A Novel Approach to Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

Tara Sundem took the first steps on her journey to co-founding Hushabye Nursery while working as a neonatal nurse practitioner in neonatal intensive care units.  She would help care for babies suffering from neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), what used to be referred to as babies born addicted to various drugs.  The truth is that these babies are born dependent on these drugs but not addicted.  NAS is the term for those babies going through the withdrawal process, just like anyone else stopping exposure to drugs.  These babies would sometimes have to stay 30 days or more in the NICU without parents there.  Tara began to realize that there had to be a better way.  She wanted to give the babies a voice.

After several encounters with parents who wanted to stay with their babies, she tried to calm a baby that was on the verge of getting a dose of morphine, the common treatment for babies in the NICU for NAS to prevent them from having a seizure.  She took the baby to a dark, quiet room and began to rock the baby while deeply breathing to calm herself like in yoga class.  This environment proved to be exactly what this baby needed, avoiding the need for morphine.  Tara had a new mission.

In this episode of the Major Pain podcast, Tara shares her unique approach to neonatal abstinence syndrome. She co-founded Hushabye Nursery 5 years ago with the goal of helping babies be ok, helping parents care for those babies, and helping the family stay together.  She realized that Hushabye could meet families where they are, that opioid addiction is not a moral failing and that helping the family is helping the baby.  These babies are in danger of having multiple early adverse childhood experiences (ACE’s) very early in life that will put them at risk of many physical and mental health challenges later in life.  In this episode of the Major Pain podcast Tara shares how Hushabye has made it their mission to help babies with NAS get the help they need while keeping families together.

Learn more about Hushabye Nursery on their website: https://hushabyenursery.org/

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