In addition to the medical benefits of breastfeeding, is the concept of the maternal-infant bond. Bonding is often difficult with the substance abuse patient and the baby going through Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. Often times, these babies have an increased length of hospitalization thus separating the mother and baby and interrupting the bonding process (McQueen, Murphy-Oikonen, and Desaulniers, 2015). These patients should be educated thoroughly on the importance of a mother-infant bond and the …show more content…
This will enable the mother to understand the baby’s condition better and adapt to the baby’s needs. In a typical newborn setting when the baby is not exhibiting signs and symptoms of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, the nurse’s facilitate the mother’s participation in the care such as encouraging and promoting breastfeeding, participating in formula feeding if the patients so choose, changing diapers, soothing the baby, et cetera. These patients should be given the same opportunity; as they are no different than any other patient who walks through the door of Labor and