Neonatal Abstinence
Give Your Baby a Healthy Start
Questions & Answers
Hover over the boxes below to see the answers to the questions.
What is Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome?
When a mom-to-be takes drugs during pregnancy —especially pain killers called opioids or heroin —they can be passed on to the baby. NAS happens when the baby is no longer exposed to the drugs and has withdrawal symptoms after birth.
What can I do to prevent NAS?
You can prevent NAS by not taking any drugs during your pregnancy unless recommended by your doctor. If you are taking drugs already, talk to your doctor first before quitting. With certain drugs, quitting too quickly can hurt you and your baby.
When do the signs of NAS start?
Usually within three days of birth, but sometimes symptoms may not happen for a few weeks.
What are the signs of NAS?
- Shaking, twitching muscles, seizures.
- Trouble breathing or breathing fast.
- Fussiness, a lot of crying, or high-pitched crying.
- Sweating, fever or blotchy skin.
- Trouble sleeping, a lot of yawning.
- Throwing up or diarrhea.
- Stuffy nose or sneezing.
- Feeding problems or slow weight gain.
What should I do if I think my baby has NAS?
Call your provider or the hospital right away. Your baby might need medicine, fluids or other interventions to help him feel better.
What else can I do to help my baby?
- Keep your baby in a quiet, darkened room.
- Help your baby feel secure by using a special wrap called a swaddler or a sleep sack to keep him comfortable.
- Hold your baby skin-to-skin — only in his diaper on bare chest.
- Feed your baby smaller amounts more often if he is having trouble feeding. If you are concerned about your baby’s feeding, contact his doctor right away.
- Breastfeed your baby. If you are still using drugs including marijuana, talk with your provider first.
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