Substance use during pregnancy can affect both the mother and baby. This presentation will focus on prenatal substance exposure, with special attention to kratom and its possible effects on newborns. We will discuss how to screen pregnant women for substance use in a supportive and nonjudgmental way, as well as the importance of identifying substance exposure during pregnancy. The presentation will also cover neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), including common signs of withdrawal in newborns and how these babies can be assessed and cared for.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:
- Describe the potential maternal and neonatal effects of prenatal substance exposure, with an emphasis on kratom use during pregnancy.
- Identify effective and nonjudgmental approaches to screening pregnant women for substance use, including considerations for identifying kratom exposure.
- Recognize clinical signs of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) and discuss appropriate assessment and management considerations for newborns with prenatal substance exposure.
Presented by: Jennifer Sleiter ARNP, CPNP, PMHS
Jennifer Sleiter has worked at the Regional Child Protection Center/STAR Center at Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa since 2004. She has worked as a Pediatric Nurse since 1995 and as a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner since 2001. At the STAR Center, she assesses and treats children that are dealing with issues of abuse and neglect. She also cares for Drug Endangered Children, including babies that were exposed to substances through their mother’s use during pregnancy and children who have been environmentally exposed due to their caregiver’s use. She is also a member of the Polk County, Jasper County and state Drug Endangered Children Alliances. Jennifer has extensive community involvement serving as one of the medical representatives on local multidisciplinary teams reviewing child sexual and physical abuse cases, DEC cases and general case consultation. She is a Certified Pediatric SANE Nurse. She is also certified as a Pediatric Primary Care Mental Health Specialist. In 2012 she received the National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children’s Collaborative Leadership Award, in 2013 she was named one of the 100 Great Iowa Nurses, and in 2026 she received the Blank Children’s Hospital Advanced Practice Provider STAR Award.
Continuing Education Units: 1.5 CEUs
This training is approved for continuing education by the boards listed here.
Funding for this activity was made possible in whole or in part by the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Director’s Office through the Fund for a Resilient Nevada, established in Nevada Revised Statutes 433.712 through 433.744. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in our courses are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Nevada Opioid Center of Excellence or its funders.