Narcotic addiction: the expectant mother and her baby.
In a retrospective study of the period 1982-1985, the records of 29 narcotic-addicted mothers and their 42 babies were reviewed. All mothers were from socially deprived backgrounds, had a poor record of ante-natal attendance and had frequent admissions to hospital. Thirteen mothers had a past history of hepatitis B and four were HBsAg positive. The babies had significantly lower mean gestational age and mean birth weight than the control group. Features of withdrawal were recorded in 84% of babies where a history was available. A high incidence of twins (10.5%) was also observed. Testing for HIV antibody in more recent cases has revealed positive results in seven mothers and three babies; one infant has since died from acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
Thornton
L
L
Coombe Lying-in Hospital, Dublin.
Clune
M
M
Maguire
R
R
Griffin
E
E
O'Connor
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004200:Diseases in Twins; D005260:Female; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009357:Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D008691:Methadone