Prenatal and Postpartum Care of Women with Substance Use Disorders
Sarah Gorman, BA, MD (2014)
KEYWORDS
Prenatal care Substance abuse disorder Postpartum care Opioid dependence Opioid replacement therapy Pregnancy Opioid addiction
KEY POINTS
Prenatal care providers should screen all patients for substance abuse disorders in preg- nancy using a validated screening tool.
Women identified as having a substance abuse disorder in pregnancy should be offered coordinated multidisciplinary care.
Opioid replacement therapy improves pregnancy outcomes for women with opioid dependence and is not a contraindication to breastfeeding.
Women with substance abuse disorders should be evaluated and treated for concurrent psychiatric disorders.
A respectful, nonjudgmental, and flexible approach by clinicians encourages ongoing pa- tient participation in prenatal care.