NASCEND

Did you know responsive feeding is the recommended approach for infants with NOWS? Rather than following a rigid schedule, responsive feeding is guided by the infant's own hunger and fullness cues, making it a two-way relationship between caregiver and baby. And the benefits reach far beyond the hospital. Responsive feeding supports adequate nutrition in those critical early days while also laying the foundation for healthy eating habits that last a lifetime.

Did you know? During observed feeding sessions of opioid-exposed infants, researchers found that actual feeding behavior only accounted for 24% of the time — while fussing and crying made up 51%. These are not just fussy babies. These are infants with complex, clinically significant feeding challenges that require specialized care and support. Healthcare providers equipped with this knowledge can make a real difference in how these infants are fed and how families are supported through it.

Lingering symptoms of NOWS, like fussiness and poor sleep, do not always go away by the time a baby leaves the hospital. For parents and caregivers, that can make an already stressful time even harder. Helping families know what to expect starts with healthcare providers having the right training and a trauma-informed approach. Caregivers are not alone in this journey, and neither are the providers caring for them. We are here to help healthcare teams become experts in caring for infants with NOWS.

Fact! Infants exposed to highly lipophilic opioids, such as buprenorphine or methadone, can experience prolonged or delayed withdrawal symptoms that persist after they go home.
This means caregivers need more than discharge paperwork. They need to know what symptoms to expect, how long they might last, and when to reach out for support. Want to prepare your families for this
Make sure your care team is equipped to prepare families for this. Reach out to learn more about our training programs.