Twenty per cent of the 294 medically fragile newborns admitted into Windsor’s neonatal intensive care unit last year were suffering withdrawal symptoms because their mothers were taking opioids while pregnant. But the benefit will be “much more so” for opiate withdrawal babies. “If it is keeping them quiet, cuddled, touched, rocked, spoken to, it calms them down and reduces the chance you need drugs,” to treat the withdrawal symptoms, he said. Their babies can still end up with withdrawal symptoms, said Bacheyie. Two longtime NICU volunteers who are already chosen for the team, Marie Anne Sasso and Diana Learn, said they’re excited about their new role.

Source: National Post March 09, 2017 16:00 UTC