How to Reduce the Number of Babies Born Addicted to Drugs

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

By: Peter Egan

According to a study appearing in the Journal of the American Medical Association conducted by a team of researchers from the universities of Pittsburgh and Michigan, about one baby per hour was born addicted to opioid drugs during the 2009 calendar year, the result of chronic use by the mother during her pregnancy. This constitutes an increase of nearly 500% since the year 2000, according to the researchers.

Opioid Painkillers

The condition of a baby being born addicted to drugs initially absorbed in-utero is known as neonatal abstinence syndrome. This is essentially a term for withdrawal symptoms, only rather than afflicting a recovering drug addict instead afflict a newborn baby, with symptoms such as seizures, tremors, respiratory troubles, vomiting and trouble holding-down food.

In an editorial accompanying the study, researchers bemoan the fact that treatment options have improved very little since 2000. However, when it comes to opioid addiction, the best treatment is prevention.

Here are two ways pregnant women can treat moderate-to-severe pain from pregnancy and other injuries or conditions without running the risk of becoming addicted to opioid painkillers used to treat pain:

Prenatal Cradle

1. Maternity Supports and Belts - Wearing a maternity support or maternity belt during pregnancy can help to ease the stress on the mother of having another human being growing inside her. While not the be-all, end-all, some of these, such as the patented Prenatal Cradle, have received rave reviews from customers who claim that the difference in the amount of noticeable pain is significant to say the least. However, not all products marketed to help relieve pain due to pregnancy are the same, and some work better than others. The main thing is to find one that is right for the user's individual body, shape and stage of pregnancy.
   
   
2. Drug-free topical pain relievers such as Ben-Gay and the harder-to-find but more effective Biofreeze are a great alternative to both over-the-counter and prescription pain relievers and pain killers. Plus, these products do not contain addictive chemicals such as the opioids, nor liver-destroying chemicals such as acetaminophen (the generic name for the active ingredient in Tylenol).

Biofreeze Drug-Free Topical Pain Reliever

When it comes the health of your baby, no step is of too little importance to take. With the rapidly expanding number of mothers giving birth to drug-addicted babies, it may be time for a closer look at some alternatives to conventional methods of treating paid, particularly for women who are pregnant.