THERE has been a rise in the number of babies born addicted to drugs after their mums took heroin and other illegal substances while pregnant.

Drug-dependent newborns were given withdrawal treatment around 100 times in Sussex between 2019 and 2020.

Morphine and methadone were among substances given to babies to wean them from drugs used in pregnancy by their mothers.

They suffered neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) after being exposed to addictive, often opiate-based drugs like heroin, codeine or benzodiazepines like diazepam.

Drug-dependent infants can soon develop severe withdrawal symptoms, signs of which include a continuous high-pitched cry, feeding problems, profuse vomiting, tremors, face scratching and convulsions.

Treatment involves weaning the baby from the drug on which it is dependent, with morphine often used when mothers have been taking opioids.

The true scale of the issue is likely to be greater than figures suggest, given that many infants born with drug dependency will not require medication.

Between 2019 and 2020, drug-dependent newborns had to be given withdrawal treatment around 80 times at Western Sussex Hospitals Trust and 20 times at East Sussex Healthcare.

This is up from eight medical interventions at Western Sussex Hospitals Trust and none at East Sussex Healthcare between 2017 and 2018.

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Where there are fewer than eight cases an exact number is not given to preserve anonymity while other figures are rounded to the nearest five.

During the same time period, there were between one and seven interventions at Surrey and Sussex Healthcare - a similar figure to the year before.

Between 2017 and 2018, 20 hospital trusts in England recorded around 20 or more medical interventions - this rose to 59 between 2019 to 2020.

Experts believe up to 80% of drug-exposed infants develop the syndrome, with some babies continuing to have symptoms up to six months after discharge from hospital.

Symptoms associated with NAS do not only occur with the use of illicit substances but can also be due to the consumption of prescription drugs.

In some cases, babies born with NAS will be taken into care.

Dr Alison Wright, spokesperson for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said substance use during pregnancy could have a serious impact on the health and bonding of mother and baby.

She warned that "complex barriers" stood in the way of mothers-to-be disclosing their drug use but urged women to seek help.

Dr Wright said: “We would encourage all pregnant women who use recreational drugs to speak to their GP, obstetrician or midwife, who will be able to offer non-judgemental and appropriate advice, help and support."

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Health service guidelines state that pregnant women misusing substances need “supportive and coordinated care” during pregnancy and that healthcare staff should work with social care professionals to overcome barriers to care for them in a coordinated way.

Sharon Mallett, Director of Nursing at drug, alcohol and mental health charity We Are With You, said drug-using mothers often experienced "overwhelming guilt and shame" and called for midwives and other experts to work together to create non-judgemental environments.

She added: "The earlier parents seek support the more positive the results are for both the mother and child. That’s why it’s really important not to judge mothers who do come forward around this issue."