Pregnancy and the postpartum period are especially vulnerable times for women with an opioid use disorder. Recent research shows that the number of pregnant women who have an opioid use disorder related to prescription pain relievers or heroin has increased in recent years. Without appropriate treatment, these mothers may be at risk of relapse or increasing use of illicit substances. This can have long-term, negative effects on the relationship between mother and baby.
Women & Infants Hospital, a Care New England hospital, has created Moms MATTER (Medication Assisted Treatment to Enhance Recovery). Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) in pregnancy has been shown to improve birth outcomes among women who have substance use disorders and are pregnant. MAT has proved to be clinically effective and to significantly reduce the need for inpatient detoxification services for these individuals. MAT provides a more comprehensive, individually tailored program of medication and behavioral therapy. MAT also includes support services that address the needs of most patients.
“The ultimate goal of medication assisted treatment is full recovery, including the ability to live a self-directed life,” said Anupriya Gogne, MD, director of Moms MATTER, psychiatrist in Women & Infants Center for Women’s Behavioral Health, and a member of the Care New England Medical Group. “This unique model of care provides a safe place for pregnant and breastfeeding women with an opioid use disorder to seek compassionate and non-judgmental care in an office-based setting.”
MAT has been shown to improve patient survival, increase retention in treatment, decrease illicit opiate use and other criminal activity among people with substance use disorders, increase patients’ ability to gain and maintain employment, and improve birth outcomes among women who have substance use disorders and are pregnant.
Moms MATTER services include treatment of acute withdrawal for inpatients at Women & Infants Hospital, medication assisted treatment with buprenorphine for opioid use disorder, assistance in caring for babies with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) in collaboration with pediatricians at Women & Infants Hospital, and pain management for opioid-dependent women as an inpatient at Women & Infants Hospital.
In addition to Dr. Gogne, members of the Moms MATTER team include Erica Hardy, MD, Women’s Infectious Disease Consult Service and Center for Obstetric and Consultative Medicine; Neha Hudepohl, MD, Center for Women’s Behavioral Health; Jessica Pineda, MD, Center for Primary Care and Center for Women’s Behavioral Health; Adam Czynski, MD, Department of Pediatrics; Matthew Esposito, MD, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine; and case manager Alpha Lafrancois, LCDP, Center for Women’s Behavioral Health.
Patients are seen on Thursdays between 12 noon and 4 p.m. at Women & Infants’ Center for Obstetric and Consultative Medicine, 100 Dudley Street, Third Floor, Providence, RI. For information, call (401) 430-2700.