Neonatal abstinence syndrome and mother’s own milk at discharge

Objective To describe factors impacting receipt of mother’s own milk (MOM) at discharge among California infants diagnosed with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Study Design Cohort study of the California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative’s Maternal Substance Exposure Database for infants with NAS and gestational age ≥ 34 weeks from 2019 to 2020. Result 245 infants with NAS were identified. Variables with an increased likelihood of being discharged on MOM included maternal medication assisted treatment ( p = 0.001), use of maternal addiction services ( p < 0.001), receiving donor human milk ( p = 0.001), being treated in the well baby unit ( p < 0.001), rooming-in ( p < 0.001), and kangaroo care (p < 0.001). Among infants with NAS for whom MOM was recommended ( n = 84), rooming-in was the only factor associated with being discharged on MOM ( p = 0.002); receiving formula was the only inversely associated factor ( p < 0.001). Conclusion Results suggest supporting the mother-infant dyad and using non-pharmacologic treatment methods, such as rooming-in, increase receipt of MOM at discharge.