# Mom is medicine: Implementing maternal-delivered nonpharmacologic care for neonatal opioid withdrawal

> **NIH NIH K08** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2024 · $163,440

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The long-term goal of this K08 career development proposal is to advance my training in perinatal health
services research with the goal of improving the health of substance-exposed, maternal-infant dyads.
My new skills and experiences will be in 1) management of complex datasets; 2) multilevel and
triangulation analytics; 3) implementation strategy design and testing; and 4) leadership for policy
engagement and impact. The aims of the research proposal seek to improve outcomes of opioid-
exposed infants by improving breastfeeding and skin-to-skin care practices. Nonpharmacologic
approaches are considered primary treatment for opioid-exposed infants. However, many opioid-using women
eligible to breastfeed do not and less than 50% of those who start, stop within six days postpartum. Opioid-
exposed infants are vulnerable to withdrawal symptoms, resulting in longer lengths of hospitalization, exposure
to pharmacologic treatment, and increased hospital costs. It is well-recognized that breastfeeding and skin-to-
skin care can reduce severity and number of neonatal withdrawal symptoms, improve maternal-infant bonding
as well as decrease lengths of stay and reduce costs. Despite these benefits, breastfeeding and skin-to-skin
rates remain remarkably low and it is unclear why they have not been broadly implemented. It may be because
most implementation efforts have focused on clinician activities (e.g., assessment, diagnosis, pharmacologic
treatment) and not on mothers and their care for their newborns. Toward the goal of better understanding the
structural and personal barriers to breastfeeding and skin-to-skin as treatment for opioid-exposed infants, the
proposed 5-year study will examine factors affecting breastfeeding and skin-to-skin practices using a mixed
methods design. Four hospitals have been recruited for collection of medical record data from linked maternal-
infant dyads (N=360), survey data from clinicians (N=513 anticipated) to describe and explore relevant
implementation factors, and longitudinal semi-structured interview data from opioid-exposed mothers (N=30).
Aim 1 scrutinizes the effects of maternal, neonatal, and unit context factors on breastfeeding and skin-to-skin
care to treat opioid-exposed infants using method triangulation and multilevel analytics. Aim 2 detects and
interrogates the implementation facilitators, barriers, and strategies relevant to implementation of maternal-
delivered care using semi-structured interviews with mothers, data triangulation and theory-informed
implementation mapping. Aim 3 conducts a pilot implementation strategy and evaluates implementation and care
delivery outcomes. Completion of these aims provides the requisite training and data for an R01 proposal. This
proposal is synergistic and uniquely complimentary with NICHD’s current investment in addressing neonatal
opioid withdrawal. Formal training is planned under the mentorship of Dr. Vanessa Dalton and co-mentors with
...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10854843
- **Project number:** 5K08HD105986-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** Clayton John Shuman
- **Activity code:** K08 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $163,440
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-07-01 → 2027-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10854843

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10854843, Mom is medicine: Implementing maternal-delivered nonpharmacologic care for neonatal opioid withdrawal (5K08HD105986-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10854843. Licensed CC0.

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