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Am J Perinatol 2024; 41(07): 884-890
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1748526
Original Article

The Impact of a Multidisciplinary Opioid Use Disorder Prenatal Clinic on Breastfeeding Rates and Postpartum Care

Drew Hensel
1   Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine and Ultrasound, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
,
Nicole El Helou
1   Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine and Ultrasound, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
,
Fan Zhang
1   Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine and Ultrasound, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
,
Molly J. Stout
2   Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
,
Nandini Raghuraman
1   Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine and Ultrasound, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
,
Hayley Friedman
3   Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
,
Ebony Carter
1   Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine and Ultrasound, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
,
Anthony O. Odibo
1   Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine and Ultrasound, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
,
Jeannie C. Kelly
1   Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine and Ultrasound, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
› Author Affiliations Funding Funding for this project was supported by The PEW Charitable Trusts and the Community Opioid Response and Evaluation (CORE) Project (Grant ID: 00033770).
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Abstract

Objective To evaluate the hypothesis that patients with opioid use disorder (OUD), who receive prenatal care in a multidisciplinary, prenatal OUD clinic, have comparable postpartum breastfeeding rates, prenatal and postpartum visit compliance, and postpartum contraceptive use when compared with matched controls without a diagnosis of OUD.

Study Design This was a retrospective, matched, cohort study that included all patients who received prenatal care in a multidisciplinary, prenatal OUD clinic—Clinic for Acceptance Recovery and Empowerment (CARE)—between September 2018 and August 2020. These patients were maintained on opioid agonist therapy (OAT) throughout their pregnancy. CARE patients were matched to controls without OUD in a 1:4 ratio for mode of delivery, race, gestational age ± 1 week, and delivery date ± 6 months. The primary outcome was rate of exclusive breastfeeding at maternal discharge. Secondary outcomes included adherence with prenatal care (≥4 prenatal visits), adherence with postpartum care (≥1 postpartum visit), postpartum contraception plan prior to delivery, and type of postpartum contraceptive use. Conditional multivariate logistic regression was used to account for possible confounders in adjusted calculations.

Results A total of 210 patients were included (42 CARE and 168 matched controls). Despite having lower rates of adequate prenatal care, 40 CARE patients (95%) were exclusively breastfeeding at discharge resulting in CARE patients being significantly more likely to be breastfeeding at discharge (adjusted relative risk (aRR): 1.28, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05–1.55). CARE patients and controls demonstrated no difference in postpartum visit compliance (86 vs. 81%, aRR: 1.03, 95% CI: 0.76–1.40) or effective, long-term contraception use (48 vs. 48%; aRR: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.36–1.84).

Conclusion In the setting of multidisciplinary OUD prenatal care during pregnancy, patients with OUD were more likely to be breastfeeding at the time of discharge than matched controls, with no difference in postpartum visit compliance or effective, long-term contraception.

Key Points

  • Women with OUD are more likely to breastfeed when engaged in a multidisciplinary prenatal clinic.

  • Women with OUD had no difference in LARC use when engaged in a multidisciplinary prenatal clinic.

  • Women with OUD had no difference in postpartum visit rate in a multidisciplinary prenatal clinic.

Keywords

opioid use disorder - multidisciplinary prenatal clinic - breastfeeding - contraception - postpartum


Publication History

Received: 24 August 2021

Accepted: 18 February 2022

Article published online:
03 June 2022

© 2022. Thieme. All rights reserved.

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