Moms' Painkillers Causing Drug Withdrawal in Newborns

Painkillers during pregnancy risk the health of newborns

HealthDay News reports that the number of newborns treated for drug withdrawal in the United States has nearly quadrupled since 2004 - another sad result of the prescription opioid epidemic.

30% of mothers used prescription narcotic painkillers while pregnant

Recent studies have found the use of prescription narcotic (opioid) painkillers during pregnancy to be surprisingly common, noting "Nearly 30 percent of the Tennessee mothers-to-be in the Pediatrics study used at least one of these drugs while pregnant, and the associated risks [of newborn drug withdrawal] went up if they also smoked or took antidepressants."

Opioid painkillers include the drugs hydrocodone (Vicodin), oxycodone (Oxycontin), codeine and morphine. They were often used in women who had reported headaches, migraines or other musculoskeletal problems, as well as depression or anxiety.

Along with drug withdrawal, the researchers noted that infants of mothers on prescription painkillers were "twice as likely as other newborns to be born at a low birth weight. They were also far more likely to have respiratory conditions, feeding difficulties and seizures."

First an adult opioid epidemic, now drug withdrawal in newborns

The opioid drug epidemic started a few years ago when experts recommended doctors treat their patients' pains more seriously. However, instead of encouraging patients to try effective conservative treatment like chiropractic or physical therapy, doctors dramatically increased their prescriptions of addictive opioid drugs. States including Ohio are now fighting to fix this drug epidemic; and now we know it's causing harm to more than just those taking the drugs.

Pregnant mothers should minimize the medications they take to reduce the risk of health problems in their infants. Chiropractic treatment is proven to be an effective treatment for pregnant mothers with musculoskeletal pains and is a great way to avoid medications. Chiropractic care not only reduces the risk of injury to infants by avoiding medications, it can also provide further benefits by making labor and delivery easier.

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