women reported using prescription opioid pain relievers, and one in five reported misusing opioids. Thankfully, as devastating as NOWS can be to infants, it is treatable with both medical and non-medical techniques. Read on for what to know about NOWS, including symptoms, causes, treatments, and coping. Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is often used interchangeably with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS), and they both describe withdrawal symptoms infants experience after being exposed to illicit substances. However, NOWS specifically describes infants born addicted to opioids, whereas NAS includes other drugs, and may or not include opioids. Guidelines for Treating Drug-Addicted Newborns Symptoms of Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome Every infant who was exposed to opioids during pregnancy will experience withdrawal symptoms a little differently. Factors that may influence an infant’s symptoms include: Characteristics of the birthing parent’s metabolismThe particular types of opioids used during pregnancy, including whether they were prescription or non-prescriptionThe length that the infant was exposed to the opioidWhat other substances the birthing parent consumed, including other illicit substances and/or nicotine The symptoms of NOWS are varied and many differ in intensity from one infant from another. The most common symptoms to watch for include: Irritability and agitation Crying, usually high-pitching screaming Trouble sleeping and settling Hyperthermia (high body temperature) Sweating Diarrhea Nasal congestion and sneezing Tremors Higher muscle tone than most babies Rashes and other skin issues NOWS may also cause feeding or growth issues in some babies. This is usually addressed with high-calorie feedings and/or shorter, more frequent feeding sessions. In addition to withdrawal symptoms, being exposed to opioids in the womb can cause some immediate and longer-term health effects, such as: Low birth weightPossible birth defectsSmaller than normal head circumferencePreterm birthCognitive issues throughout lifeDevelopmental issues during childhood What Is Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome? Diagnosis of Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome For an infant to be diagnosed with NOWS, the parent must share information about their drug use during pregnancy. Usually, if a healthcare provider suspects NOWS, they will ask the infant’s parent a series of questions about drug use during pregnancy, including what types of drugs were used and with what frequency. There are certain tests that infants may undergo if it’s suspected that they are experiencing NOWS. These may include: Screening and evaluation of the infant’s urine and bowel movements, and possibly the infant’s umbilical cord Use of an assessment system that gives points to different drug withdrawal symptoms and their intensity Evaluation with a test called ESC (eat, sleep, console) The Risks of Quitting Cold Turkey Causes of Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome NOWS happens when infants are exposed to opioids taken by their birthing parent during pregnancy. These drugs can cross the placenta and enter the infant’s bloodstream. The infant becomes dependent on these drugs. When they are born, they are suddenly cut off from the drugs and experience withdrawal symptoms. Opioids represent a category of drugs called narcotics. Some common examples of opioids include: Codeine Oxycodone Morphine Heroin Meperidine Fentanyl Some babies may be more prone to the effects of opioid exposure during pregnancy, and more susceptible to withdrawal effects. Genetic and epigenetic factors may make certain infants more vulnerable to the effects of opioid withdrawal. Treatment for Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome There is no one agreed-upon treatment for NOWS. Treatment plans will vary based on an infant’s symptoms, the infant’s overall health, and a parent’s ability to care for their baby. Treatment can last anywhere from 7 days to up to 6 months. Whatever the case, babies diagnosed with NOWS will usually need to stay in the hospital for at least one week after birth. Medical Treatments Some symptoms of NOWS can be managed with non-medical care targeted at soothing a baby and calming their symptoms. But some babies may need medication to help them cope, especially if their withdrawal symptoms are interfering with feeding, growth, or if they are having diarrhea. In these cases, babies may be given medication such as morphine. Babies may also be treated with methadone, buprenorphine or clonidine. Non-Medical Treatments Most babies can “room in” with their parents, even while experiencing NOWS, and during this time, babies may respond well to soothing techniques that quiet their nervous system and calm them. Different babies will respond to various techniques differently. Some of the most common techniques used include swaddling, dimming the lights, skin-to-skin time, and rocking. Techniques to Tame the Fight-or-Flight Response Coping With Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome Even after a baby with NOWS is released from the hospital, symptoms may persist, and the baby will likely need ongoing care. Similarly, the baby’s birthing parent will need to be cared for and monitored, so that their opioid use disorder (OUD) is well-managed as they care for their baby. Babies will likely need to visit their pediatrician within a day or two after release from the hospital. After that, regular visits to the pediatrician will be necessary to continue treatment, to check growth and development, and for general health and wellness. Birthing parents will need to make sure that their OUD is being properly treated. This may involve substance abuse counseling, support groups, and taking prescribed medications (such as methadone or buprenorphine). Depending on the laws in each state, local child welfare chapters may need to be contacted, and babies and their parents may need to be monitored for some time. If you are a parent of a baby who is dealing with NOWS, you should know that you are not alone and that help is out there for you. In order to properly care for your baby, and not risk relapsing, it’s vital that you stay in touch with your care team. They are there to support you. Remember: you need to make taking care of yourself a priority in order to be the best parent you can be for your child. How Long Does Opium Stay in Your System? 5 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Weller AE, Crist RC, Reiner BC, Doyle GA, Berrettini WH. Neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS): A transgenerational echo of the opioid crisis. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine. 2021;11(3):a039669. doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a039669 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About opioid use during pregnancy. American Academy of Pediatrics. Neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS): What families need to know. Nemours Children's Health. Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Devlin, L.A., Young, L.W., Kraft, W.K. et al. Neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome: a review of the science and a look toward the use of buprenorphine for affected infants. Journal of Perinatology. 2022;42:300–306. doi:10.1038/s41372-021-01206-3 Additional Reading American Academy of Pediatrics. Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS): What Families Need to Know. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About Opioid Use During Pregnancy. National Library of Medicine. Neonatal abstinence syndrome. Nemours Children's Health. Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). Weller AE, Crist RC, Reiner BC, Doyle GA, Berrettini WH. Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS): A Transgenerational Echo of the Opioid Crisis. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine. 2021;11(3):a039669. doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a039669 By Wendy Wisner Wendy Wisner is a health and parenting writer, lactation consultant (IBCLC), and mom to two awesome sons. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? 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