Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 17, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Use of positioning to reduce the severity of neonatal narcotic withdrawal syndrome
G T Maichuk1, W Zahorodny, R Marshall
1Department of Nursing, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, USA.
Objective:
This study tested the hypothesis that highly fretful, narcotic-withdrawing neonates experience less distress in a prone-lying position than comparable, supine-lying neonates.
Study Design:
Equivalent numbers of randomly assigned, narcotic-withdrawing newborns were assigned to prone-lying (n = 25) or supine-lying (n = 23) conditions. Subjects in the two groups were similar with regard to gestational age, birth weight, and clinical presentation. Peak and mean withdrawal severity, as measured by Neonatal Abstinence Scoring System (NASS) scores and daily caloric intake, were compared between supine and prone groups by Wilcoxon's two-sample test.
Results:
The prone-lying neonates had lower peak NASS scores (p < 0.0001), lower mean NASS scores (p < 0.0001), and lower caloric intake (p < 0.001) than supine-lying, narcotic-withdrawing newborns.
Conclusion:
The fretfulness associated with neonatal withdrawal and other stressful conditions can be moderated by laying the affected infant prone. The pronate quieting response is a significant, endogenous source of neonatal pacification.
Related Concept Videos
Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview
Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids
Drug Delivery: Enteral Route
Drugs in...
Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Treatment Strategies
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Epidural Anesthesia
Since epidural anesthetics can be infused through an epidural catheter, all types of drugs, including short-acting ones, can be administered. Chloroprocaine and lidocaine are examples of short and long-duration anesthetics, respectively. Bupivacaine...
Analgesia and Pain Management
