The Impact of Breastfeeding on Health Outcomes for Infants Diagnosed with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: A Review

Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is a neurologic condition resulting from prenatal exposure to opioids. The sudden cessation of opioids in neonates can lead to withdrawal symptoms affecting the neurologic, respiratory, and gastrointestinal systems. Rising opioid use in the United States has led to an increased incidence of infants born with NAS. Despite the growing incidence of NAS, there is a lack of standardized guidelines for intervention and management. Recent studies suggest that non-pharmacological methods should be used as first-line interventions for the reduction of NAS symptoms. Of the non-pharmacological methods, growing literature suggests that breastfeeding may have the potential to reduce symptom severity and improve outcomes. We searched the PubMed and Medline databases for experimental/quasi-experimental studies published from 1997-2018 regarding outcomes in breastfed versus formula-fed neonates with prenatal exposure to opioids. Seven retrospective studies fulfilling the inclusion criteria were reviewed. Collectively, the studies show a strong correlation between breastfeeding and a reduced length of hospital stay, a decreased severity of NAS presentation, and a decreased necessity of pharmacological interventions in infants diagnosed with NAS. From these findings, we recommend breastfeeding as an integral component of the early management of NAS.