Buprenorphine in pregnancy improves health of mom and newborn

Opioid use disorder (OUD) in pregnancy is a serious problem, but buprenorphine and methadone, medications which treat the disorder, both improve outcomes for mothers and their children. Researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study of Medicaid Tennessee pregnant patients, and found buprenorphine compared to no treatment improved outcomes. For the study, “Buprenorphine Treatment in Pregnancy and Maternal‐Infant Outcomes,” published in JAMA Health Forum April 27, the researchers followed 14,463 maternal‐infant dyads continuously enrolled in the Tennessee Medicaid program from 20 weeks' estimated gestational age to 6 weeks post‐partum between 2010 and 2021.