Substance misuse and/or alcohol during pregnancy can cause significant problems for the baby.
The section provides contact details for accessing specialist support from Forward Leeds.
Substance misuse and/or alcohol during pregnancy can cause significant problems to the developing fetus and consequently the neonate. These include miscarriage, congenital malformations, low birth weight, poor fetal growth and premature delivery.
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) is the most commonly reported adverse effect and refers to drug withdrawal symptoms displayed by babies exposed to substances in utero. These include irritability (high pitched crying, inability to sleep) and gastrointestinal symptoms (poor feeding, regurgitation, poor weight gain).
The Pregnancy and Parenting Team at Forward Leeds provides support for pregnant women and their families needing help with alcohol and drug use in Leeds. The Springfield Team is a team of midwives and a health visitor who provide specialist care, advice and parenting support to pregnant women who misuse substances and/or alcohol during the antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal period. The team work in collaboration with the wider multidisciplinary team (MDT) which includes addiction therapists/nurses, neonatologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, obstetricians and paediatricians.
The Springfield Team is based at Armley Park Court but delivers care at Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, Forward Leeds or in the home setting.
Referrals can be made using the online referral from.