Moms and Substance Use: How It Affects Postpartum Life

Being a new mom is tough, especially when dealing with substance use disorder (SUD). Scientists explored how SUD affects a mom's daily tasks and checked if a tool called the Barkin Index of Maternal Functioning (BIMF) works well for moms with SUD. They asked 141 moms, some with SUD and some without, to fill out the BIMF and answer some basic questions. The results showed that the BIMF was reliable, as the scores were consistent with previous studies. Moms with SUD had slightly lower scores, which wasn't a big surprise. Over time, moms with SUD might see their scores drop a bit, but it wasn't a significant change. With more moms facing overdoses, it's crucial to study this further. Using the BIMF could give a full picture of what new moms with SUD are going through and help them get the support they need during recovery.