NASCEND

Fact! Major health organizations including WHO, ACOG, and ABM support breastfeeding for mothers in stable recovery on supervised medication assisted treatment. The benefits of safely providing breast milk are significant for both mom and baby, and healthcare providers play an important role in encouraging and supporting that choice. There are important cautions providers should be aware of, and knowing both the benefits and the considerations is what allows them to offer truly informed, supportive care. That is exactly what our training is designed to address.

August is National Breastfeeding Month, and we are kicking things off with an important conversation around breastfeeding in the context of NOWS. The benefits can be even greater for these infants, and any amount matters. This month we are covering the benefits, the risks, and what real support looks like for this population. Follow along.

Myth! A proper feeding for an infant with NOWS should be completed in 30 minutes or less without milk loss from the mouth. Caregivers should pay close attention to both the quality and quantity of feedings to ensure these infants are receiving the adequate calories and nutrition they need. Equipping healthcare providers with the right training means caregivers are better supported, and these infants have a better chance at the outcomes they deserve.

Did you know GI dysfunction is one of the primary characteristics of NOWS?
Poor feeding is the number one symptom leading to treatment in these infants, making the way they are fed and supported so important. Equipping healthcare providers with the right training and education to practice strategies that reduce GI stress, and to teach caregivers to do the same, is how we improve outcomes for these infants and their families.

Fact! When an infant loses milk from their mouth during feeding, it is frequently a sign that the ni**le flow rate exceeds what they can safely handle. Safe feeding for infants with NOWS means matching both the volume and the rate of feeding to what the infant can manage.
Feeding challenges are among the most significant and long-lasting symptoms for infants with NOWS. The right knowledge and clinical foundations can change outcomes for these infants and the families caring for them. Our training goes beyond the basics, giving providers the foundational knowledge they need to support safe, effective feeding and improve outcomes for these infants and their families.

Did you know responsive feeding is the recommended approach for infants with NOWS? Rather than following a rigid schedule, responsive feeding is guided by the infant's own hunger and fullness cues, making it a two-way relationship between caregiver and baby. And the benefits reach far beyond the hospital. Responsive feeding supports adequate nutrition in those critical early days while also laying the foundation for healthy eating habits that last a lifetime.

Myth! Pacifier use is actually recommended for infants with NOWS! Non-nutritive sucking does more than soothe. It helps these infants practice the skills needed for successful feeding. It is a simple, evidence-based tool that can make a meaningful difference for some of the most vulnerable infants in the NICU.

Did you know? During observed feeding sessions of opioid-exposed infants, researchers found that actual feeding behavior only accounted for 24% of the time — while fussing and crying made up 51%. These are not just fussy babies. These are infants with complex, clinically significant feeding challenges that require specialized care and support. Healthcare providers equipped with this knowledge can make a real difference in how these infants are fed and how families are supported through it.