Substance Misuse in Pregnancy - NHS Lothian
Substance Misuse in Pregnancy - NHS Lothian
Substance Misuse in Pregnancy - NHS Lothian
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Care <strong>in</strong> the community<br />
After 72 hours stay on the postnatal ward, babies with mild to moderate<br />
symptoms can be discharged home where they can be cared for by their<br />
parents with community midwifery and health visit<strong>in</strong>g support. The<br />
midwife will offer advice and support on a daily basis and will arrange for<br />
readmission to hospital if the baby’s symptoms worsen. As part of the<br />
<strong>in</strong>fant’s ongo<strong>in</strong>g care, parents should be advised to cont<strong>in</strong>ue us<strong>in</strong>g the NAS<br />
assessment score chart and supportive therapy measures until the baby’s<br />
symptoms have resolved. Parents should be advised to record all feeds<br />
(amounts taken and times) so that the midwife and health visitor can<br />
monitor the baby’s daily calorie <strong>in</strong>take. The community midwife and health<br />
visitor will also weigh the baby to ensure weight ga<strong>in</strong> is satisfactory.<br />
If the baby’s symptoms get significantly worse at home (i.e. sleeps less<br />
than 1 hour/ cries 1 hour after feeds/ weight loss after day 7) then it is<br />
better to admit the baby to hospital earlier rather than later. If the baby<br />
has been home for less than a week, or is less than 10 days old they may<br />
be admitted to the Neonatal Unit at RIE, Little France or Special Care<br />
Baby Unit (SCBU) at St John’s Hospital, West <strong>Lothian</strong>. If the baby is<br />
more than 10 days old they are likely to be admitted to Sick Children’s<br />
Hospital (RHSC) or the Children’s Ward at St John’s Hospital. Community<br />
staff should discuss admission with the Neonatal Unit / SCBU first.<br />
Care <strong>in</strong> hospital<br />
Parents need to know that admission to the Neonatal Unit at Little France<br />
or the SCBU at St John’s Hospital is necessary if their baby develops<br />
severe withdrawal symptoms.<br />
Babies with severe symptoms often require ‘tube’ feed<strong>in</strong>g, pharmacological<br />
(drug) treatment and 24-hour care and supervision from specialist<br />
paediatric medical and nurs<strong>in</strong>g staff.<br />
The aim of treatment is to:<br />
� reduce irritability and motor <strong>in</strong>stability<br />
� establish an appropriate feed/sleep/wake cycle<br />
� ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong> a normal body temperature, and<br />
� ensure adequate weight ga<strong>in</strong>.<br />
<strong>Substance</strong> <strong>Misuse</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Pregnancy</strong><br />
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