Maternal Perceptions of Feeding Behaviors in Infants With Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome

Background: Neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) significantly affects newborns, particularly when it comes to feeding. This underscores the need for comprehensive strategies to support growth, development, and the mother–infant bond. Despite the prevalence of NOWS, evidence-based feeding guidelines are scarce, and maternal perceptions of feeding behaviors remain underexplored, limiting tailored interventions. Purpose: Explore maternal perceptions of infant feeding behaviors in infants with NOWS. Methods: This pilot, qualitative descriptive study used data from semi-structured interviews with eight women receiving treatment for opioid use during pregnancy. Interviews were conducted in community settings, transcribed, and analyzed through qualitative, latent content analysis. Initial coding in Excel identified subthemes, which were synthesized to establish the final themes. Results: Most of the sample self-identified as Hispanic and were not working at the time. Analysis of participant accounts revealed the overarching theme, “Everything we do revolves around feeding.” Sub-themes included: “Because all babies are different. Not all babies are the same,” “It’s good to know what to look out for,” “It took a lot of learning,” and “…There’s all different kinds of problems in the NICU.” These findings highlight maternal perceptions of infants with prenatal opioid exposure, emphasizing the role of feeding and the challenges in distinguishing normal behaviors from withdrawal symptoms. Implications for Research and Practice: The findings of this study highlight feeding as a crucial factor for growth and development in infants with NOWS, offering insights into interventions to address feeding challenges and improve outcomes for infants and families.