A report that begins with the following line, “A professional organization does not recommend opioid detoxification in pregnancy.” but starts its Conclusion with this statement, “Detoxifying from opioids in pregnancy does not appear to harm the fetus,” may leave one scratching their head.

Let’s break it down into plain English…

A large study from South Korea was published last week with headlines like this;

• Opioids in Pregnancy ‘Not Linked’ to High Risk of Child Disorders

• Prenatal Opioid Exposure Not Tied to Neuropsychiatric Disorders in Offspring

Could this be true? An exploration of the data is necessary to confirm or deny this broad-reaching statement.

Scientists are discovering increasingly more about kids who were exposed to opioids before birth. This study examined the latest discoveries to provide an updated understanding of what we know about this group.

Key Points

While occasionally still noteworthy in the National news, the Opioid Epidemic gets far less attention these days. Stories that do air center around overdose deaths. But what about the births? The births of babies exposed to opioids in their mother’s womb. They have a lifetime ahead of them, and due to traumatic injuries, it’s likely to be more challenging for the baby and their caregiver.

Much of the body runs on autopilot. Think about your heartbeat, digestive system or blood pressure, or even your fight-or-flight response when you're stressed or in danger. This pilot is called the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS). One of the largest nerves contained in this system is the Vagus Nerve. It's responsible for making sure your body functions smoothly without you having to think about it.

Beginning at conception, a timeline of creation builds the ANS as well as the organs, muscles and other parts of the body it connects to. The authors of this study were able to determine what happens when opioids are introduced to this process.