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Supporting Mothers and Infants Impacted by Perinatal Substance Exposure by Meeting Them Where They Are At, and Helping Them Get to Where They Want to Be

Southcoast Health’s New Beginnings Moms Do Care Program provides services to pregnant women with substance exposure during pregnancy that are planning to deliver at Southcoast Hospitals.

Care At No Cost to Families

Our staff will provide individualized support and care at no cost to moms, babies, and families. Prior to birth, pregnant women (with opioid and other substance use exposures) are educated on substance use treatment and other services as a component of prenatal care. Partaking in substance use treatment can mitigate or prevent negative birth outcomes associated to the specific substance exposure.

Parents are essential to the health of the newborn and encouraged to participate in all aspects of their baby’s care. The New Beginnings Moms Do Care team, made up of Family Advocates, Registered Nurses, and Perinatal Recovery Coaches, facilitate this by assessing the family’s individual needs and connecting them to resources. Patients are prepared for what to expect during their hospital admission and ongoing support is provided for up to three years postpartum to promote optimal outcomes. We provide patients with information on how they can be part of the baby’s care while the baby is in the hospital. We hope to work with patients to provide care and comfort for the baby.

Your doctor or midwife can arrange for you to meet with a neonatologist (newborn specialist) before delivery so you can learn more about what to expect after your baby is born. It is also a great opportunity to ask additional questions and address any of your concerns.

Substance Exposure During Pregnancy

Certain drugs have been linked to specific problems in the baby. Individuals that have been exposed to the following substances meet the eligible criteria for the New Beginnings Moms Do Care program:

  • Alcohol
  • Prescribed and non-prescribed opioids
  • Marijuana
  • Stimulants (Amphetamines, Cocaine)

Infants exposed to certain medicines or substances during pregnancy may experience Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) which may require specialized care after delivery.

Treatment Options

Infants with NAS and NOWS are treated through non-pharmacological methods (such as rooming-in with mothers after birth, breastfeeding, swaddling, skin-to-skin time, and minimizing stimuli in the environment), as well as pharmacologic methods (medication) when warranted.

Specialties & Services