Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: A Call for Mother-Infant Dyad Treatment Approach - maximizing the benefits of nonpharmacologic treatments first and actively involving and empowering the mother in the infant's care. The time the infant spends in the hospital while being monitored and treated for NAS provides an opportunity for a fresh start for the mother. Mothers should be viewed as medicine for their infants; by spending time together, infants will likely need less pharmacologic treatment, hence a shorter hospital stay and decreased hospital costs. In addition, strengthening the mother-infant bond may reduce postpartum depression and improve maternal stress response.
