Neonatal abstinence syndrome as a result of the use of illegal substances by pregnant women

The diploma thesis deals with neonatal abstinence syndrome which occur to newborns whose mothers were on addictive illegal drugs in the time of pregnancy. The most frequently taken drugs are canabinoids, stimulancias, opiods and opiates, halucinogens, and drugs taken during substitutional therapy. Neonatal abstinence syndrome is a multisystem disorder that frequently affects central nervous system, gastrointestinal system, respiratory system and autonomic system. To diagnose neonatal abstinence system is the most important careful monitoring of baby in the first days of its life. There are different scoring systems which have been developed for assessing the severity of neonatal abstinence syndrome, we use the Finnegan scoring system. Treatment of neonatal abstinence syndrome is mainly supportive and pharmacological therapy. There are also social serious consequences of this problems; mothers are usually not able to take care of babies and children live in children's homes. The aims of this study were to find out special needs of newborns born to mothers using addictive illegal drugs during pregnancy, to find care interventions which help newborns with neonatal abstinence syndrome in their first days of life and to discover interventions helping mothers stop using addictive illegal drugs. The theoretical part of this study is based on research of already presented scientific studies. The practical part of the study problems of neonates of mothers using addictive illegal drugs in first days after delivery. We have used Virginia Henderson's need theory to evaluate neonate's need. We have chosen only the most important elementary components out of 14 components in Virginia Henderson's need theory. I was also trying to find out if nurses know how to help neonates with neonatal abstinence syndrome and what nursing interventions have positive influence to neonates. Another goal was to know how nurses communicate with mothers and if they have positive influence on mothers. The method of communication with mother using addictive illegal drugs was semistructured interview. I wanted to know what kind of addictive drugs mothers were using during pregnancy and if mothers tried to solve their problem in pregnancy, before delivery. Results are sorted into categories and subcategories and showed in diagrams and tables. Neonates of mothers using addictive illegal drugs during pregnancy have problems in all investigated needs such as breathe, eat and drink adequately, sleep and rest, thermoneutral zone and social need. I also found out that some nursing intervences have positive influence on neonates with neonatal abstinence syndrome. Very important intervenes were individual contact with each neonate and quick reaction to every change in behavior. It is also necessary to respect their sleep and rest time, take nursing and medical care together in blocks, use non-pharmacological treatment of pain, feed them individually according to their needs and also try different techniques of feeding, put babies into the right position and eventually nestle, rock or touch them. In last part of the study we discuss mothers who use addictive illegal drugs. We found out that nurses did not speak with them very actively, did not offer them to breast-feed in special conditions, did not tell them about possibility to be with neonate together in the hospital until a discharge. On the other hand, mothers were not interested in the breast-feeding or staying with babies. The goal of the study was to create brochure with information of negative consequences of taking addictive drugs on babies. This brochure is convenient for education of mother and students as well