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In the literature...
Obstetric pain management for pregnant women with opioid use disorder: A qualitative and quantitative comparison of patient and provider perspectives (QUEST study) -
Background and aim: Patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) may experience inade- quate pain management especially during childbirth. This study assessed and compared patient and provider perspectives on analgesia during and after delivery in women with OUD.
Findings: Five major themes emerged from patient interviews: (1) neuraxial blockade was endorsed for labor pain; (2) otherwise, limited pain control options were perceived; (3) no consensus around use of opioids for pain; (4) non-opioid options should be avail- able; and (5) provider communication and health-care system issues act as barriers to adequate pain management. Provider perspective themes included the following: (1) unique challenges in pain management for patients with OUD; (2) confusion on how to plan for and make perinatal adjustments to medication for OUD; (3) discrepant views on use of opioids for pain management; (4) endorsement of non-pharmacological and non-opioid options; and (5) need for improved provider collaboration in developing pain management plans.
“Will My Baby Be OK?” A Qualitative Analysis of Pregnant Women’s Suboxone® Online Forum Posts -
AIMS: The purpose of the study was to describe the perinatal concerns of women with opioid use disorder who posted to an online suboxone forum.
RESULTS: The analysis of the interview data revealed 4 important themes: (a) Stigma resulting in self-deprecation, low self-esteem, and low self-efficacy; (b) stigma from family members and loved ones; (c) stigma from the medical profession; and (d) stigma from the community at-large (social stigma).
CONCLUSIONS: There is compelling evidence to emphasize the importance of open communication and support between medical personnel and patients to ensure optimal outcomes for mother and baby.
Perinatal Psychoactive Substances Use: A Rising Perinatal Mental Health Concern -
All childbearing age women must be informed about the potential harm of the prenatal use of psychoactive substances and should be encouraged to stop their use when pregnancy is planned and, at least, when pregnancy is known. Questioning women about their alcohol consumption should be systematic at the first prenatal visit and then at every prenatal visit until delivery. Multidisciplinary prevention approaches as well as intervention measures targeted to each type of psychoactive substance can save mothers’ lives and mitigate serious adversities to the offspring.
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