title: The wellbeing of infants exposed to buprenorphine via breast milk at 4 weeks of age.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Buprenorphine has been available in Australia since 2000 as an alternative pharmacotherapy to methadone for the treatment of opioid dependence. However, there is little information in the literature regarding the effect of buprenorphine on the wellbeing of infants exposed to buprenorphine via breast milk, following discharge from hospital.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to examine the wellbeing of infants exposed to buprenorphine via breast milk up to 4 weeks postnatally.
  
  
  METHODS
  Approximately 4 weeks after birth, information on the feeding and sleeping patterns, skin color, infant elimination patterns and hydration, and Neonatal Abstinence Scores of infants (n = 7) exposed to buprenorphine via breast milk was collected via both observation and documentation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Infants were progressing well, with normal sleep patterns and skin color, and 2 mothers had minor concerns regarding infant elimination patterns. Four infants were exclusively breastfed and 3 were receiving a supplement, with a range of 260 to 700 mL of formula over 24 hours. The sleep patterns following feeding ranged from 1.55 to 3.33 hours, with a median of 2.12 hours.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No adverse effects were detected in infants exposed to buprenorphine via breast milk up to 4 weeks postnatally. Further research using larger samples to assess possible developmental effects over longer periods of time is required.
authors.affiliation: 1School of Nursing and Midwifery, Curtin University, Bentley, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Shelley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gower
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bartu
authors.forename: Kenneth F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Ilett
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Doherty
authors.forename: Renate
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McLaurin
authors.forename: Dale
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hamilton
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D000068104:Infant Health / Q000592:standards*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D002047:Buprenorphine
keywords: breastfeeding; drug-exposed infants; infant health; substance abuse