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The deleterious effects associated with prenatal cigarette use, alcohol use, opioid use, and other illicit substance use have been identified and widely reported since the 1960s and 1970s. Medical issues in the immediate newborn period are related to fetal growth, congenital anomalies (with alcohol exposure), neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), and neurobehavioral issues. NAS occurs primarily among prenatally opioid-exposed infants and a constellation of symptoms including tremors, excessive or high-pitched crying, poor feeding and sucking, vomiting, and seizures may be present. Serious long term consequences of concern include effects on growth, behavior, cognition/executive functioning, language, academic achievement, and predisposition to later drug use.
This costly public health problem and the collateral challenges to optimal developmental/educational outcomes merit a proactive, preventive approach, beginning with widespread public awareness, empathy, and provider education. Dr. Pyati will review the scope of the problem of prenatal substance abuse, recognition of signs and symptoms in infants, and the importance of adopting a multidisciplinary approach for intervention.
During her presentation Ms. Horwitz will discuss a relationship based model for supporting families with babies in their first year of life. Babies connecting and bonding with their caregivers is directly related to positive growth and development. In particular as we work with high risk babies and families it is critically important that we support the relationship connections and underscore the “angel moments” that greatly impact attachment, parenting efficacy and development. Ms. Horwitz will describe how the Fussy Baby Network Approach and the FAN (Facilitated Attuned Interactions) model supports families in learning how to soothe, regulate, connect and find those angel moments even during the most challenging of times.
At the end of the session, participants will be encouraged to share their ideas on how to incorporate the workshop information into their practice.
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