Postpartum and addiction recovery of women in opioid use disorder treatment: A qualitative study

Abstract

Background: Postpartum is a highly vulnerable time for women with opioid use disorder (OUD). Our primary objective was to identify patient and provider reported aspects of the pregnancy to postpartum transition that impact recovery progress for postpartum women receiving medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD). Methods: This qualitative study consisted of semi-structured interviews with postpartum women in OUD treatment (n = 12) and providers (n = 9) at an outpatient addiction clinic. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using an editing style approach to report themes and quotes. Results: Patients and providers identified different themes that both promote and challenge recovery during the postpartum transition. These comprised of clinical factors, including MOUD, neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) and pain associated with labor and delivery as well as psychosocial factors, such as role of a support system, mental health aspects of anxiety and depression causing mood changes, stigma and mistrust among healthcare providers and child welfare. Conclusions: Patients receiving MOUD and their providers identified multiple aspects unique to the postpartum transition that substantially strengthen and/or oppose OUD recovery. These aspects impacting recovery include factors specific to the receipt of MOUD treatment and those not specific to MOUD, yet tied to the postpartum state. Overall, these findings provide insight into areas for future research focused on identifying opportunities to promote recovery-oriented care for families affected by OUD.

Keywords:

• Opioid use disorder
• women
• postpartum
• recovery
• neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome

Disclosure statement

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency of the US government. Assumptions made within the analysis are not reflective of the position of any US government entity.

Additional information

Funding

Dr. Martin is supported by NIDA award No. K23 DA053507 from the National Institute of Drug Abuse and CTSA award No. KL2TR002648 and UL1TR002649 from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences as well as the Jeanann Gray Dunlap foundation.