Opioid Use Dependency in the Mother Who Desires to Breastfeed Her Newborn: A Case Study

The number of infants born to mothers with opioid dependence is increasing at an alarming rate, indicating a 5-fold increase for women using opiates and a 3-fold increase in infants born with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS; ). Pediatric Nurse Practitioners providing primary care, who lack experience with this clinical presentation, require evidence-based knowledge to provide the appropriate care to infants born with neonatal abstinence syndrome. Mothers with opioid dependence often desire to breastfeed their newborns, and the PNP may unknowingly discourage them from breastfeeding. In this case discussion, we describe how breastfeeding is possible and is beneficial. Current evidence-based practice recommendations and resources are included demonstrating that human breast milk has the potential to substantially improve health outcomes for all mothers and their newborns, especially this unique dyad ().