Opioid Usage

Opioid use during pregnancy can lead to premature delivery of the infant and it can also cause neonatal respiratory depression. Babies born to mothers who use opioids (particularly heroin) tend to be of low birth weight. More importantly, long-term use may lead to withdrawal symptoms in the infant. Infants of opioid dependent mothers can start having withdrawal symptoms anywhere from a few hours of life to more than one week after birth.