For NICU doctors at HSHS St. Vincent's Children's hospital in Green Bay, it just keeps happening.
"It definitely can be frustrating to see this happen over and over again," said Dr. Megan Linn, a neonatologist there.
Babies going through withdrawals because of a mother's opioid abuse.
"Brown County and the local counties that we serve have also seen an increase in the past few years," she said.
In 2009, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services found 335 women who had used opioids when they came in to give birth. In 2014, that number rose to 1,041, a 211% increase.
"Babies born to moms who are taking an opiate medication or an illegal opiate like heroin, about 60-80% of those babies will withdraw," said Dr. Linn.
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome is a babies' withdrawal caused by a mom's drug use, usually from opiates. In Wisconsin, it now occurs in nearly 1% of all births, according to the Department of Health Services.
Sweating, higher temperature, general fussiness, and even seizures can occur when a baby withdraws.
Dr. Linn has treated many of these cases firsthand. If a baby does not respond to usual treatment methods, doctors have to use medication to help control the symptoms and wean the baby down, according to Dr. Linn.
The problems for these babies don't end in the hospital, either. In Outagamie County, about 31% of children in foster care are there because of parental drug use.
"What we're finding is children are remaining in out of home care longer," said Melissa Blom, Children, Youth and Families Division Manager for Outagamie County Health and Human Services.
Remaining in care longer causes trauma for both kids and the staff, said Blom.
"Secondary traumatic stress in our workforce is huge," she explained.
The department even has the county's Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (AODA) specialist on the same floor because its need is so great. The AODA specialist helps connect moms, or anyone struggling with addiction, with treatment.
"We have an immediate connection available for the social workers and available for those families," said Alicia Cook, AODA Specialist for Outagamie County.
Even with treatment, it can be difficult for moms to recover.
"I wish that we didn't see so much recurrence with the same moms," said Dr. Linn.
Nonetheless, there are still many options for help.
"It's a disease, and having some compassion and understanding without judgment or shame is important," said Blom.
If you believe parents you know are abusing drugs and putting their children at risk, contact your county child services immediately. A list of contacts from the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families can be found here.
