Addiction

Considerations for Clients with Substance Use Disorders during Pregnancy and Lactation

Clients who are battling substance use disorder often face many challenges in their battle to achieve sobriety. These challenges can often be compounded when the client is pregnant or breastfeeding. MotherToBaby supports addiction specialists who are working with pregnant and lactating clients. Our resources will help you learn about the risks of maternal substance use during pregnancy and while breastfeeding, so you can counsel your patients accordingly. We also welcome the opportunity to work directly with you and/or your clients by answering questions about pregnancy and breastfeeding exposures; our no-cost, evidence-based information service is available by phone, text, email, and live chat.

The first 1000 days of life, starting at conception, have been established as a critical window of time for long-term health and development. It is therefore crucial to understand the impact substance use has on pregnancy, breastfeeding, maternal–infant bonding, and child outcomes. 

— Louw, 2018

Explore how we can help you and your pregnant and breastfeeding patients by providing no-cost exposure risk assessments, patient education materials, and more.

LactRx App

Download our LactRx app for on-the-go access to the Library of Medicine’s LactMed database for current information on medications for substance use disorders as well as other drugs and vaccinations to which breastfeeding mothers may be exposed.

Partners

• MyHealthTeams
• National Maternal Mental Health Hotline
• Patient Education Genius
• PatientsLikeMe
• Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Society for Birth Defects Research & Prevention
• The Mighty